I grew up on a small farm in East Tennessee with my three older brothers. Our father was a preacher and our mother was a teacher. Now I know it sounds like something out of a song, but that was life. Every Wednesday night and all day Sunday I was at church listening to Dad preach. I was taught from a young age the importance of faith and trust in Christ. Dad always made it clear that it was the most important thing in life. We were not rich and may have not always had what we wanted, but we always had food in our bellies and clothes on our backs.

In grade school I began to play football. Unlike my brothers, I was never what you would call a top notch athlete. However, I still enjoyed the game. Just because I had practice and school work never excused me from my chores on Dad’s farm. He always made it clear that football was a choice, but good grades and chores were not. It was one of the things that taught us that just because you have things you want to do, there is still many things that need to be done.

Once I got to high school I met the love of my life, Crystal. I did not know it then, but she would one day become my wife. We would date throughout our freshman year but I was immature then and it never worked out. I was a loud, outgoing, goof off and she was quiet and shy. I thought after we broke up it was over for good. I thought wrong.

Once I graduated high school I joined the Tennessee Army National Guard and went off to Fort Knox Kentucky for basic training. I thought I had gotten away from my dad’s preaching, but his sermons rang in my ears. One night I realized I needed God in my life and finally surrendered to Him. After that I would spend my downtime reading and studying the Bible.

A week after I graduated I received an email from Crystal. All it said was, “Hey, how have you been?”

We exchanged numbers and that night we talked on the phone the entire night. We had both matured and wanted to find someone who we could settle down with. I instantly began falling for her. Two months later I proposed and then a year later we got married. Now I am a preacher, married to love of my life, and have three amazing kids.