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My name is Randy Reed. I’m a part of The Bridge, a Foursquare church in Charles Town, W.Va., pastored by Tim May Jr. with his wife, Susan.
I grew up in a Christian home. My mother was the ultimate Christian prayer warrior. Growing up in that environment and in church, I gained much knowledge about the Bible and God.
When I was 13, I started attending our youth group. That same year, I received the baptism with the Holy Spirit. I was on fire. However, I still had an emptiness inside me that would eventually lead me away from God.
I desperately wanted to be accepted by my peers in school. Throughout high school, I began to socialize with others who had common interests and hobbies. Those relationships led me into such things as tobacco and alcohol use. I eventually began abusing marijuana, and lived that life for the next few years.
Then, when I was 24, God grabbed me! One evening, as I watched a beautiful sunset, I felt His presence. To paraphrase what He told me: “This sunset is unique for today. Tomorrow’s will be different, and the day after that will be different as well. Each day has been created for a purpose, just like your life.”
During my time of drinking and partying, I always knew God was real; but at that moment, I knew just how real. After that, God began to work in my life. He showed me grace.
I wish I could say that from that moment on, I quit everything and was sold out for Christ, but that is not how it happened. I am a work in progress. He is teaching me that His grace is sufficient for me (see 2 Cor. 12:9). He is replacing the areas in my heart that I tried to fill with “stuff.”
I am now 29 and in love with the Lord Jesus Christ. I currently lead our youth ministry, as my passion is for the next generation.
