From my earliest remembrances I was in church. My parents are both Christians, and raised me in the church. However, as I grew up I did not find the things of God interesting, and did not pursue them. To the praise of his name, God never lost interest in me, nor did he quit pursuing me. As I went through high school and collegeI lived life the way I chose, devoid of any interest in God.
Upon graduation from college I began a career teaching in public schools. God used this major change in my life to bring me to himself. The stress of a new life, teaching, and living on my own wore on me and made me begin contemplating life. One evening I was talking with my father, when he noted that he could see that I was full of stress, and that I was dealing with many things in my life. He told me: “The only help I know to give you is to tell you to go to church and ask God to help you.” I did go to church, and God did help me. As I sat under the preaching of a godly pastor, and under the tutelage of another godly teacher; I came to see that I was a sinner that God sent his son to die for. One night, months later; as I was praying I asked God to forgive me of my sins, and was redeemed at that moment. I made my decision public and was baptized in January of 2001.
Shortly after my salvation God grew me in the faith rapidly and deeply. I began to voraciously read his word, and was deeply and profoundly changed. God began to work into me a will to follow him, and to do his will. As I read his word, I was drawn over and over to Isaiah, and his surrender to do God’s will. It is from these scriptures that I received my calling. As I was praying one night, I felt the Lord tell me to “preach the word.” Since then, that calling has been affirmed by God’s word, the gifts God has given me, and the affirmation of other Christians. To this day, I feel that my calling is becoming more and more sure, and I look forward to seeing what God has in store for me.