I cannot remember a time in my life without involvement in church. I was raised on the stories and songs of God. In school I was known as the “preacher/singer” who was always preaching and singing about God. My life before I made Jesus my Lord and Savior was pleasant. I was not involved with the wrong crowd and did not do the things they did. (Although I did get into some negative things later in life, but God delivered me.) Growing up in church, I had always seen people go down the aisle at the end of the service. One Sunday I did that, not having a clue what I was doing. My life really did not change.

I was in the tenth grade when God began to make clear to me that I had never accepted him as my Savior. A guest speaker said, “Some of you are like the baseball player who hit a homerun and was called out when you got to home plate. When questioned, the umpire simply said, ‘You did not touch first base.’” I knew immediately that was me. I knew how to act like a Christian, but I was not one because I had not surrendered my life to Him.

Since that time God has richly blessed my life. I have had the opportunity to serve Him and spread His word in over twenty-three states and two foreign countries. He allowed me to teach 6th grade science and history, all the while being a missionary to the students and faculty. He has blessed me with an amazing wife and two incredible children. And now I serve him as a staff member and worship leader at First Baptist North Spartanburg. There have been difficult times, but God’s grace has sustained me. He will do the same for you if you will place your trust in him.