40 years ago – January 20, 1982 – my dad gave his life to Jesus Christ. At a time when he was losing everything – his wife, his children, his job – a time when he wanted to kill someone – he was at the end of the rope and didn’t know where else to turn – he finally turned to Jesus.
I know of many people, including myself, who have fallen throughout their walk with Jesus. When adversity comes, many get angry with God and go back to their old ways of living. Many come back, but some don’t. I can honestly say that my dad has never looked back. From the day he said yes to Jesus, he has lived a life that has honored God.
In 2005, he was the founder of a ministry that the enemy tried to destroy. The vision was stolen by man, and in 2016, Dad chose to leave that ministry. I was so hurt and bitter because I knew that was a vision that God placed in my dad’s heart, and the enemy tried to steal and destroy. The enemy tried to rewrite the story. But God said NO! God said that Dad would continue elsewhere to fulfill that vision in the community of Poteet. These last 6 years have been rough, but they have also been amazing as God rebirthed the vision and wrote out the blueprints. I would pray so much that Dad would live long enough to see the vision completed in our new home, that he would live long enough not just to get into our new home, but to enjoy the fruits of his labor and continue to lead our flock under his wing. I am extremely grateful that God is answering that prayer and that my parents are where God planned them to be. It’s no coincidence that we completed our home in 2021 as Dad turned 77 years. 7 is the number of completion and this was my prayer in 2021. And it’s no coincidence that we celebrated this past weekend with people who have been in Dad’s life throughout these 40 years in ministry as he was celebrating his spiritual birthday this month.
40 years! That’s a long time!
40 years I have watched my parents in ministry, sometimes walking through the desert feeling alone, feeling betrayed, feeling broken. But I can honestly say that Dad has never ever lost his first love – Jesus Christ! And that fire still burns bright within him! I thank God because that life-altering day changed the destiny of all our lives.
Happy 40th Birthday in Christ, Dad! ✝️🤍🕊
FindJoy 