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. 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 began attending this club where I heard the life-changing truth of the gospel. At approximately 11 years of age, I understood that Jesus had died for my sin and that by trusting in Him I could receive forgiveness for my sin and become a child of God. I believed and became a Christian one afternoon when I asked Jesus to enter my life. Five years later God used an unbeliever to give me a hunger for the Word of God. I had a friend who had started college. He took a religion class which cast doubts upon the Bible. After he shared with me one evening how the Bible “contradicted” itself, the Holy Spirit said to me, “You say you are a Christian, but you are not able to defend what you believe.” That created a passion within me to study the Bible 2-3 hours a night, and I grew by leaps and bounds. A few years later God worked in my life as I was being discipled by a staff member for Campus Crusade for Christ. This led me to disciple a young man on campus. I soon transferred to Columbia Bible College from which I graduated. I sent out resumes fully expecting to be called as youth minister of a church. That did not happen, and I began working in the warehouse of a garment company. I worked there one year. Still, I knew there must be more. I led a Bible study for my peers that fueled a desire to share and teach God’s Word to others. Proverbs 16:9-“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs His steps.” The Lord knew what He was doing in my life, and I wanted to obey. I shared my story with a former pastor who recommended I attend seminary. I did not want to do that, thinking the education I had received was sufficient, but as I continued to reflect upon the pastor’s words, I knew that was God’s plan. I applied to Southwestern Seminary four weeks before classes were to begin in the fall. Two weeks before classes began I received word I had been accepted, and that I was #70 on the waiting list to get into the men’s dormitory. A few days before classes began I drove to Fort Worth not knowing where I would stay when I arrived. But 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.” God provided lodging far superior to the dorm. He gave me the perfect job for a student--one that was flexible and paid good money. Much more than that I met Linda and before our last semester we married. During my last semester a pastor came knocking at my door. His church was looking for an Associate Pastor. He had read my resume in the placement office. I had been looking for God’s place of

service, and when He was ready, He brought it to my front door. Ain’t that something!! I served that church for a couple of years before returning to South Carolina where I pastored 3 churches over the next 38 years. All those experiences enriched my knowledge and walk with the Lord, giving me a love for people that the lost might be saved and the saved sanctified. Now I am retired and continuing to seek Him and what He would have me do during this stage of life. Salvation in Christ is ongoing. He lives in me and continues to lead me. He has led us to Awaken where we now serve at His will.

Your Brother in Christ, Rev. Leon Jones