I am 66 years old, and I was born and grew up in Blythewood, S.C. I had two older brothers and an older sister. My parents and my two older brothers are now deceased. I was raised in a Christian home and accepted Jesus into my heart at age 12. I grew up attending church every time the doors were opened, attending Sunday School, Training Union, Wednesday services, Youth group activities with Christian friends.

I was married at age 20 and we were growing in the Lord. We were blessed with two daughters. We stepped out and became part of a new church plant in Pontiac S.C. I became the Worship Leader and as the church grew the demands of full-time employment, church responsibilities and family gave Satan a foothold and I became prideful and arrogant, specifically with my family. As our communication drifted further apart and it ultimately led to a divorce. I resigned my position questioning how this could have happened. After our divorce was final, I encountered Cindy Croft Gardner and we had conversations about our lives. We would not date and she provided Godly council to attempt reconciliation. I repented of my sin of divorce and sought forgiveness from many that I had hurt. I attempted to be reconciled to my former wife, but she would not agree and was planning to remarry, and she did so. After she remarried, she was killed a parachuting accident. My daughters, one in college and one in High School, lived with me.

Cindy Croft Gardner and I began seeing each other and with the blessing of her daughter and son and my two daughters we were married in 2002. God restored what the enemy tried to destroy. Our marriage is and has not been perfect but we both strive to allow God to be the center of it. We have been blessed with many grandchildren. I am so thankful that God is a God of second (and third...) chances. His mercies are new each morning. We are following God’s guidance as we understand it in His word and through his speaking to us. Cindy and I were led to join Awaken in 2021 where I currently serve on Awaken Cares, Guest Services team(s) and co-lead a D-Group. Cindy and I are excited about what God is doing and has in store for the future.

As you can see, I am not a perfect man, but God is pruning and shaping me to be more into the image of His son. I retired from Dominion Energy in 2022 after 43 years of employment. Cindy and I enjoy being together, serving God together, and enjoying our Grandchildren. It is an honor and a noble task to be considered an Elder in God’s church but that is not what defines me. I am a Saint of God that fights against the flesh for the Glory of God. Habakkuk 3:17-18 states “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vine, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my Salvation.

Lester Hood
1 Corinthians 15:58