I was very fortunate to grow up in a Christian home where my parents regularly took me to church. As a young child, I heard about Jesus Christ and I understood that believing in Jesus and accepting the forgivness He offered for my personal sin was the only way to know God and have eternal life.

When I was eight, I prayed asking God to forgive my sin and come into my life. I really believe my decision at the time was motivated more out of fear of living apart from God than truly being repentant of my sin and desiring to live for Christ. When I was in high school, my family joined New Pisgah Baptist Church (FBNS). I had many opportunities for spiritual growth that I never had at my previous church. The preaching, teaching, and fellowship of these believers impacted my life in a way I had never experienced. One Sunday afternoon, shortly before my college graduation, I talked with my mom about my life and some future decisions. God made me aware that my focus should be Christ and how I must live for him instead of worrying about my future. God broke my heart for him that day. I wept over my sin and felt so sorry that I had not grown closer to Christ as a teenager. The very next Sunday in church, I talked with a pastor and prayed asking God to forgive my sin and complacency and help me grow as a Christian.

Philippians 1:6 says that God will complete the work He began in you. After putting my faith in Christ, my life had purpose and meaning. I sought after opportunities to better know God and serve him. My life was so different than before. I desparately wanted my life to be pleasing to God. I desired to make a difference in this world for Christ because He had made such a difference in my life. Several years later, God led me to Seminary then to full-time ministry. I am so grateful that God allows me to serve him every day.