David: Meet The CEO and Founder
I want to share my life journey and connect with everyone!
The most influential person in my life is my father. Although we had some challenges in our relationship at first, a key moment changed everything. One evening, he invited a coworker to our home for dinner. During this time, he spoke passionately about welcoming the Savior into our hearts. I had just experienced my salvation and baptism three months before, so it was inspiring to see my family accept this message. The turning point came when I saw my father, mother, and sisters bow their heads together to pray the sinner's prayer. The next day, my father made a big change. He decided to get rid of his Beatles records and took apart the television to remove influences that didn’t match our new faith. This brave step opened a new chapter for our family, filled with hope, love, and shared values.
The first lesson my father taught me was how to use utensils properly during meals. He believed that eating carefully showed the values of a good leader. At that time, my skills were basic, but he stressed the importance of saying prayers before meals. These prayers included not only our personal needs but also prayers for others, like our church community and our pastor’s family, along with a blessing for the food.
As time passed, my father got more involved in church ministry and enrolled in a Bible institute. He greatly admired Dr. Peter Ruckman, and the institute had about 700 to 1,000 eager students. My father worked hard at the Navy for eight to nine hours a day. After work, he would come home, take a quick shower, and my mother would prepare our meals for transport. She usually drove, giving him time to rest or study during the ride. His classes lasted from two to four hours, depending on the day. He attended classes after church on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Thursdays were also busy with learning, and my mother helped clean the campus to pay for his tuition. During this time, my sisters and I attended Bible study classes as well.
On Thursdays, I was excited to join outreach activities called soul-winning, using church buses. Fridays became days for street preaching and giving out tracts. My mother worked hard to prepare meals for people in need in downtown Pensacola, and it was inspiring to see many accept Jesus Christ as their Savior during these moments. Saturdays were filled with preparing the church for Sunday services. We would meet with ministry heads, starting with a challenge at 9:30 AM, then assign tasks at 10:00 AM. My parents played essential roles in the Outreach program, helping those in need with food, home repairs, transport, and more. After finishing our tasks around 1 p.m., we continued getting ready for Sunday services. Once home, my father would enjoy a well-deserved rest while my mother handled household chores, giving me time to play. Though our lifestyle was demanding, it was also very rewarding, filled with purpose and joy in serving our Lord.
I look forward to sharing more about my hero in Part 2 next month. There’s so much more to tell about my father's impact on my life and the lessons I've learned from him. Stay tuned!
