Glynlea Grace United Methodist Church l Southside l Arlington l Jacksonville Florida

My earliest experiences with God came through my family and the United Methodist Church (UMC). In the 6th grade I was confirmed at St. Paul's in Jacksonville, FL. During confirmation, I repented and acknowledged Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Our church taught me about God’s love and that I had loving parents. It was easy for me to know God as a loving Father.

Soon after repenting and trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord, I quickly turned away from God. Throughout high school I didn’t attend church and learned to depend upon myself rather than God. God’s grace, however, never let me go. As a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and Army soldier, I started again to attend church and participate in Bible study. I finally returned to Jesus in 1995, when I rededicated my life to him while serving as a soldier in Korea.

I first heard God’s call into the ordained ministry while attending the U.S. Army Ranger School. This is one of the toughest schools the Army has to offer and I realized that it was only by the grace of God that I was passing. As I contemplated how God was enabling me to pass, the idea of going into the ministry entered my head. I quickly pushed this idea out of my head and ignored this calling for approximately 2 years. During these two years the idea kept coming back to me and as I attended worship services, participated in Bible studies and rededicated my life to Christ, I came to understand that the idea was coming from God. Then, one night, I prayed to God about what I should do with the rest of my life. That’s when I decided to submit to God’s will and pursue the ministry. As I made this decision, an indescribable peace came over me.

While in the Army, my wife, Jackie, and I experienced the life and death of our daughter Sarah. Near the end of her second trimester, Jackie came down with preeclempsia. This forced Sarah to be born approximately three months early. She went to be home with the Lord seven months later. This experience taught me what God’s love is all about. The love that Jackie and I had for Sarah was the closest thing we had to the love God has for us. It also taught us that God can bring good out of any bad situation. After Sarah died, Jackie was extremely angry with God and depressed. While alone in our apartment she contemplated suicide. Before taking that step, however, she asked God to help with her pain. That was the beginning of her saving relationship with Jesus. God truly brings good out of bad. May he receive the glory and praise!!!!!!!

Soon after Sarah went home to be with the Lord, I left the active duty Army. I joined the Army reserves and became a Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO). As a JPO I had numerous opportunities to share Jesus with troubled teens. After 9/11 my Army reserve unit was twice called up to active duty. (On both occasions I served stateside doing intelligence analysis.)

In 2003 I started to take on-line courses at Asbury Theological Seminary (ATS). In 2004 I began to take classes at the ATS campus in Orlando, Fl. Also, in 2004 I became a student pastor at Lake Como Community United Methodist Church. On 1 July 2008 I began pasturing here at Glynlea Grace United Methodist Church.

The most recent event that drastically influenced my relationship with God is Jackie’s death. On May 26, 2007 Jackie, our son Joshua and I were traveling south on Highway 17. A car traveling north veered into our lane and hit us head on. Jackie took the brunt of the impact and was killed. The driver of the car that hit us ran from the scene. He was probably intoxicated. Later that same day, the state police arrested him. I was able to speak at his sentencing hearing. With God’s transforming grace, I was able to speak forgiveness to him. I also told him the good news that God loves him and offers forgiveness. He responded to my words with sincere repentance.I hope to see him again to remind him about God’s love. God’s grace enables us to carry on without bitterness or anger. I know Jackie is part of the great cloud of witnesses and God will take care of me and Joshua.

God has been taking care of us. Members of three congregations and my family have stepped up to help me care for Joshua. They have all been a true blessing. To top it all off, God blessed me with another wonderful lady!!!! Her name is Donna. The administrative staff at St. Paul UMC conspired to bring us together. Their conspiracy worked. We married each other on April 4, 2009. Joshua now has a mommy in heaven and a mommy here on earth. God has truly blessed us. May God use me and my family to bless Glynlea Grace UMC and the surrounding community.