A few years ago I attended my thirty-year, high school reunion. I felt like a duck out of water with all the drinking, dancing and shmoosing with old buddies who reminded me of episodes that would make my children blush. But one good thing came out of it.

I was glad I was saved.

It revealed the amazing grace of God that saved a wretch like me. I barely graduated high school. My grades had shrunk almost as low as my ambitions for success. The drugs and alcohol saw to that. I left the halls of high school with a 1.9 G.P.A. and a stuttering problem that narrowed my social life down to a few dysfunctional friends… all except one, that is. I had a friend who was a Christian. His name was Luther Nelson.

“Come to Bible study,” Luther said challengingly. “You aren’t scared, are you?” I took the challenge and attended that night. The people were different- They were clean, happy and genuinely glad to see me. I sang, I clapped, I listened, but I walked away without Jesus in my heart.

I was still lost, but curious. I never returned to the Bible study, but I did read the Bible. After several chapters of Matthew, I expressed my feelings by painting large letters on the door panel of my 51-Chevy pick-up truck: “Read the Bible. It will scare the hell out of you!” I kept reading the Bible, often after I got stoned with friends. Then after six months and several divine appointments, I stood alone in the bedroom. I finished rolling up a big “bong”, grabbed my Bible and heading for the backyard. Then it happened. The Holy Spirit whispered to my heart: “If you believe in Me, then why won’t you follow Me?” I knew I had to make a decision. Marijuana in one hand and the Bible in the other… something had to change, and it did. God changed my heart, and I gripped the Bible with both hands.

That morning of January 1970, I asked Jesus Christ to take control of my life. I was instantly born again. The chains of drugs and alcohol were broken in my life. Powerfully, the Holy Spirit filled my heart, and I would never be the same.

The sum of all my fears was going back to school, and second, speaking in front of people. God gave me the courage to enroll at Cypress Junior College, and I also attend the Christian club on campus. To my surprise, my friend Luther was the leader of the club.

“I want you to give your testimony,” said Luther.

“I… I C-Can’t.” The thought of speaking in front of people made my stuttering worse.

Luther smiled, “Yes you can. Try sharing a verse of Scripture before your testimony. God’s Word is powerful. It’ll help.” Just like that, he turned back to the hundred or so people gathered in the classroom. “Okay, everyone, have a seat. Before we begin, I want you to meet a friend of mine. His name is Tom. He just got saved and he wants to share his testimony.” I was mortified, but I learned my first spiritual lesson: God helps you face your worse fears. To my utter surprise, people listened, and I stuttered only slightly. It was then that I learned my second spiritual lesson: God gives you grace to do His will.

Within a year, I found myself leading people to Jesus Christ and teaching the Bible in small groups. Small groups turned to larger groups, and larger groups were transformed into disciples desiring to change the world for Christ. Here, I learned my third spiritual lesson: When God calls you to ministry, people keep showing up. I was amazed that people kept showing up, and that God used me to teach His Word and represent Christ to the world. Each week I thought people would quit coming, but they even brought their friends.

Five years later, I graduated from Southern California Christian College in Costa Mesa with a Magna Cum Laude, 3.97 G.P.A. and a teaching credential. I taught high school, led worship for the late Dr. Walter Martin and became one of the youth pastors at Melodyland Christian Center.

In 1983, I helped plant a church named Zion Christian Center. Two years later I quit the teaching profession and went into full time ministry. I was asked to do things far beyond my mental or creative abilities. Over the years, we saw hundreds of people come to Jesus Christ. Here, I learned my fourth spiritual lesson: God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that you can ask or even think through the power that is at work in you.

In 1998, fourteen years later, I was ready to walk away from ministry and return to the classroom. In my feeble attempt to do so, God led me to plant another church, Heritage Christian Fellowship (See story under “About Us”). I have never served a finer community of families than those here at Heritage. Their love and unity among each other continues to attract the unsaved. Most every week, we watch people give their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Maybe I’ll go to my 40th high school reunion… maybe not. They don’t do much for me. But my relationship with Jesus means everything to me. God reveals His grace to me everyday in multiple ways. I continue to learn spiritual lessons, too. The latest one is: He who has begun a good work in you is faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. As you walk with God, you too, will learn your lessons from God’s deep well of Living Water.