My Testimony

I guess the first thing I'll share with you is my testimony.

I was raised by my mother and step-father along with four brothers and sisters in Lamont, Oklahoma. I was saved when I was nine years old at Camp Lela near Pawnee, OK, and was baptized a few months later at the Lamont FBC. When I was ten years old, I felt God calling me to be a preacher, and from that point on I knew that was what I was going to be. At the age of fifteen I surrendered to preach at Falls Creek, and God began opening doors for me to preach and share my testimony at FCA meetings and Youth Groups in my area.

In college I became involved in the Baptist Student Union at NOC, and I started traveling with that group doing several Youth Retreats and Revivals in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. In the spring of my freshman year Northeast Baptist Church in Ponca City let me do an internship with their youth and children’s workers that lasted a year and a half. In the Fall of 1989 I transferred to NWOSU, and soon after arriving at Northwestern, Cherokee FBC called me to be their Minister of Youth and Activities. When the pastor left I gave my resume to the pulpit committee knowing I had been called to preach, but they felt that I was not ready. One night after a deacons meeting an older deacon, as well as an old friend said, “Brother Andy, if God has called you to preach, He will provide a place for you to preach.” That night the pulpit committee from the First Baptist Church of Helena called to see if I would be interested in sending them a resume.

During our tenure at Helena we went on a mission trip to South Dakota, and while there God moved my heart for little churches struggling in that Southern Baptist pioneer area. Needless to say Dustie and I took a tiny church in Sioux Falls, and worked hard for three years nearly to the point of fatigue. The church grew and became self sustaining, but we left after three years spiritually, financially, and emotionally drained. After our ministry in Sioux Falls, God led us to the Kansas City area, and this is when I began my formal seminary training.

During seminary at MBTS I was the pastor at the Seaman Baptist Church in Topeka. We were happy there too, and the ministry was thriving, but after about three years Immanuel Baptist Church of Blackwell came calling. It was a long, hard decision to move to IBC but we felt God leading us back to Oklahoma. Moving to Blackwell was like coming home for me, and I could write a book about what God did in Blackwell, and the love we experienced with our church family there.

In September 2005 FBC Hobart called me to be their pastor. Again it was a hard decision, and God orchestrated some amazing events to take us there. Hobart has had a tremendous history in Baptist life in Oklahoma, and I am thankful to be a part of that history.

In January of 2008 God brought us to Riverview Baptist Church in Bixby. We are excited about the future of RBC, as Bixby is the fastest growing town in Oklahoma. We have a great staff, a loving church, and the FIELDS ARE RIPE FOR THE HARVEST.

I have been through alot in my life. Maybe I'll blog about it later. I just know God has used every event, every person, every ministry, every church, every victory, and every trial to shape me into the man, husband, father, and pastor that I have become.

To God be the glory.

SG - Andy