It doesn’t seem very long ago that I was going to run a Sonic Drive-In. Then, as He often does, God stepped in.
I had asked Jesus Christ into my life under an East Texas pine late one evening after a VBS during the summer of 1988. Never having really been “plugged into” a church I just “went about my business." Shortly thereafter, in the summer of 1992, my family moved to Moore, Oklahoma to open up a Sonic Drive-In.
Through a series of events throughout my teenage years God showed me His patience and providence as He called me back to Himself. (Pretty long story... so if you really want to know ask me about it. I’m happy to tell it.)
In the summer of 1998 God saw fit to lead my wife (thought not at the time) Lindsay and I to join Highland Baptist Church. That fall God joined Lindsay and I together in marriage and blessed us with our first child Dawson Isaac Mata.
Through a loving church family God discipled us and began to point our lives in the direction that would lead me away from hamburgers and french fries and toward one of community and teaching the love of Christ.
God changed everything when He told me that I not only could be, but SHOULD be a Student Minister.
It’s not an easy thing to “laugh off” when God tells you what you should do... but I tried! After much fearful resisting and finally joyful embracing I accepted God's calling to the ministry of the gospel. God then opened the door for me to serve here at Highland.
Lindsay and I were voted to come as Interim Student Ministers on September 29, 2001. Our daughter Kyleigh Christine Mata was delivered to us in December of that same year.
A short year later the Lord led the church to call us as the full time Student Ministers of Highland Baptist Church.
Needless to say Jesus Christ has changed my life.
The years since coming to Highland have been incredible times of laughter and tears, joy and sorrow, ups and downs. Basically life. Yet the difference is Christ has always been there.
I’ve seen students come to know Jesus and be baptized. Next to finding Jesus myself there is nothing greater than that.
This story has no end as it is still “growing in the telling” but I can emphatically say it is all do to the will of God the Father, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and a dead life that is now alive in Jesus the Son. May God continue to get the glory!
Amen
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