Many have asked who I am, my training and experience. Here it is:
In my teenage yrs I joined the Youth For Christ and became a follower of evangelist Billy Graham. At that age I played church, read and preached his sermons on Sunday mornings in our yard. My childhood friends would come dressed up for church. I preached and we sang songs.
At 17 I joined the Navy and learned a lot about the other side of life. Once most of my oats were sown I returned home and went into business with my father. I later joined a local church and became a choir director, sunday school teacher, and deacon and began to lay preach. I entered college, was ordained, called, and served several churches while becoming envolved with a multi-level company.
Becoming aware that I would need to make more money to support my family I studied for and became a Chartered Financial Consultant at The American College, Bryn Mawr, PA.
As I had learned more about religions and philosophies I became aware there were similarites in their beliefs about a diety or dieties but far apart in who or what they were, expected and did. This led me to believe that there was a higher power, the Ground of all Being, the Eternal One, the Holy Spirit, the “I AM” who lives within us who came to us that we might have life more abundantly and continue to live forever in His Spirit, love and truth.
I grew up in Florence, SC; in the Navy 58-64; have BA from Baptist College, Charleston, SC 65-69 (now Charleston Southern University); MDiv from Southeastern Seminary, Wake Forest, 70-73; DMin from Union Seminary, 77-79; served pastorates in Allendale, Sycamore, and Kline, SC, Charlottesville, VA, Louisburg and Williamston, NC; minister and counselor 70-83; ChFC and CLU from American College, Bryn Mawr, PA 87-89; was in financial services and part time ministries 83-08. My wife and I are still in part ministries: preaching, singing, writing, guest speaking, seminars, counseling, personal consultant, etc. My wife, Glenda, has worked with me for over 35 years in our part time ministries, is an accomplished musician (piano and organ), served as secretary at several churches, Dept. of Agriculture, restaurant catering manager, etc. and has worked (part time) helping the unemployed find training and internships at Piedmont Technical College. Now we are both care givers for her active 91 yr old mother who is of sane mind, goes shopping, likes to read the paper daily, cooks, etc. and puts together jigsaw puzzles at night. Of course, we have to support her in many ways.
~mackie
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