gjohns2's profile

I grew up in a Christian household where both my mother and father went to church. Because of this I went to church and Sunday School every week. I was saved at an early age at Vacation Bible school at The First Baptist Church of Woodway. I remember Pastor Toby coming in to talk to my group and asking us if we understood what it meant to be a Christian and if we understood what Jesus did for us when he died on the cross and rose again three days later. He said that if we understood that we could pray the prayer of salvation with him and ask Jesus into our lives. On that day in Vacation Bible School I prayed that prayer. A few weeks later I met with the Pastor again one on one so that he could talk with me and make sure that I understood the decision I had made and then I was baptized.

After that I began my journey as a Christian. Because I was a Christian I tried to live my life differently than others and that wasn't always popular. I was made fun of quite a bit in Junior High because I wouldn't use some of the language that other guys would use or I wouldn't participate in certain activities. After I got to high school I began to participate in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and other Christian clubs and activities. I played baseball and tried to be a Godly influence on my team and in the classroom. One of the most ironic things about all of it is that one of the guys that made fun of me in Junior High became one of my best friends in High School.

When I graduated High School I was offered a baseball scholarship to go play for McLennan Community College. I was in a room with three other guys that I had never met. One of them stayed out all night and drank all the time ... the first semester I had to share a room with him. The only thing that got me through that semester was my faith and studying the Bible daily. In the end God had a plan for me to be there and I met one of my best friends that I was able to invite to my church and we went just about every Sunday. After my two years at MCC I transferred to UT Tyler where I met a core group of friends on the baseball team that are still my best friends today. The base of this group was from Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Christian Band Eagerly Waiting. I was invited to this group by a friend and the next year I was invited to be a part of the leadership team. We grew from about 25 attendees on Wednesday night to around 100 by the end of my senior year. Most of the people I met through FCA are still my core group of Christian Friends.

My senior year at an FCA meeting I met my wife Tara. We were introduced through a mutual friend and began dating a few weeks after that. Looking back it is awesome to see how God used a series of seemingly unrelated events to lead me to meet an amazing Christian woman. After about eight months Tara and I were engaged and we got married six months after that in the town of Silsbee where we live today.

There is actually a pretty neat story in that itself. When we decided to get married, Tara moved back to Silsbee to plan the wedding and I was working at a bank in Tyler. I tried to find a job in Beaumont but could find nothing so one month before the wedding I had to trust God, quit my job and move to Silsbee. Within that month we were able to find a house and I got a job ... God is great. I am currently attending Calvary Missionary Baptist Church where I am working with the youth and helping to build the youth group up.

The one thing that God is still teaching me is that no matter what the circumstances, if you truly give it all to him, he will provide in ways that will surpass your wildest imaginations.