Our Story

“O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD…You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:1-4, 16

I’d like to share how I turned over penmanship of my life story to Jesus. You see, His pen flows blood-red, it never runs dry and it makes ALL things new….

I had been teaching in high school and coaching soccer for seven years. I was in a nice comfortable routine as my life seemed to be on auto-pilot. Bells would change classes, and whistles would start and end soccer matches. Everything on schedule, including my bathroom breaks. Well, the God that I serve can not be confined to a simple block schedule nor constrained in an eighty minute soccer match. Oh, no…He is way BIGGER than that… “His thoughts outnumber the grains of sand” As I soon found out.

Well, you know how I said that I was on “auto pilot” or “cruise control”. Most of you expert drivers know not to use the cruise control all the time…especially in the rain or you may hydroplane and lose control….Well, let’s just say God woke me from my slumber- I hit a major speed bump- Praise the Lord! The speed bump came in the form of a Bible study. A teacher named Holt Wilson invited me to a morning Bible study once a week before school. The study also involved a book entitled The Purpose Driven Life. There were about seven teachers initially involved with the Bible Study. During this time God was really convicting me of my complacency as a Christian, but He also encouraged me to keep seeking Him in prayer and scripture reading. Our group continued to meet every week and our number grew to about fifteen teachers. During this time God also transferred a student to our high school named Lawrence Powers. Lawrence came from a nearby high school that had a very active FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) chapter. Unfortunately at Smithfield-Selma High School our FCA had been dormant for years. However, Lawrence was not going to accept this fact. He approached me about leading FCA at SSS. Remember, I had been functioning on auto-pilot… “my” schedule, “my” plans…..I told him that I just did not have the time with all that I already had going on…etc., etc.. However, God created Lawrence to be a very persistent, determined young man. Day after day Lawrence returned, and day after day God was working on me and my stubborn complacency. Finally after many visits with God and with Lawrence, I conceded pending one stipulation….that I was not going to be a Huddle Coach by myself. I told him that here was on teacher in my Bible study named Rachel Langley and that if she agreed to help, I would be on board as well. Unbeknownst to me Lawrence had already been recruiting Rachel the entire time. Rachel was also feeding Lawrence many of the same excuses of why she could not help with FCA as well. However, when Lawrence returned to Rachel with my proposal, she wisely (ha-ha) opted to help with FCA too. At long last FCA was rekindled at Smithfield-Selma High School….Boy did sparks start flying- Our FCA chapter became very active. God’s plan for our chapter was to have a real heart for missions. He provided two Mission Trips to Mexico, two to Biloxi, Mississippi and one to Honduras, not to mention the countless opportunities at our school. Oh, and by the way…..remember that speed bump that started it all- Yes, the Bible study and seeking God’s plan. Remember “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Well, it wasn’t in my prior day planner…However, God’s plan was so intricate and complex that not only did He give life to FCA again at SSS, but He also brought a Huddle Coach that He intended to be my Cuddle Coach for life. I proposed to Rachel in Mexico over Thanksgiving on our first FCA Mission Trip. Oh, but God’s plans just don’t stop- He is not a one day planner; he is an eternity planner…

So the adventure continues...Rachel and I have celebrated a year and a half of marriage…and this school year He has called us to yet another adventure- Thus begins OUR WALK OF FAITH…we will keep you posted…May God bless and protect you all!