Monday, November 30, 2009

Biography


I currently reside in Monroe, North Carolina serving as Senior Pastor of West Monroe Baptist Church with my gracious wife, Tracy, and two wonderful gifts of God, Elias and Erin.

Born and raised in East Tennessee, I served as a Sergeant in the United States Army as a Flight Medical Team Leader on UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters, an Emergency Medical Team Leader in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH), a Combat Medical Specialist in the 2nd Infantry Division, and a Drill Sergeant/Instructor and Infantryman for the 80th Training Division. After my military service, I worked as a Commercial Diver in Mobile, Alabama performing underwater construction, inspections, salvage and recovery, and ship husbandry before becoming a Southern Baptist Minister.

 I hold a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from East Tennessee State University, and a Certification in Biblical Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  I have served churches in Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina and North Carolina.



Personal Testimony and Call to Ministry

Born and raised in North East Tennessee, church, though prominent in the landscape of where I was raised held little influence in my upbringing.  Christian values were ingrained in the social fabric of my community and my raising but its source, the Bible and the church, were not used nor held in high regard for my immediate upbringing.  Except for the occasional visits as a young child with my grandparents and the sporadic visits for Christmas and Easter with my parents I was not raised in church.

Near the age of twelve I attended a church revival where the preacher painted a very unappealing picture of hell and proclaimed that those without a relationship with Jesus would burn forever. At the invitation he stated that if anyone was not sure of their salvation they should come forward or burn in hell.  Not wanting to burn and unsure of what to do, I came forward and after repeating a few words I really did not understand, I was quickly informed after a handshake that I was now saved.  Nothing more was said, no instruction, no follow-up, no expectations and no change.

It was many years later before I attended church again.  Around the age of 19 I attended another church and after several visits I felt a draw to come forward at the invitation.  Not understanding this tug upon my heart, I came forward and once more I was asked to speak words I did not fully comprehend.  Yet again, no direction and no guidance were given.  I left as I had come; lost and worst of all I believed I was now right with God.

While serving in the military and having married, I sought to be a good husband and go to church with my wife on a regular basis.  Leaving the military at 27, I moved to Houston, Texas to attend school.  While in Texas, a friend began speaking about reading his Bible four times through and not being sure if he believed it.  This was a turning point in my life that I will never forget.  Thinking and proclaiming myself a Christian, I had never read the Bible and standing before me was a man conflicted of whether to accept or reject the Word of God.  A conflict within my own soul began…was I a hypocrite or something worse.

With no biblical instruction I began reading the Bible from Genesis.  After nearly completing the Old Testament, I found myself beaten, battered, bruised and convicted by the very Law of God.  Condemned and broken, the Scriptures promised a hope for my affliction in God alone.  Frustrated and refusing to read further, a seed planted long ago emerged…“Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.”  Unsure of the meaning for these names I searched the Bible. I discovered these men testified to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and found that all the promises of God are fulfilled in Him alone.  Jesus, God Incarnate, the very Son of God died for the sin I had committed that separated me from my God and Creator.  Through faith in His work upon the Cross, Jesus rescued me from death and hell and promised me eternal life with my Lord and my God.

Living for the first time for my God, and seeking His wisdom, my wife and I were lead to Mobile, Alabama.  Attending Cottage Hill Baptist Church and flourishing in the Word I took my first step of true obedience as a child of God in baptism and church membership.  Growing in the Lord and His Word, I sought to imitate the godly men the Lord put before me in the examples set by preachers, teachers and the like.  It was during this time that the Lord began working me toward another plan.

An opportunity to continue my education in 2000 lead to a return to Tennessee, were we joined with my wife’s home church, Chinquapin Grove Baptist Church.  During this time the Lord allowed for an opportunity to work with both middle and high school youth for two years, this time of growth and study in the Scriptures confirmed a deep spiritual call to vocational ministry.  Seeking the council of my wife and Pastor, both confirmed the Lord’s call in my life to the ministry.  In 2002 I publicly announced my call before the church, where I preached my first sermon and was licensed to the ministry and later Ordained to Ministry.

After completing my studies at East Tennessee State University the Lord directed us to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas were I completed a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages degree and a Certificate in Biblical Counseling.  I have been privileged to serve my God and His church as a Ministry Associate, Chaplain and now as a Pastor.  My salvation experience and passing years of ministry have developed a sincere desire to see the lost come to a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and to see the body of Christ discipled to full maturity in the Lord. 

I praise God daily that He is still in the business of saving lost souls and growing them to be just like His Son, Jesus Christ.  Until He comes may we be about His kingdom work.