I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Rachael, since 2005. We have two daughters, Emma-Faith and Ella-Grace, and twin sons, Christian and Christopher.
My biblical admiration loves the “father-son” relationship that shines through Paul and Timothy in the Pastoral Epistles. As I grow older, I am also amazed at the active obedience and sinlessness of Jesus Christ in the Gospels. My theological wonder could be pinpointed where common grace and technology intersect. My technological skills are best applied when I spend time with Apple Computers and Logos Bible Software. My historical interest orbits around Jonathan Edwards, highlighted by two research trips to the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale Divinity School.
For a trivial mind-relieving hobby, I enjoy shining my small collection of tactical flashlights outside, journaling with my fountain pens, or reading about Apple technology. Though something could be said for being a consistent member of the same church since 1994, perhaps one hobby may show my ability to tenaciously commit over the longterm despite unforeseen hardships along the way—I have been a fan of Gamecock football since 1994.
Call to Christ
I was not raised in a Christian home. After my step-father murdered my mother when I was 10-years-old, I was adopted by my babysitters. They began going to Gethsemane Baptist Temple in Starr, SC in 1994, and we joined the church as a family in 1995. After typical teenage-boy years, I was truly converted in spring 2001 at the age of 17. Without any human coercion, alone in my backyard and thinking about my life, God saved me. With a simple faith I said, “Lord Jesus, please forgive me.” I was baptized later that fall.
Call to the Ministry
After my conversion near the end of 11th grade, I began thinking about what my life would look like. Quiet, shy, and reserved, I was not pressured to pursue the ministry. My spiritual desires grew, and I privately submitted myself to the Lord and asked if he would allow me to preach his word. A few months later, I graduated from high school while enrolled in a local Bible institute. Enrollment in a local Bible college came next. The next decade was filled with secular blue-collar work, and my free time was filled with many volunteer ministry opportunities as I desired to show the Lord that I wanted to live my life for him in the ministry. Though not in my comfort range, I have participated in three foreign mission trips: Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines. More in my realm, my greatest usefulness during this time was when I joined my desire to teach the word with my fascination for technology. For nearly a decade (2004–2014), I recorded a weekly 15-minute Bible study for a local radio station (WRIX-AM) that eventually became an online podcast that received encouraging feedback from listeners in many states and several foreign countries. Looking back, the content was very simple and down-to-earth, yet it encouraged people from all walks of life to love Jesus and the Bible.
Call to Current Ministry
When I was approaching the age of 30, I specifically began praying that God would open a door for full-time ministry. I had been a member of my church since I was a child and did not want to leave the people I loved, but I accepted that God’s will be done—whatever that looked like. About six months later, our youth pastor accepted a pastoral call in Honea Path, SC. This opening allowed me to become a full-time staff member in 2014 at the church I have attended since 1994. I daily assist the pastor primarily in visitation duties. Weekly, I plan for children’s classes, teen group meetings, and an adult SS class. I schedule teen activities on a bi-weekly or monthly basis, and I aim for SS class home fellowships throughout the year. Each summer, I oversee yearly trips to camp for children in Columbia, SC and teens in Dayton, TN.
Along with being full-time as a youth pastor since 2014, I began contacting Clamp Divinity school at Anderson University in 2015. I was able to enroll in 2018, and I began the M.Div. program in 2019. I have been especially thankful for my time at AU, as this video (link) from the school showcases.
preachertony.com 