The start of my journey with Jesus Christ began when I was 10 years old. This was the year my parents got divorced. I then went to live with my Dad at my Grandmothers house. And the number one rule if you lived under Grandma's roof was going to Church on Sunday. Grandma had given birth to 19 children, of which only 14 lived past infancy. Then my Grandpa died when my Dad was 6 years old. And he is the 5th youngest child. With 12 Children still living at home, my Grandma worked 3 jobs as a Nurse to support all her children. Needless to say, she was a very busy women. But she always made sure that she made time to take her family to Church on Sunday. Although she was to sick to attend Church with my Brother and I when we moved in. She had us bathed and dressed and waiting for the Church bus every Sunday morning. I am very thankful that my Grandmother Violet E. Angus who died on Easter 1997, planted the seed of Jesus Christ inside me to grow. I attended for a couple years, then I became bored with Church as most pre-teens do. But the holy spirit stayed inside me ever since.
Then my next venture began when I was 16 yrs old. I was a Junior in High school when I met the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. And I loved her country accent. The only draw back for me was that her mother was a hardcore Christian. And she told me that her mom would never allow her to date me because I did not go to Church. And I really liked this girl, so I started going to her Church. Although my initial intentions to attend were because I was chasing this girl around, I was at a point in my life when I had a lot of questions. So I paid good attention to my Pastor Steven Cole, and really learned a lot about my saviour. I continued to love God and attend Church there until I graduated. I then joined the United States Air Force, and I still had a fire burning inside of me. While I was still in technical training I joined every bible study available and started a Christian vocal group to tour around the local Churches in Texas. Then once I reached my permanent duty station, I continued volunteering for the Chaplain services, and attended as many bible studies as possible. Then once I visited home, I asked my girl Heather Lynn, who I had been chasing for 3 yrs now, to marry me. I knew God created her just for me, and me for her. We then got married a couple months later. Once she joined me, we started attending couples study groups. Along our path we met great, strong Christian brothers and sisters to fellowship with. Our good friends Syd and Sue Swann, and My buddy Roger Hall. They were a very positive influence on Heather and my life. Over the next couple years we continued a great friendship and we all started having Children. This is when God blessed me with the first 2 of my 3 beautiful children. Adelina Grace in 95 and Kenan Dale in 96. Four months after my 2nd child, my military service was up and we moved back to Ohio.
Once in Ohio I started my Floor covering business. My family continued to attend the same Church that we left after moving away. After a few years back, I started skipping Church more and more. Then after some financial struggles I started to fall into a deep depression. I then started sliding backwards, and started to drink alcohol regularly, and experiment with drugs. This was a very short lived time in my life. The Holy spirit continued to work on me. Then one day I suddenly just said that's enough for me God. What am I doing with myself. I can't believe I turned my back on you. And there God was to pull me from my slumber. I felt him reaching out his hand all the time , but I did not want to grab onto it. Then finally I did. And I continue to walk hand in hand with him everyday.
Then not long after that I Joined the Newark Vineyard Church. Then I was asked to join the Worship band. And I still continued to play with them every Sunday for about 4 years . And this is in the time of which my 3rd blessing from God was born, Isaiah Ray 2006. I was part of a great family at NVC under the direction of Pastor Phil Dunfee and Pastor Chris Fry. I learned a lot from these men. In late 2008, Newark Vineyard merged with another ministry called Last Call Ministries in Newark. Under the strong leadership of Roger and Marilyn Morgan. They have since called the new church " The Church Without Walls" Roger and Marilyn have had a positive influence in my life. And they had a calling to serve the community through a food bank, and thrift store, and homeless shelters, or anything that anyone needs. Roger and Marilyn have dedicated their life to serve the lord through these ministries. And they have provided our band with a safe and secure home to practice for our music ministry. Windrush is very grateful for them. When the merge happened between the churches, my wife and I felt led to get involved in another church with a youth program that our kids felt comfortable with. Although I do randomly attend some evening services at "The Church Without Walls" We felt God was also leading us elsewhere. We were willing to sacrifice our own wants in a church for our kids. We knew we would not find everything we wanted in a church with a great youth program, a spirit filled worship, and a great teacher for ourselves as adults all in the same church. Boy were we wrong about that. God led us to Vineyard Grace Fellowship. There we have everything we ever needed in a church. Not only do they have an awesome youth program led by Youth Pastor Todd Garman, but a great spirit led worship by Worship leader Chris Lawson, a great leader , teacher, and mentor in Pastor John Schouten , and a great body of leaders and members for support and love for God and the community. I am proud to be a part of the VGF family. VGF Rocks!!! I also want to thank my Mother-in-law Debbie Jacobs for being a solid rock for me and my family ever since I was a 16 yr old boy, chasing her daughter around. She has always been that shining light on the path for me , that has never burned out.
And through a music festival hosted by Newark Vineyard Church in the summer of 2007, I met a band called Windrush, in which I later became a member of. And since I have been playing with them, I believe God has finally showed me what his plans are for my life. I am thankful for Strong Christian Brothers to be involved in this ministry with. Randall , Josh, Robert, Ryan, Tim and the rest of the crew, have been such a positive influence on my life. I am closer to God now more than I have ever been. I am completely sold out to him. My life belongs to him forever.
"Thank you Jesus".