Life Story
Growing up, my parents took my sister and me to church every Sunday. The messages I heard always stressed the importance of good works but never actually talked about whoJesus is, howwe could know Him, or whywe needed to know Him. When we moved away, I stopped going to church altogether.
When I was 26, I worked as a high tech sales rep, making a six-figure income with a house and a BMW. When I wasn’t working, I pursued pleasure in all its forms.
Even though I wasn’t the slightest bit interested in searching for God, He was patiently searching for me. Knowing me completely, He did it by using something that was sure to get my attention – a beautiful girl.
We met at a health club where we both worked out, and as we talked, I knew that I would never meet another girl like Dawn. I was completely head over heels and couldn’t believe my “luck” when she eventually agreed to go out with me. She was a professing Christian, which is precisely how I ended up sitting in a church pew every Sunday listening to someone teach from the Bible.
As I heard the pastor speak about Jesus, I began to hear about a God who loves us, who wants us to know Him, and who wants us to have a relationship with Him. I had always thought of myself as a “good” person. Jesus, however, began to redefine for me what it means to be good. I began to see my own life in contrast to His and that, in comparison, I wasn’t so good after all.
I became aware of God’s promises to His children – promises of an abundant life here on earth, followed by eternal life with Him. Most amazing of all, there was nothing I needed to do to receive these promises but believe that Jesus was the Son of God, that He died for my sins on the cross and rose again three days later. I learned the message of the Bible, but could I really believe it?
While on a business trip, I stopped in the airport bookstore to find something to read. Browsing through the religion section, I saw a book entitled “Is the New Testament History?” There, laid out in black and white, was a list that included all of my questions and then some. I quickly grabbed the book, paid for it and devoured it on the plane ride home.
Shortly thereafter, I was driving my car on another business trip and listening to a Christian message on tape. I followed the speaker in prayer to place my faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
About six months later, Dawn and I were married, and we have been pursuing Christ together ever since.
Hope for The Village Church
My hope for The Village is that we would glorify God by passionately pursuing His commandment to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.