Roy's Testimony

I can not remember the first time I went to church nor can I remember ever not knowing about Jesus Christ.

My father was a Baptist pastor and Mom was his helper in everything from Sunbeam’s leader to president of the WMU. To say I was taken to church and involved in the activities of the church from the very beginning of my life is an understatement.

I was taught God’s word and encouraged to commit it to memory from a very early age. Growing up as a “Preacher’s Kid” or as Dad says, “A great theologian’s offspring” made knowing about Christ second nature.

At the age of 13, I came to the realization that knowing about Christ was very different from knowing Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. I committed my life to Christ Jesus at Youth Camp in Sligo, Louisiana, where my dad was the camp pastor.

My teenage years and Christian experience were again filled with activity in and around church life. The members of my dad’s churches are a large extended family, not really kinfolk but maybe closer, I have many uncles, aunts and cousins in the Lord as well as brothers and sisters in Christ.

I planned to coach and teach school upon graduation from college. I love to teach and athletics were a large part of life. While I was applying for teaching positions a friend of my dad’s called to ask if I had an interest in serving as a recreation director; their church had just completed construction of a Family Life Center and they were looking for someone to staff it. I thought sure I can do that while I’m looking for a “REAL!” job. God used that experience to open my heart and mind to being called into the ministry.

For 30+ years now I have served in full time ministry, striving everyday to walk as close as possible to my Lord, to be faithful in His service and obedient to Him in practice. There are days when I fail miserably and in those times, when I really need a whipping, Jesus loves me back to Himself. On the days I have walked close by His side, I can truly say, “Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.”
I am eternally grateful to have the opportunity to be the feet, hands, heart of Christ, to serve others in His name.