This is Me

It was suggested to me that I give a short bio/testimony for those reading that may not know me all that well. So here we go.

I was born in Roanoke, Virginia 21 years ago this month. My sister was born three years later right after my dad left my mom to raise me and my sister. A few years later my mom moved us to Knoxville where my grandparents lived so they could help. We started attending Black Oak Heights Baptist Church which is where I spent all of my childhood and youth years growing and learning in the Lord. The people at Black Oak played a huge role in who I have become today. There is where I accepted Christ, was baptized, committed to the ministry, and preached my first sermon. Through growth and change in my life I was lead to a new church community at First Baptist Church, the Fountain City campus where I have been worshiping for the past couple of years. First Baptist is also who has put me in contact with Infinity Church in Baltimore.

A critical time in my life began my senior year of high school when my mom called me home to give me and my sister some of the hardest news I had ever received. My dad had passed way unexpectedly while at the grocery store. That was the last thing I expected my mom to tell us that night. My dad and I did not have the best relationship, and we never spent much time together. He stayed in Virginia going from job to job as a painter. The last thing I remember about my dad was falling asleep talking to him the last time I was at his house during the Christmas before. I was devastated and that turned into one of the hardest and most emotionally draining weekends of my life. Earlier in the year we had received the news that my grandmother had cancer in a number of different places including her brain and colon. After a long fight including several surgeries and months of chemotherapy she passed away almost a year after my father. Her passing came much easier to handle. It was expected, the whole family was by her bed when she took her last breath, and I knew that her death brought her ultimate peace for the pain and struggle she had been facing.

This was undoubtedly the toughest year of my life. Two deaths with completely different implications and lessons for my life. At the time my dad's death caused so much pain and sadness, somehow my grandmother's death brought peace to her and our whole family. God taught me of His sovereignty and wisdom. My dad's death was one of the lowest points of my life, and somehow just one year later the death of my grandmother became one of the highest points in my life. I miss her like crazy, but I'm so happy for her now and am certain I will worship with her again one day.

I have had many different career ambitions throughout my life including, but not limited to an astronaut, park ranger, search and rescue, professional basketball player, and fighter pilot. But one thing has remained consistent in my life, and that is my eagerness to minister and share Christ with others, especially youth aged kids. Right around the time of my graduation from high school I made the commitment to go into vocational ministry. The LORD led me to Johnson Bible College, now Johnson University. I have learned more here in the last three years than I had learned my previous 12 years of school. Most of what I learned has not been academic, although I have learned a great deal that will help me in my ministry down the road, but what I have learned the most about is the Kingdom of God. The importance of bringing near the Kingdom of God and how to do this. I understand better than ever that you do not have to be a preacher or youth minister to bring the Kingdom of God to the world. As a matter of fact, I often wonder if it is the people sitting in the seats at church who are the most important part of bringing the Kingdom of God. It does not take a degree from Bible College or a paycheck from the church to be a witness for Christ. All it really takes is to have Christ in your heart. I hope in my future ministry to help grow a Kingdom focused body of Christ whose greatest concern is bringing glory to God through spreading His Kingdom where they are. This summer I hope that I am able to bring the Kingdom of God closer to the city of Baltimore and that I am able to encourage others there to serve as a witness to what Christ has done in their lives.

To God be all the glory, honor, and praise. Amen