[Salvation] [Preach] [College] [Full-time Work] [Pastor] [The Future]
Luke 4:4 4And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Call to Salvation
As a teenager I counted on two events to take me to heaven. The first event was a prayer at the age of eleven at a youth camp in southern Virginia. The second event was at a revival meeting in Lorton, Virginia at the age of thirteen. There I went forward during the invitation and signed my name to a card. At the age of twenty, September 26, 1982, I realized that no prayer, signature, baptism, or any other human act could give me assurance of eternal life. I realized the only way to go to heaven was by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. That Sunday morning the last meeting of the Dan Hawtree revival being held at Colonial Baptist Church in Stafford, Virginia, I opened my heart and allowed Jesus to come in and gloriously save me. Now I have full assurance in His salvation to take me to heaven when I die.
2 Timothy 1:12 12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Call to Preach
When God saved me He changed my life. He changed my desires in life and revealed to me His purpose for my existence. My salvation is as real to me today as it was in 1982. I experienced an immediate burden for the lost as well as for God's people. I wanted to do all I could for the Lord. In 1983 God gave me a teen Sunday school class and the youth ministry at Colonial Baptist Church. God soon began to lay upon my heart the call to preach. My call to preach was settled the summer of 1983 at Camp Pamadeva in Hanover, Pennsylvania. I met with my pastor, Pastor Mickey Creed, and we discussed God's call to preach. I then prayed and promised God that I would always be faithful and preach His Word whenever He gave me opportunity. God has since reassured this calling in my life by giving me several opportunities to preach through which He has changed lives. I know He will use me in the ministry.
1 Corinthians 9:16 16For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Call to Bible College
In 1983, after teaching my first teen Sunday School lesson I realized the importance of going to Bible College. I new the only way I could effectively help teenagers or anyone else to grow and mature in God's Word was for me to grow and mature in His Word. September 1984 I enrolled in Berean Baptist Institute in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I completed the three year program and the Spring of 1987, graduated with a degree in Theology. Since that time Berean Baptist Institute added a fourth year and therefore was led to change their name to Virginia Baptist College to better describe the scope of the school. I immediately enrolled and in 1995 graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Theology. I am currently enrolled in the Master of Biblical Arts Program at Temple Seminary in Chattanooga TN. As of 2003 I have 30 credits toward that degree. I do not believe that education is an end in itself, but I do realize the need to grow personally each and every year. I truly believe that if I am to continue to teach others I must continue to be a student myself.
2 Timothy 2:15 15Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Call to Full-Time Christian Service
After graduating from the Bible institute, in 1988 Colonial Baptist Church of Stafford, Virginia, offered to me a staff position as assistant to the pastor and to help in beginning Colonial Academy. I gladly accepted and served in this capacity until 1992. The four years I served here were truly some of the best experiences of my life.
Matthew 4:18 through Matthew 4:20 18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Call to Pastor
God placed the thought of pastoring a church in my mind very shortly after the time He saved me. God confirmed my call to pastor the Spring of 1992 while taking an homiletics course at Virginia Baptist College. I was enjoying the position of Assistant Pastor at Colonial Baptist Church and did not aggressively search for a place to pastor. I figured when God was ready for me to move, He would let me know. The call came in September 1992, when God opened the door to Pastor Cross County Baptist Church, in Waldorf, Maryland.
John 21:15 15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
The Future
I am currently pastoring Cross County Baptist Church and enjoy seeing God work in a tremendous way. Pastoring has certainly been an experience, but I could not imagine any other occupation I would rather have. When we started pastoring, the church was averaging in the 40's Sunday morning and now it is averaging in the 100's. We are seeing people saved and baptized regularly, but most importantly we are seeing lives changed for God's glory.
The Bible clearly tells us that we "cannot know what a day may bring forth". I am not sure what the future holds. Only God knows the future. But, I do have great expectations for Cross County Baptist Church. It is my desire that our church would have a global impact for Christ.
Personally, it is my desire to live each day to it's fullest for Christ. My plans for the future are to follow Christ's example in obeying the heavenly Father's every command.
This passage has become my life's verse:
John 4:34 through John 4:36 34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.