I grew up attending church, but when I was nine years old I recognized that I needed a Savior. At that point I understood, at least at some level, that regardless of how much I may have attended church, how good my parents may have been, or whatever good things I had done or may ever do, it was not enough to bridge the gap between my sinfulness and God’s holiness (Titus 3:5). So, in “Junior Church”, as we called it back in the 70’s, I trusted Christ as my personal savior (John 1:12). I began to grow as a young Christian but after moving from Southern California to the Kansas City area I was basically spiritually adrift for about three years.
Late in my eighth grade year, I was blessed to be challenged by a Youth Pastor who had a passion to see kids walk with the Lord. He taught us, encouraged us, laughed with us and cried with us. He emphasized the importance of God’s Word and its application to every area of my life (Ps. 119:9-11). I thank the Lord for his impact on my life to this day.
As an adult, there are certainly times that my walk with the Lord has not been as strong as it should be, but the Lord is ever faithful (I Cor 10:13) and patient. He has provided good friends (Proverbs 18:24) who have challenged me along life’s Journey. In addition, almost 17 years ago, along life’s journey, the Lord gave me a wonderful wife (Proverbs 18:22). Donna trusted Christ at the age of 18 while a Senior in High School and grew spiritually in her home church in Garden City, KS. She was also involved in Baptist Student Union at college and spent a summer as a missionary in Malawi, Africa. She taught school for two years but retired from teaching when we married. The Lord has blessed us with six children since we were married in 1990. I have said for years that God uses children to help build into us what we may be lacking in spiritual maturity. God, obviously, thought I had a long way to go and a lot to learn. Our children all bless us and challenge us in unique ways. We thank God for the gifts that they have been and continue to be.
At this point, in my Christian walk the Lord has inclined my heart toward these books; Ephesians, Colossians, I & II Timothy, James and Proverbs. Paul’s prayers are certainly challenges to my own prayer life. As God’s Word says in II Tim 3, all scripture is inspired and profitable for teaching and training, but these specific texts are the ones God is most using at this point in my life to teach me.
I think I have said enough now, but I welcome input from those in and outside of the church who desire for Colby Berean Church to be a church where God is honored and glorified, His people are cared for and encouraged, and the Gospel of Christ is proclaimed.