since 1/12/02
I was born in Kings Mountain, NC; a small town 30 miles west of Charlotte, NC. I was the youngest of ten children. The first male lived for 3 months and died. My mother lost a set of twin daughters within 6 hours of birth. I have three older brothers and three sisters. I was raised in a Christian home, but growing up in a textile town in the south is the pits. I was small for my age and had to constantly fight for survival. I got to the point that I liked fighting. I was sick of poverty and sick of people telling me that I needed to get saved or I was going to Hell! I felt I was IN Hell and I was trying to get out! I joined the Army and volunteered for the Airborne, because I wanted the toughest thing they had. I had found my home.
I was in and out of trouble because of my temper but I was a good soldier, so I would get busted, pull hard labor and start all over again. When I would come home my relatives were afraid of me. Any time they tried to talk to me about God, I would always say that if God wanted to talk to me He knew where I was and I didn’t need any middleman. In 1995 pneumonia had permanently damaged 80% of my lungs. I was told that my condition was terminal and that my life as I knew it, was over. I was asked to consider going to church. I had decided already that the things I had done in combat would keep God from forgiving me. Also since I hadn’t asked His forgiveness when I was healthy, then I wasn’t going to do it just because I was sick.
My wife asked that if she bought me a Bible for Christmas 1996, would I read it. I told her I would. January 2, 1997 I was sitting at my kitchen table fixing to read my bible. The Bible fell open on it’s own and I was looking at John 3:16. God spoke to me and said, "Don’t you think it’s time you thank me for all I have done for you?" I started to pray and God lifted me from that pit of sin and saved my soul. I thank God for PMIM and Chuck Dean for planting the seed that made me want to go on point.
Point Man International Ministries
since 1/12/02