My parents started a ministry over 35 years ago that has catapulted our lives onto a platform none of us could have been prepared for . In 2001 , Time Magazine named my father “ The Next Billy Graham .” For years our church has been one of the fastest growing churches in the nation . With over 35,000 members and four locations , the church has grown from 50 families to tens of thousands in 16 years .
I spent the first eight years of my life in Charleston , West Virginia . It ’ s certainly not New York , Los Angeles , Chicago , or Dallas , but it was the only version of the “ city ” I knew . Driving a few minutes in any direction of West Virginia will certainly land you into neighborhoods where people would greet you like family or offer to assist you with directions .
We hardy ever went anywhere in our town where my parents didn ’ t see someone they knew “ way back when .” There are very few strangers in West Virginia . To this day , if my father or mother hears that someone is from West Virginia they begin to ask questions about who they ’ re related to . Whether we are in a restaurant or having a business meeting , they will begin to find the two or three degrees of separation that exist between them and their fellow West Virginian .
Everyone in school knew who we were . Our classmates never had too many extensive questions about who our family was or the work they did . Our parents probably knew each other or they knew someone who knew us .
All that changed when I turned eight years old . Our parents sat us down and told us that we would be moving to Dallas , TX . I probably couldn ’ t even point out Dallas on a map , but we were excited !
After spending a few days getting settled and adjusting to a Texas summer , our first Sunday rolled around . Even as a child I could sense that this moment would be important . It would be our first time introducing new members to our pre-existing church family . One of our first times attending children ’ s service we were swarmed by anxious children wanting to meet us , their new church family . Our move would be an adventure ; just not one my young mind could fully comprehend .
My parents have been in ministry longer than I have been alive . I ’ ve never known anything other than spending our weekday evenings at church after going to school . Sure , you are able to help reach a lot of people , but ultimately it ’ s really not the kind of job that your classmates are enthusiastic about .
Their parents were doctors , firemen , lawyers , policemen , corporate executives , flight attendants , and restaurant owners . My parents are in ministry . This was long before T . D . Jakes was T . D . Jakes or Joel Osteen was Joel Osteen . There was no clear frame of
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