Saved & Thankful

I’m often so busy walking through each day that I don’t stop and reflect on the journey that brought me to where I am today. I’m not necessarily speaking of the journey that developed me professionally, but more about the journey that helped develop me spiritually.

I grew up in a small town in Kentucky known as Roley. The address was Casey Creek, Kentucky. At that time, you didn’t need a street address because Mr. Ed Walker, the Postmaster knew everyone, and we simply picked up our mail at the post office.  I think the little building was 18’ X 20’. Mr. Walker was one of our church elders. The church was a small church too. My grandparents went there, and my family was very involved. My Dad led the singing and my Mom and Dad taught Sunday School. I can remember lots about the preachers we had over the years. I can still remember Mr. Zach Webb’s prayers because he prayed the exact same prayer every time he was called upon.

I felt the call to ministry early on in life. After graduation from Adair County High School, I went to Johnson University (formerly Johnson Bible College) in Knoxville, Tennessee. I remember really wrestling with my faith, but near the end of my freshman year, my faith became my own. I think until that point; my faith was my parents and grandparent’s faith. I remember well my first ministry – I was a weekend preacher at Crab Orchard Christian Church in Crab Orchard, TN. It was a little community just off I-40 near Crossville, TN. I would preach and then eat lunch with a family in the church and spend the afternoon with them before preaching again that evening. After a year there, I accepted the invitation to become a youth minister at First Christian Church in Maryville, TN.  I served there two and a half years before moving to Georgia to begin a formal youth ministry program at Whitesburg Christian Church. I lived in Whitesburg as well. My first three children were born during that ministry. I was there right at 5 years investing in the lives of students and adults. I then moved to Carrollton, GA and started serving the students and parents there. I had begun working on a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling from University of West Georgia (formerly West Georgia College). I was able to complete the degree shortly after my arrival there. I also went through a devastating and life-changing divorce while on staff there.  I spent just over 15 years in ministry there. When it was time to leave that ministry, I didn’t feel called to leave my children behind (I had legal custody after the divorce), so I changed career paths. Somewhere along the line, I decided to begin each day spending time in God’s Word and journaling what I was reading. That one decision deepened my faith like nothing else. As I read in Isaiah this morning, I reflected on my crazy journey of faith. Check this out….

¹ In that day you will sing:
“I will praise you, O Lord!
You were angry with me, but not any more.
Now you comfort me.
² See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.”  (Isaiah 12:1-2 NLT)

This passage inspired this song that we used to sing in church – “My God Has Come To Save Me”by Waterdeep.

I am so thankful that God came to save me. I trust in Him. He is my strength and my song.

Pressing On!

Dwayne