I was born to parents who were always involved in ministry of some sort. They have been cell group leaders, Christian educators, children’s evangelists, associate pastors, senior pastors, and Christian television personalities (Gooseberry Gang - circa 1978-1979). Growing up in a home that was so involved in ministry helped shape me into a person who has a heart for the things of God, especially for His children. I gave my heart to Him at the age of 7 and remember being filled with the Holy Spirit at that time. It was (and is still is) so amazing to me how someone so great, mighty, unimaginable, and powerful can be so concerned about the life of one person - me.
Through the years, God has been slowly revealing Himself to me. I remember how I first understood God - as a judge who would give me a final review of my life and if I didn’t live up to the standard He would send me off to hell. Since I was young, I was spoon-fed this legalism and religion - a lethal combination to the spirit of any man - which drove me into living a life based on “works”, but God still pursued me. Even after falling away from Him for a short time in my middle twenties, He pursued me. In the spring of 1999, I came back to Him and began to finally learn what His grace and mercy truly meant. I began to see Him as Father. I started experiencing God in ways I never thought I would. Love became an overwhelming word to me. Finally, everything I had learned growing up in a Christian home began to make sense. I was no longer bound by the chains of the law. The “works” of one man set me free.
As I grew up, my heroes became men such as Hudson Taylor, and D.L. Moody. I have always felt a call on my life to be a man sent by God. I’ve always had romantic notions of living in far away lands, doing the work of the ministry. Since my return to Jesus, I now understand that He has put more than just romantic notions in my heart. He has given me something special that He wants me to take to the nations – His unfathomable love and His grace…undeserved and so costly.
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