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My name is Austin. I grew up in the church. Every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and even sometimes Wednesday, my family and I were there. Going to church was as normal as getting up in the morning. I sang in the church youth choir, attended youth retreats, and also was baptized at age twelve. If someone had the nerve to ask me if I was a Christian I would say, “Of course! I go to church every Sunday”.
Time went by and before I knew it I was a Junior in high school. As the school year progressed, I kept hearing talk about a Christian retreat. Some friends mentioned that I should consider going, but I really wasn’t interested and besides I already was a Christian.
Well, the year continued and for some reason I started to contemplate attending this retreat. At the time there was really no logical reason for going - like I said before I was already a Christian, it started at 8am on a Saturday morning, it was an all boys retreat, it was March and the ocean temperature was too cold for swimming, and I would even have to miss a tennis match since my team was competing that same weekend!
As the retreat began (ever so early on a Saturday morning), I could barely keep my eyes open. I was starting to wonder why I had even considered being there. But it wasn’t too much longer and we were nailing our sins to a large wooden cross. The veil was beginning to lift and my eyes that I once thought were so open, were just beginning to see the light. Throughout the weekend I learned everything that I thought I already knew, I felt the love of Christ, and I began to see a body of believers that I never knew existed.
My life was changed! Now I knew the truth. I really understood who Christ was, I accepted Him, and He accepted me just as I was. This (of course) is not the end of the story! As I returned to my high school, my church, and my life, my outlook had been completely changed. It was no longer time to just think I was a Christian, but it was time to live like a Christian. It definitely wasn’t easy. I fell many times, had to continually redirect my life, and ran into many conflicts.
Thankfully, I had a network of friends and teachers (public school teachers!) that supported me. They kept me accountable to the Truth and led me always in the right direction. I especially believe that without my teachers in high school, I would have fallen away from the full potential that Christ had for me.
A few more years passed by and before I knew it, it was a week before my graduation from Clemson University. I kept wondering what was next, and I kept praying that God would lead me in His direction. I kept hearing the word “teach” in my head, but I hadn’t even majored in that field and wasn’t about to change majors a week before graduation. Thankfully I followed that word and began to research the possibility of teaching. After spending hours on the internet and having discussions with my future father-in-law, I decided to apply at a few different private Christian schools in various parts of North and South Carolina. After a few interviews at different schools, I felt God “giving me the go” at one particular Christian School.
Over my three years of being a teacher, I’ve realized that teaching is so demanding, mentally, physically, and emotionally. But I’ve also had the opportunity of leading youth in the direction of Christ just as my teachers led me.
God has now led me in me in a new direction. My wife and I have moved to Loganville, Georgia and fallen in love with the people at our church. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to lead worship. The goal is to develop worshippers of God alone. Music is just one of many different vehicles, but music seems to have some type of effect on all of us. I believe that God will use our worship of Him to open the door of many other hearts and allow them to listen to the good news of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ!
It was only ten years ago that Christ revealed Himself to me. I accepted Him as my personal Savior and understood how much He loved me. It was as though a veil was lifted from the eyes of my heart. The funny thing was, was that I had thought I was a Christian up until that point, but suddenly I realized I had just been “playing church” for all the years up until that time. I finally understood fully who Jesus truly was and how much He really cared for me! And the truth is that He cares for you just as much. |
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