My parents did not take me to church on a sustained regular basis as a child.  However, I was baptized at Lambuth Memorial Methodist Church in south Oklahoma City when I was in elementary school in Moore, OK.  In junior high I joined First Baptist Church in Altus, OK.  I was active there in junior high and throughout high school in various

religious activities including Sunday morning and Sunday night worship services, Sunday School, Wednesday night Bible studies, youth choir, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and organized prayer groups.

 Also while in high school, I sang and led the singing in revivals around southwest Oklahoma.  Frequently, the ministers for these revivals would tell me to “make ‘em cry” with the thought being the harder they cried, the longer the altar call, the more money brought in, and the more souls saved.  This type of attitude began turning me away from the church as an institution.  Some of these same people were talking with me about going to Oklahoma Baptist University to become a music minister.  Through a God-ordained series of events, I was offered several scholarships to OCU. 

Ellen became ill.  My first priority was caring for her which involved moving to Oklahoma City where I could find a higher-paying position, and she could be closer to medical facilities.  As hard as it was to leave our home in Piedmont, it had to be done.  God led us to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church which welcomed us and nurtured us.  They provided her with a Stephen Minister.  Seeing how much good Stephen Ministry did for her, I wanted to try to provide that for others.  I became a Stephen Minister and eventually a Stephen Ministry Leader.  I might have had ideas about being a full-time servant of God in Piedmont; however, it was my time as a Stephen Minister when it really began to blossom.  Stephen Ministry taught me how to be with people during the tough times and also that to truly give love well we must also receive love.  That was when the idea of being a full-time servant of God became a voice. 

It was my great honor and privilege to walk Ellen home.  Ellen went from my arms to God’s on January 7, 2003.  In what would seem in human terms to be a tragedy of epic proportions, God’s gentle presence met me at every level that I could imagine.  He sustained and renewed.  Prior to her death, Ellen and I discussed the ministry.  I do not travel this path because of some obligation to her.  I don’t do this for some self-serving ego satisfaction.  This is quite simply where I must go.

 On January 17, 2004, I met a new soul-mate.  From our very first meeting we knew that together we would petition God to use us in full-time Christian service.  Although Jana does not seek ordination as I do, we are committed to work as a unit to praise God for the glory of the Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to further His kingdom here and now.

 Rev. Walker Ferguson  

Rev. Dwight E. Wilcher               

Rev. George W. Graham        

Rev. Perry McArthur                

Rev. Robert Harrison                    

Rev. John Daniel Salter                          

Rev. Julius O. Himes         

Rev. Faris T. Weaver        

Rev. Jesse E. Marlin                               

Rev. Joe Allen Carson                            

Rev. Clair Payette                                   

Rev. George Edward (Ed) Elswick         

Rev. Noah W. McCain                           

Rev. Jerry Neal Fast                               

Rev. Jerry Neal Fast                          

Rev. Montie Dale Jones                          

Rev. Harold C. Lambert                        

Rev. I. Boyd Ruffner                               

Rev. Barbara Le Hays                          

Rev. James Robert Bullock                     

Rev. Charles Dozer                               

Rev. C. Lindell (Lin) Sylvester                

Rev. Gary L. Davison                          

Rev. Joseph Albrecht                              

Rev. Cheryl Benson                               

 Rev. David Gardner