Growing up here in Atlanta within a fine Christian family, I accepted Christ as Lord and Savior while at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church and was baptized by Dr. Lewis Wright, my grandfather, in Spartanburg, SC. Even though I was a Christian, the actual practice of my faith was what I would describe as ‘God by convenience.’ I would call on Him when I needed Him. But as a high school student at a Young Life ranch in Colorado, I became convicted of this mindset and made the decision to give Christ all my life. That’s when I came to understand a personal relationship with Christ and began to grow in my faith. Young Life, to this day, has had a special place in my heart.

While attending college at the University of South Carolina, I met Anne Hoskins and knew that God had given me a special gift in her. We were married shortly after I graduated, and we moved to Augusta, GA, where I started a career in the business world with Puritan Chemical Company. Anne had two more years of college, so she transferred to Augusta State University and graduated from there in June of 1977.

After about 2 1/2 years of really enjoying the business world, I began to struggle with a calling to full-time vocational ministry. I resigned my position with Puritan and entered Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. While a student at Southern, I was called to serve as pastor of the Cove Hill Baptist Church in Carrollton, Kentucky, and was ordained by my home church in April 1978.

Upon graduation from seminary, I became the first Minister to Single Adults at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. In December 1981, while leading a growing single adult ministry, I received the official call to come and be the first full time pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, GA. Johnson Ferry was a ‘start up mission church’ with about 20 families meeting in an empty doctors’ office. Having pastored at Johnson Ferry since that time, I can truly say, has been one of the most profound blessings of my life. Our church’s mission statement is a reflection of my heart’s desire, “To love God and worship Him as we reach and disciple people for Jesus Christ.”