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.