I was born in 1930 and I spent much of my early life in a foster home. I grew up a rebellious boy and did a lot of fighting. My schooling was through the 4th grade and at 13 I went out on my own. I worked in many
different jobs. I fell in love with Sally Ann Cooper at age 11 (she was 8). I declared then that she would be
my wife and in 1947 we were married. I was 17 and Sally was 14. I was in the US marines from February
1948 to July 1951. Sally and I were self-employed at a young age with many different businesses over the
years. Paint contracting, retail, restaurant and horse related businesses.
In April 1975, I had a “Damascus Road” experience. I was traveling from my home in Florida to Tennessee buy horse merchandise. At the time, we owned apartment units that I was trying to sell to the man I was buying the horse merchandise from. He said he was “absolutely not” interested in buying the apartments. As I drove to Knoxville, I was questioning God. I said “God, if you are really alive, then sell my apartment units”. I found out later that, that was a big NO-NO because this was considered putting a fleece before God. But God did not hold that against me. When I arrived at the wholesale house and was getting my order ready to load, the man asked me if I had sold my apartment units. I told him I had not and he suddenly said “I have decided to buy them”. Well, I knew inside that Jesus had done this for me and was very excited... but I kept it to myself. I left Tennessee with a loaded truck and a promise to buy my apartments and headed for North Carolina.
I stopped and called Sally about 3:00 p.m. and told her the good news about the apartments. I got back in the truck and the next thing I remember is sitting in the truck and feeling strange and not knowing where I was. For some reason, I was parked in a pull-off. I got out of the truck and walked up to a highway sign... It read, Florence, South Carolina. I looked at the clock and it was... STILL 3:00 p.m.! I had traveled about 400 miles! As for the mystery of time, I believe God translated me and the truck. You decide for yourself. I know it sounds strange... but not to Father God! I looked in the mirror to see if I looked any different... I did not... but my life has never been the same since. I drove straight home (about 12 hours) and told Sally “I met someone I love more than you... His Name Is Jesus!” She was shocked of course, but then came to know Him too, about 3 months later. Glory to Him forever!!
Off to Bible college! I knew the Lord was calling me to Bible College so, Sally and I went to Tulsa, Oklahoma and enrolled in RHEMA Bible Training School. I then graduated in May of 1984 and returned to my home in Virginia and started a church in Washington, Virginia. We had a very loving congregation and served as for 10 years...
