I was called to the ministry by the Holy Spirit and I knew that I needed more training in order to preach God’s Word more faithfully according to the Scriptures. I was very excited to begin at RTS, but at the same time, there was fear and trepidation because of the high calling to which I felt led. I was 39 years old at the time and I had been converted about six years prior to enrolling at RTS. I had never been to a Bible college. Would I be able to meet the requirements of seminary studies?
I knew the very first day of classes that the Lord had led me in the right path. Once I heard the lectures from those godly professors, it was like water to a thirsty soul. I was privileged to sit under the teaching of such godly men as Dr. Knox Chamblin, Dr. Doug Kelly, Dr. Richard Pratt, Dr. Paul Long, Sr., Dr. R.C. Sproul, Dr. John Gerstner, Dr. J.I. Packer, Dr. Gordon Reed, and others. During my first course with Dr. Paul Long, Sr. I was drawn to take more Missions courses with him as electives. The Lord used Dr. Long as his instrument to change my direction from desiring to pastor a small country church to seeking to serve him on the mission field with MTW.
At RTS, the Lord caused me to grow and increased my desire to serve him in whatever ways he led. I had opportunities to teach a Sunday School class, serve as a deacon, and to preach from time to time in little country churches in Alabama and Mississippi that needed a pulpit supply. RTS helped me to be better prepared to preach the glorious gospel of Christ Jesus in an expository manner so that the people would hear a message taken directly from the Scriptural text.