Post Office Box 514 Wylie, Texas 75098
info@FDBerry.com
Copyright © 2008 -
FDBerry, Sr.
SPEAK LORD, SPEAK TO ME: My Personal Testimony of The Call, Response and Philosophy to Ministry
PERSONAL TESTIMONY
My Christian journey has been just that…. a journey. The journey began at home with my family that was greatly influenced by my ‘village’. My village consisted of my mom, dad, grandparents, sister, church family and ANYONE who sat on their porch while drinking coffee in the morning or worked in their yards in the evening that lived in walking distance from my home or my grandparents’ home. Being raised in the south with the values of ‘yes sir and no sir’, respect of others, the appreciation of a hard day’s work and a sincere love and dedication to Christ was the foundation of my upbringing.
Living a Christian life was an expectation in our home. Going to church was non-
Serving in the church was great but I knew that there was more… especially for me. My desire to understand what God was doing and to see ministry in action lead me to reach out from my local church family to explore other churches and diverse denominations. I recall visiting other ministries and churches of different ethnic backgrounds and some of non-
This was the new life that I heard preached and sung about all of my life. I recall getting up from the altar and walking straight to the restroom to look in the mirror. After all, I had heard for years, that I would look at my hands and they would look new; I would look at my feet and they would too. Looking in the mirror in the restroom at church on that faithful Sunday left me a bit surprised and slightly confused. My outside features did not change at all…..I had the same hands, same feet, same walk and yes… I heard myself; it was the same talk. I asked myself what changed? I didn’t question the fact that I prayed an honest prayer and that I asked Christ into my life and I believed with all my heart that Christ heard, and answered my prayer just as the bible declares in Romans 10:9-
My dedication to God remained the same; my commitment to church and the works of the church remained untouched; my desire and zeal for ministry remained the strong; my hope in Christ was un-
Without a doubt, God has done and continues to do just as I have asked according to God’s will for my life (John 14:13). I have seen many things, experienced many answered prayers, worked through many challenges, celebrated many successes, and studied under some of the best teachers. All of which have worked together to help form my understanding and philosophy of ministry, my practice of worship, my plan for administration as well as my three-