Tony Myles

As long as I can remember, I've always known “about” God. It wasn't until I actually got to know Him personally, though, that my life changed beyond comprehension.

I grew up loosely Catholic, dabbled a bit in atheism, and was completely smitten with girls when I first caught a noticeable glimpse of God's story. During my junior year of high school a friend invited me to his student ministry in a church building that looked nothing like any I'd ever seen. Perhaps I was a bit dense, but it took me a month to even realize where I was and what they were doing. What threw me off was that this community of real people didn't care what I wore or how I talked but loved and accepted me for who I was (and not just for who I was supposed to be in their eyes). Over time I learned that the reason they treated me this way was because God had entered their lives in a similar way of grace and they were compelled to follow in His footsteps.

I came to realize that being a Christian meant so much more than just doing good deeds to balance out the bad or saying a "get out of hell free" prayer of salvation. It was about reconnecting myself back to God through the sacrifice He made for me as Jesus Christ. After some time, I trusted in Him as the Savior and Lord of my life and started to live each day by a wisdom that trumped my own. It wasn't long after that before I chose to publicly celebrate this abundant life He offered me through baptism (affirming the one I wasn't able to choose as a baby). I was blown away by it all, including my newfound desire to invite God to "mess with my life in the best way possible."

Not long after high school, I began wrestling with Him about being a pastor... I sensed He wanted me to take this step but I couldn't understand why. There were a lot more qualified people I knew who would do a much better job. I knew very little about the Bible, still struggled with some addictive sins, and had no clue about why I could be of any use to something so awesome as the Church. I struggled with this for a whole year, even doubting my faith in the process. Finally, I gave in and began to understand God is most interested in willing people He can gift than people who think they're God's gift to the world.

Along the way, I began to realize who I really am.

One of the greatest gifts God has given me is my wife, Katie. She speaks love and truth into my life that the Lord uses to keep me accountable as a man of God. Our marriage rocks and is founded in Jesus Christ, allowing me to glimpse sides of life that I'd be missing without her. Our boys are amazing, too, and probably teach me more than I teach them.

So everyday I keep at it - looking for God and how I might join Him in whatever He's doing. In doing so I hope to find a balance between standing firm in Him while maintaining a teachable spirit... everyday is another opportunity to connect with and learn from Jesus Christ. Maybe I'll even get to share that wisdom with others, which I'm always on the lookout for.

This is my story...
who I am and am becoming in Jesus Christ.