My history with the Youngsville Free Methodist Church began during the largest transition point in my life. I had just recently graduated from Teen Challenge, which is basically a Christ Centered rehabilitation center. Though I was raised in a Christian home, I went very much off the deep end into a drug ridden and criminal lifestyle until my apartment was raided and the Lord told my dad to send me to Teen Challenge. Once I graduated, I spent a short period in jail, which is where I would say that I finally gave in to the Lord and asked Him to deliver me. I told Him while in my cell at night, "God, if you're real and you love me, then you need to take the desire for drugs away from me or else I'll go right back to them once I'm out of here. And if you do this for me, I'll follow you for the rest of my life."

Long story short, the Lord took that seriously. While I had a problem getting away from drugs previously, I actually couldn't get back into them after I got out! (And yes, I tried!) Once I began to realize that He had actually answered my prayer, the wrestling match of what it meant to follow Him began. It was rough at times, but He has been so incredibly merciful.

Not long after this, I ended up attending Youngsville FMC for the first time. I'll never forget that day. I didn't know anyone, but everyone looked oddly familiar. It was one of the first times I remember clearly hearing the Lord speak to me... "This is your family now, and these are your people." I still tear up to this day when I reflect on how He has led my life since then. I was still very much afraid of Christians at this point, even though I knew I needed to be around them. But I didn't know how to relate to anyone because my lifestyle had been so radically different up to that point. But it wasn't long after I had been attending that Pastor Rick cornered me and got me involved in the youth group. This began about a 10 year period of my life during which I was taken in by amazing people. Jim Frazier discipled me. Jane Lucas took me in and kept me connected. And I eventually ended up marrying her daughter, Sarah, and having 3 amazing children together; Eden, Elijah, and Lucas. There are so many more that I can't mention here who kept pouring Jesus into me as I learned what it meant to follow Him and lead youth at the same time.

Again, to make the long story short! Sarah and I's season with the youth came to an end as we discerned that the Lord was ready to do something different with us. We both received a word from Him that we were to move the whole family to Texas and enroll in a discipleship school called Lifestyle Christianity University. Still in a state of almost unbelief in how that would be possible, we shared the vision with the church, and everyone overwhelmingly supported us. What we intended to be one year turned into two and I was able to graduate the full program.

That brings me to today. Just before graduation in Texas, the position for Associate Pastor opened up here and we knew the Lord was telling us to apply. I came on as an intern for the first year and was then brought on full time as I completed my courses for ordained eldership in the Free Methodist Church.

So, to avoid writing a book here! I'll just finish by saying that becoming pastor here has been one of the toughest, and most rewarding seasons of my life as the Lord continues to rapidly stretch and grow me. It's impossible to overstate my thankfulness to Him for the blessing of being able to pour back into the very same community that poured into me and discipled me into the man I am today. I do not take this blessing lightly. All I know is that I want to hold true to my promise to follow Jesus, the One who answered my prayer, delivered me from my destruction, and greatly expanded my already amazing family!

(I know I said I was finished, but remember, Pastor Rick has been training me. So I'm actually only almost finished!)

My heart's desire is to continue to seek and know this amazing God of mine, and to introduce anyone who is willing to Him by any means necessary! While I still have so much to learn and grow in, I am confident in His empowering grace and mercy as I look back on His faithfulness. I look forward with hopeful expectation for all God has in store for our community as we all continue to learn to honor Him in all we do.