SALVATION:
I was raised in a Christian home and was kept in church faithfully all of my childhood. I had made a profession of faith and was baptized at the age of seven years old. I soon realized that there was no difference in my life and that I had not been saved. I became increasingly aware of the need for Jesus in my life. Along with this awareness, I was acutely conscious of the reality of hell and my sure destination there.
One ordinary Sunday night, in August of 1952, at the age of twelve years old, I gave my heart and life to Jesus. My Dad took me to the throne of grace. I was saved that night in the Avenue Baptist Church, at Hereford, Texas.
I backslid during my teen years. I lost precious time and opportunity to serve the Lord. My wife was saved in 1962 in our home at Dumas, Texas. I rededicated my life to the Lord that night and many times since. I have served the Lord in some measure and manner ever since that time.
CALL TO THE GOSPEL MINISTRY:
In 1972 for the first time in my life I felt that the Lord wanted me to do more than serve as a layman in the church. I had no idea that He could use me to preach the Gospel. I tried to do more and more. I was ordained a deacon. I had taught since the age of 25 in various Bible classes. I was the treasurer of the church, oversaw a building project, maintained the buildings, visited, counseled and did all that a pastor could do except preach. I began to be called upon as a lay speaker from time to time and filled in for the pastor when he needed me.
All that happened over a period of several years, as I searched for the Lord’s will in my life. Finally in 1982 I surrendered to preach the Gospel. Within a few months, the church where I was a member called me as pastor. God blessed, I pastored Bayou Drive Baptist Church in Alvin, TX for 22 years before taking the pastorate of Calvary Baptist in Burkburnett, TX for almost 3 years. I’ve pastored only 2 churches in 25 years of service as a pastor.
CALL TO EVANGELISM:
For about 3 years I struggled with the call to evangelism. I finally realized that if evangelism is a call, and I believe that it is based upon Ephesians 4:11, it was not to be put off. After finding my Scriptural walking orders in 2 Corinthians 4:5, “For we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Christ’s sake.” I surrendered to preach Jesus and serve the local church through the office of evangelism. By faith I resigned my church in August of 2006 and submitted myself to Him. God has blessed in all of it.
I thank God for the call to preach. Thank God for the gift of preaching. Thank God for using an unworthy vessel such as myself to preach the glorious Gospel of Christ. With Paul, “I magnify my office.”