My name is Randy and I am an Associate Professor of Mathematics at a large regional university. I have taught mathematics for more than 25 years. With a BA in Mathematics and Physics, an MA in Mathematics, and a Ph.D. in Mathematical Physics, many would say that I was well educated, but in reality my education was severely lacking when it came to the Bible and its teachings. In what follows is my story of how I came to know the Lord, accept Jesus Christ as my savior, and what has happened to me since.

I was saved in the spring of 2009, and that began a metamorphosis of my internal and external being. I have always been shy and introverted, and remember a time when I did not have much interaction with students or colleagues. I was not very well liked, and as a result continually played the victim, blaming everyone and everything for my unhappiness. I never thought that something was missing in my life, rather I wallowed in my self pity and made those around me miserable.

My journey to salvation began when I picked up a flier for a church seeking musicians for their worship team. I thought that my son would be perfect for the job, so I had my daughter call and inquire about the job. We sent an audition tape to the worship leader of the church, and the next week my son was to audition in person. We took him to where the worship team practiced, and it was there that my journey truly began.

While the team was practicing, I met a young pastor by the name of Glenn. We talked for a while and he told me that he would talk with the worship leader about my son joining the team. Ultimately, my son was hired and he played with the worship team for several weeks. We always accompanied him to practice, and then we also went to see him perform on Sunday mornings. I remember listening to Pastor Glenn and thinking that he was a bit odd, but definitely gung ho about the Lord.

Each week, the congregation would go around hugging each other, even me, which I thought was odd. They greeted me each week I came, and went out of their way to make me feel welcome. I never have been so openly welcomed anywhere, and it felt good. What I did not know then, but can see now, is that the Lord was speaking to me through Pastor Glenn and the congregation. What I heard made sense, and I realized that I wanted what these people had, but I wasn’t going to start raising my arms during songs, or go to prayer before the service. I had to draw the line. I mean, I had an image to keep up. At least that was what I thought.

I started getting weekly phone calls from Pastor Glenn inviting me to church. He even started saying how much he loved me and, in spite of all this, I continued to go to church even after my son left the worship team. Each week I would listen intently to the message that Pastor Glenn spoke and I even started getting involved with clean-up after church. At this point, my family says that they began seeing changes in me. Suddenly I was smiling and in a good mood. I didn’t seem to place the blame on others for life’s situations. Rather, I accepted them for what they were. In class, I began to interact with students more, and really tried to get to know them. I was actually happy and looked forward to each day. I even began looking forward to church on Saturday nights. Periodically, Pastor Glenn would ask those who had troubles to come to the front to pray with a member of the prayer team. I can still remember how terrified I was to walk to the front of the church to pray. I thought it was a sign of weakness to admit you have problems that you could not solve by yourself, and it took all of the gumption I had to get up and ask for help. I don’t remember what we prayed for that first time, but I do remember feeling a sense of peace after praying.

Randy attends Northwood AG in New Orleans, Louisiana, led by Campus Pastor Glenn Leingang. Northwood’s New Orleans campus is a CMN Matching Funds church that launched in January 2009.