PASTOR RANDY
At the age of 12, I came to know the Lord after attending a week
long VBS at a small neighborhood church. My sister, 2 years older
than me also received Him the same day.
After asking Jesus into my heart, I heard Him speak to me "I
want you to preach my word". I didn't really understand what
He was asking of me other than to become a preacher one day. But
after a short while, I was living my life for myself and had put
Him on the shelf.
I soon stopped attending church and became disinterested in the
things of God. I "played" a Christian all through high
school and focused more on playing guitar and singing in a rock
group (and chasing girls…). What Jesus had whispered to me
at age 12 seemed eons past. I had religion, but no relationship.
I was drafted into the U.S. Army in March 1970 at the age of 19.
By the grace of God (whom I still wasn't completely sold out to)
I was spared a tour in Vietnam, and was discharged in November 1971
thanks to President Nixon releasing draftees 4 months early.
I met Debi the following year and knew from the instant I saw her that she was destined to be my wife. Although I was fully convinced at that first meeting; she needed some convincing. We dated briefly and were married in Jan of '73. Our two sons, Jim and Dan, soon followed ('74 and '76). Sixteen years later we were blessed with our daughter, Lacey. I must pause here to brag on my two daughters-in-law, Abby and Jennifer - they complete our sons' lives. As of this writing, Deb and I have 5 beautiful grandchildren (3 grandsons and 2 granddaughters). The greatest blessing of all is that Jim & Abby, Dan & Jenn, and Lacey all know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
After 23 years of running from the call on my life, I was ordained
into the IAOGI Nov of '85. I pioneered and pastored New Life Fellowship
in Pekin for 7 years. At that time some major things happened in
my life. Suffering from severe burnout, I found myself empty and
unfulfilled, so I ran. After a not-so-brief flight turned sabbatical
in Florida, I came back to Illinois to "finish the job"
God had called me to. Days of Grace Fellowship was birthed in Nov,
1996.
It is one of the greatest joys in life to have the privilege of
ministering to Gods people (and to the people who are God's, but
don't know it yet). After all, it's about "building people"
to become more Christ-like. Since 1996 when I decided to stop running
from God and start running to God, He has never let me down. I've
often prayed, "Lord, send us the best!" He has answered
and gone beyond what I could ask or imagine! Days of Grace is made
up of wonderfully diverse, yet unified people who love God with
all of their hearts.
I hope you enjoy your stay/browsing thru our web page, but more
importantly, I hope you will learn from me and stop running away
from God and start running to Him. Remember that it is "His
blood" and "our faith" in Jesus that bring us into
a relationship with God our Father and freely give us eternal life.
(Rom 3:25).
Don't waste another day running. Don't let another day go by without
Him. May the Lord's richest blessings be yours through His wonderful
Son, Jesus Christ.
One last thing: vision. It is important that we have a vision for
our lives - not just a vision, but a God-vision.
I encourage you to pray that God will reveal His plans and purposes
for you personally, and that He will lead you to a local church
that has a God-given-vision. Pro 29:18 says: without a vision the
people lose their discipline.
Fervently pursue Him - run harder toward Him than you ever could run away. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Come see us sometime!
Pastor Randy |
