I came to Christ as a Jr. High student while growing up in Clinton, Mississippi. I had been active in the Fellowship of Christian Atheletes and Youth for Christ during those early days. When I finished high school in 1974, bass fishing was taking a serious place in my life. I began substituting Sunday church attendance with weekend tournament angling to go along with my job as a manager of a local sporting goods store in Jackson, Mississippi. Bass fishing became a "religious experience" for me so to speak. I had met several of the early Bassmaster fishermen who hung out around the Ross Barnett
Reservoir in those days. One of those was Don Norton whose son Kim was in school with me. (Kim now works for Cabelas in the fishing equipment division which was how the Lord placed me with Cabelas as a major sponsor in 2000.)

In 1978 things began to change dramatically.While a member of First Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, the Lord got my fullest attention when I was asked to begin teaching Sunday School to Singles. God was up to something much greater than I ever realized. In less than a year, God had called me to preach and I surrendered to fulltime Christian service. Knowing that my education was essential, I enrolled eventually as a fulltime student at Mississippi College. I completely sold all of my fishing gear (boat, tackle etc.) down to one rod and reel and set my heart on following the Lord's call on my life.

Just prior to completing my Master of Divinity Degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, I aquired a two man fishing boat to fish the canals in and around New Orleans. Gradually God permitted me to gather up gear so as to have a hobby outside of the pulpit. I pretty much determined that that would be the extent of my fishing escapades.

Before coming to the church field in Greenwood, Mississippi in December of 1990, I had begun to join the ranks of tournament fishing but only as a weekend warrior. About 1993 I began to attempt to get drawn to fish Bassmaster Top 100's as an amateur to learn more about the sport and to meet some of its "Stars." Until the 95/96 season, I had failed to secure a spot. In June of 1995 I submitted two entries in hopes of increasing my chances of getting in ONE tournament. I was drawn instead to fish in both!!! Only now do I realize what God was doing.

The first tournament was a complete bust in December 1995 on Lake Seminole. However, I learned then about the FOCAS (Fellowship of Christian Anglers Society) organization and about the Bible study fellowship in provides to the families on the Trail. In May of 1996, I fished the Top 100 event on Lake Neely Henry where I met Jay Yelas for the first time. Jay was a young Christian but my first day's partner, David Dudley, invited me to go with him for "Prayer Meeting" that first morning in Yelas' hotel room. I consequently was invited to bring the Bible study meditation at the FOCAS meeting that
week. GOD THUS CATAPULTED ME INTO THE CALLING OF SPEAKING TO FISHERMEN ABOUT THE LORD.

Several Top 100's later, as well as joining the amateur ranks for the FLW TOUR (cashing a check in every I've been fortunate to fish) I turned professional in 1997 and began leading the FOCAS meetings on the Central Bassmaster Trail ever since. I became the director of the Fishers of Men Trail in Mississippi in 1999 which has opened countless doors to expand my greater calling of preaching the gospel and fishing professionally as the Lord has enabled me.