What was life like before you met Jesus?
My parents were not churchgoers. I was not encouraged nor discouraged to attend church. I never made church or the Bible a priority in my life growing up. With that being said I never really felt like I had direction in my life. I focused on sports, school, hanging out with friends and just trying to fit in. Growing up in a military family we moved around a lot. It was tough for me as I continued to try to fit in with those around me. I never felt like I was able to find who I was or really be able to step back and look at who I was becoming. I looked to the people around me for that acceptance regardless of who I was, I was who I needed to be for the acceptance.How did you meet Jesus?
I started to attend church during my sophomore year of high school. Tom Cleveland was the youth leader at the local Methodist Church. It was at that time God sat me down and opened my eyes to his world. Tom never gave up on me and continued to support me no matter the situation. I feel like Tom was sent to me by God not to give up and to continue to show his love and support to me. He was able to get me a job that helped me pay for a youth retreat. I was not able to afford it at the time and was to afraid to ask my parents. He said God provided this job not him. Tom told me, people reached out to him and were looking for someone to help earn some extra money. Tom continued to tell me I need to trust that Christ will provide, and his will is the way. Proverbs 3.5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
After being saved by Jesus, what is your life like now?
Since I have accepted Christ into my life I have continue to work on becoming a better father to my kids, a husband to my wife, and a stronger person in my faith, all by God’s grace. For the first time ever, I talk with my dad about Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how I want to be a good role model for not only my son but others. I want others to see how God can work in my life regardless of my past sins. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”