Testimony of salvation, call to preach and call to pastor at heritage Baptist church.
Testimony of salvation
I grew up in mainstream Christian churches, and went through a period of time where my family was apart of the home church movement (“organic church”), we heard things about scripture and I heard of all the accounts of the Old Testament, but it never seemed real to me, as stories in the kids books. I was about 10 years old when my family started attending a Christian church where the Bible was preached, but in a way to please the listeners more than to convict the sinners. Although the gospel may have been presented it wasn’t something articulated where I understood it. I grasped that I was a sinner but it wasn’t until my father had decided for us to attend Temple Baptist church that I really heard the gospel on a consistent basis and I grasped that I needed to be saved, however I thought I had already been saved from a confession I made around the age of 9 years old. It was October 2012 that a missionary came and preached on Hell and the truth that I would go to hell forever if I didn’t get saved. I remember the next day I wanted to drive to work so my brother and I wouldn’t get killed in an accident and so I wouldn’t go to hell. It was Tuesday evening when I couldn’t handle the conviction anymore and I got down by my bed and pleaded for God to save my soul so that I wouldn’t have to go to Hell. I placed my faith in the finished work of Christ, and I accepted the gift of salvation that Tuesday night. I remember how exciting it was to be free of the burden, and the fear of death. God had changed me completely and given me a home in heaven!
Testimony of my call to pastor.
After I got saved I understood that God wanted me to do something with my life but I just wasn’t sure what it was. In 2013 I was getting involved with the youth group under David Prince where I learned so much of the working of God in our lives and the grace he bestows to conform us in the image of Christ. During my second year at Sagmount Baptist youth camp I decided to be a part of the practice of preaching and I began to feel a love for the Word of God in teaching and preaching it to others even though I had no clue what that meant. On the Thursday night of camp I surrendered to God calling me to preach the Bible and teach what it says. I talked with my pastor Bro Howerton once we got back and he encouraged me on following God with my life and reading the Bible to learn it more. I got my first set of books from him as my mom and I took my sister to the Mayo Clinic for a series of tests. It was there that I read through the books and got a passion for reading and learning more about God and what he wants his people to do. I was privileged to learn under Bro Howerton how to study the scripture, how to preach and teach the Bible and how to love people regardless of how they respond to the work of God even in the midst of pain. I was able to spend time in an institute class with Brother Gary Carty and Bri Howerton spent time investing in me with doctrinal studies and understanding the ways to study scripture through the study of words, I was able to work with kids ministries, bus ministry, preaching, teaching, soul-winning, praying and organizing the ministries God placed us in while at Temple.
In 2017 I married my wonderful wife Kylie after getting to know her family and we have since had two kids Adeline Marie and Elias David. In late 2018 we moved from Wichita, KS to Springfield, MO where I served under Bro. Matt Dedmon and learned more about the study of scripture and spending time with God to reveal the truths to apply in our lives. I’ve had a chance to continue studying the scripture and spending time in practical ministry work with door knocking and serving in a youth camp, a mens meeting and a ministry family camp that our church hosted.
After the Devil attacked the Dedmon’s and got ahold of Miss Chrissy through an affair it has since greatly affected the church and my family as well; when Bro Matt decided to pull the trigger of his gun it not only changed his life, but also his families and the church he was pastoring. Although circumstances have been difficult, I strongly believe a single mistake does not dictate who an individual is, and I also believe Heritage can not only survive but thrive as we pursue God’s leadership in all that we do. I am not naive to think there won’t be more attacks of the devil ahead in this area, and that my wife will have things come up over the years ahead as things may come up, I understand God has called me to pastor my wife and family as they deal with things and not a church at the stake of my family. God made it clear to me that it was his plan for me to serve as pastor at heritage when we made the decision to leave for a weekend while Bro Shull preached so that I could seek the Lord’s will in my call to pastor and in what capacity God wanted us to serve at Heritage for the future. I felt the confidence of God on that call to pastor as I studied through the scriptures and it was confirmed through 2 Timothy 1:9 that God is not calling as being qualified, but of his own purpose and grace bestowed on my life. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I am confident that I’m in God’s will as I pursue his grace and the purpose he has given me for my life.
Sunday 2pm and second service at 3:30pm
Tuesday 7-8:30pm