My entire life I have been in church. I’m not for sure where I would be right now if my parents had not always made church a priority for our family. It wasn’t until 2012 when I made the greatest decision ever. On that September day I put my complete faith in Jesus Christ, and asked for forgiveness of my sins, and as a result my life drastically changed.
Although I was saved, I had drifted from living a life that was pleasing to God. The summer before my Junior year in High School, my youth group went to Fort Bluff youth camp in Tennessee. There I rededicated my life to Christ. I told God that He could use me to serve Him, and show people how amazing He truly is. That night God placed a weight on my shoulders. Speaking clearly, as if He was whispering in my ear, I heard God say, “Travis, you’re called to preach the Gospel.” Honestly, it shook me up and I prayed about it for a couple of months, but I never told anyone or tried to do anything about it. Thoughts kept going through my mind constantly. “I’m not a preacher’s kid, why would God want me?” And, “do I really think I know enough about the Bible to preach?” I understand now that the devil tricked me into thinking I wasn’t truly called by God. So I just took it as I had fooled myself, and just forgot all about my calling.
As we know though, God doesn’t give up. Senior year rolled around, and everyone was talking about what they were going to major in, but I had no clue. A teacher asked me one day, and startled by her question, I said the first thing that popped into my mind, “I’m planning on majoring in business.” So I began telling everyone this lie, but in the back of my mind I kept recalling the summer at camp when God spoke to me. As my Senior year of high school was ending I registered for classes at Sandhills Community College. However, two months after graduation, God finalized the plans for my life while I was attending the Burlington Tent Revival in NC. This revival was originally planned as a week long event, but it ended up lasting twelve weeks. Under that tent the Gospel was preached and many souls were saved! One evening in particular, Brother CT Townsend was preaching and it seemed like God was screaming at me again to go into the ministry. I was still scared to death, so I prayed and prayed about what I was feeling. The next week we were back under the tent, and I felt God definitely calling me into the ministry once more, except this time more urgently. That night I surrendered to the call of God to go to school and become an evangelist.
With God ALL things are possible! Praise God! For the rest of my life the only thing I want to do is serve my Savior, teach people about Him, and win more and more souls to Jesus Christ. This is my second greatest decision; and I am excited to see where God leads me as I begin this journey of serving Him. I have such a burden for lost people. With God’s guidance I plan to fulfill the life He has for me. A verse that’s been on my mind lately is Colossians 3:23-24. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 – Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” I have already had struggles and no doubt there will be many more times that the devil will try to stop me, but I know who holds my future and what He has called me to do and I will do with all my heart. After all, He laid down His life for me, the least I can do is serve Him with mine!
