When I was 18 years old, I heard a clear call to ministry from God. This was significant because I was not at a place in my life where I was seeking God, quite the contrary! I was running as hard as I could in the opposite direction. I didn't ignore the calling, but I didn't respond either.

Let me rewind a bit and give you some more details. I had grown up in a Christian home where my dad was a Southern Baptist preacher. I had been in church as long as I could remember and was expected to stay in church. And I did, as far as Sundays went. Monday through Saturday was a different story. When God moved my family to South Florida, I tried to go the opposite direction, towards Tennessee (does this sound a bit like Jonah to anyone?), but He had other plans for me. I went to South Florida and that was the turning point for me. No, I didn't have a dramatic, life changing event where I gave my life to Christ and have served Him ever since (that would have been great). I did, however meet an amazing young lady at the church where my dad was pastoring and that would ultimately save my life. The interesting part of that is that I didn't want to go to South Florida because of the latin population there. The young lady I met is from, well you guessed it, Cuba! Yes, God does have a sense of humor. It was at that church where God called me to ministry. I was involved in the music ministry and in the youth ministry. I had most everyone fooled into believing that I was a good kid who was serving Christ, but instead, I was on a road that would eventually lead to almost losing my wife and land me in drug rehab.

The plan had been for me to go back to school to get a degree in music, then on to seminary and on to ministry. Things didn't quite work out that way, mainly because I didn't want to give up a great paying job to go back to school. That's what I said to anyone who asked. The real reason was that I didn't want to give up the secret life I was living!

But God... He is patient, and kind, and works out all things for the good of those who believe in Him (Romans 8:28). As I look back, I can see His hand at work, using the things in my life to prepare me for the work that I would eventually do. Finally, I completely surrendered my life to Him and things began to change.

He moved us to Tallahassee in 1995. I still believed that my calling was to music ministry, but His plans were different. In 2002, I started my business that works exclusively with churches designing and installing audio-visual systems. God has been so faithful to us and has always provided exactly what we need when we need it. As I look back over the journey, I can see how God has been there at every juncture working things out for my good. Was it His will for me to be a drug addict? I don't think so, but He has used it over and over for His glory. I have had the privilege of working with other addicts, co-counseling with my wife other couples who are struggling with addiction, as well as the opportunity to work with some amazing churches like City Church in their audio-visual ministries!

I am very thankful for City Church. It has been a church that has touched our family in many ways. Recently, my niece was in a car accident that put her in coma for a couple of days. Dean, Matthew, and the staff continually prayed, called, and spent time with us at the hospital. That is what the church looks like! I look forward to seeing what God is going to do at City Church this next year and in the years to come!