Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Paul #2 / Jerry Z.

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to go see my wonderful fiancee speak at VFCC. It was on the flight home that I encountered something that very seldom happens in life. I was sitting next Jerry Z., to the man who was my "Youth Pastor" in my early days when I lived in the hood.

Why do I put "Youth Pastor" like that? Well you need to understand that I was without a doubt one of the most troublesome students he had, along with my friend Christmas. 

We caused nothing but headaches for those people at the Hebron Presbyterian Church. 

For so long Jerry and his team showed us nothing but love and while I was ignorant to it then, it really means the world to me now. Looking back, some of the best memories I have are when I was attending that church. 

While I was so far from God at that point there we so many positive experiences and as much as I thought I hated Christians because of my time here, I truly believe that it was the experience that helped lead me to God. 

Jerry has been at the church for over 20 years now and has seen hundreds of students come and go, but it was nice to see that even after all of those troubling years He still cared.

And now he is just laughing at the fact that two kids from the hood, that no one could stand, and were so far from God are now pastors.

2 comments:

jackthomasblog said...

Hey Shawn, hope you are doing well!! Recently I have been thinking about you and just wondering how you been??

Bless you bro!

Jack

Blessed 2B JR's Mommy-'Amy' said...

I drove past Hebron Presbyterian Church,the other day and thought about the younger years..sure brought back memories of youth groups and the time a group of us went to Mc Connells Mill..good times were had and many lessons were learned by Jerry Z!

I'm PROUD of you..we are proof that great things can come from anywhere,even the Hood!