I was blessed to have a Christian mother who faithfully took my sister and I to church. I jokingly tell people she had me in church nine months before I was born. Though the practice of weekly church attendance was ingrained in me, I am sad to say that I do not recall hearing the gospel during the first ten years of my life. But God intervened in the matter of the Gospel.

There was a small country church less than a quarter mile from our house that took an interest in children. They began a Good News Club that met on Friday afternoons. I attended this club, where I heard the life-changing truth of the gospel. At 11 years of age, I understood that Jesus had died for my sin, and I trusted Him to forgive my sin and receive me into His family.

Six years later, God used an unbeliever to make a profound change in my life. I had a friend who had started college. He was taking a religion class that cast doubts upon the reliability of the Bible. He shared with me one evening how the Bible “contradicted” itself. I had no answers. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. “You claim to be a Christian, but you cannot defend what you believe.” A hunger for the Bible was stirred in my heart, and I began to study the Bible 2-3 hours a night. I grew much in my understanding of God and His will for my life.

A few years later, God arranged circumstances to lead a staff member of Campus Crusade Campus for Christ to serve as a mentor to me. I soon transferred to Columbia Bible College, which further deepened my walk with God. After graduation, I knew God was calling me to serve Him in a full-time capacity. It became apparent that God wanted me to first pursue further training, though I was not keen on the idea.

I applied to Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, TX four weeks before classes were to begin in the fall. Two weeks before classes began, I received word I had been accepted and was #70 on the waiting list to get into the men’s dormitory. God gave me a promise on the day of my departure—Psalm 139:5 “You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.” In that verse God assured me that His protective hand would be upon me and lead me each step of the way.

God provided lodging far superior to a dormitory room. He gave me an ideal job for a student- one that was flexible and paid well. The biggest blessing of all was that He led me to my future wife. God took me halfway across the country to meet a woman who would be the ideal pastor’s wife— one who loved the Lord and was filled with wisdom and compassion. We married prior to our last semester.

During the last semester a pastor knocked on our door. He had seen my resume in the placement office and believed that I was the best person for the Associate Pastor his church was seeking. Proverbs 16:9- “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” I had sought church positions in the past, but only when the Lord had laid the proper foundation in my life did He open the door I was seeking.

Over the next 40 years, I pastored three wonderful churches in South Carolina. God filled my heart with love for His people and for those who did not know Him. I studied, preached, and shared God’s Word, and He enriched my life and others.

Linda and I retired and moved to Columbia in January 2022. Within a couple weeks, God led us to Awaken Church. We love the people and the spiritual pathway the church is taking. Our lives have been enriched as we have served in many areas. God is still molding us as we look to Him.

The Lord has blessed us with three fine children. All of them know the Lord and are walking with Him today. Jennifer lives in Charleston; Katie in Atlanta; and Kyle in Lexington, SC. Kyle and his wife, Kari, have two children— a girl, Margot, who is 2 and a boy, Carter, who was recently born on October 23.

God has been so good to us. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, Bless His holy name.” Psalm 103:1.

Your Brother in Christ, Rev. Leon Jones