I grew up in a Christian home with 2 believing parents (and one sister).  I cannot remember a time when faith, church attendance, Bible reading, prayer, and other aspects of the Christian faith were not part of my life.  I come from a legacy of faith.  My father was active duty Army, so our family moved often, but wherever we went, we found a church home and a place to serve.

Acts 8:36 recounts, “As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?”  This sentiment by the Ethiopian eunuch was the overwhelming call of God to my heart when I was 10 years old.  I believed in God the Father.  I believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross from my sins.  I had no hesitation in my beliefs.  Why shouldn’t I be baptized?  I talked over this desire with my parents and I was immersed into Christ at First Christian Church in Jonesboro, Georgia where my family attended at the time.  I do not regret that decision for Christ and never have.

Since that time, the Lord has continued to grow my faith, confirm my chosen-ness as His child, and to mold me into the man God wants me to be.  I like to say privately that I “have done all my good sinning after I knew better.”  Through growing up, my teen years, and early adulthood I have maintained my faith and my personal walk with the Lord.  He calls me to Him often.  He affirms in my heart often that I am saved by grace because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  He saved me early and continues to infuse grace into my heart.

My marathon with Christ, for it is not a short sprint, includes a lifetime of walking with Him.  It also includes a call to ministry when I was a senior in high school.  After a lesson by a providential substitute Sunday School teacher who was an Army Chaplain, I listened in prayer (instead of only speaking) and God called me into full-time service.  This call was confirmed by my family, my extended family, and others throughout my life.