Technology!  What an awesome concept!  The things that lie at our fingertips are truly unbelievable.  I told someone recently that I felt like I needed to move into the 21st century ... and, thanks to one of my Bible college students, David Towler, I am finally here via this website!  I am grateful for his hard work and support for this ministry.

Many who visit this website will know nothing about the Drawing Nigh To God Ministry.  Others who are friends are not altogether familiar with our background.  I will strive to assist in this area.

 

As long as I can remember, I have had a gift for drawing.  As a young man, I believed that my course was charted:  I would become an animator or cartoonist of some kind.  The Lord, however, had different plans!

 

I was saved at the age of 15 during a revival meeting at the Clearview Baptist Church, Martinsville, Virginia, in 1974, under the ministry of Pastor J. Haywood Alcorn.  Two years later, during the summer of the bicentenniel year, I yielded to God's call to preach His wonderful Gospel.  In 1979, I attended Trinity Baptist College, Jacksonville, Florida, where I met my future wife, Darlene Harris.  We both graduated from Trinity in 1982 with Bachelor's degrees and have served Him in full-time ministry ever since.  Just last year, I received my Master of Religious Education degree from Cornerstone Bible College and Seminary, Bassett, Virginia.

We have had the privilege of pastoring three churches for a period of twelve years:  Grace Baptist Church, Baldwin, Florida; Calvary Baptist Church, Patrick Springs, Virginia; and Druid Hills Baptist Church, Martinsville, Virginia.  I have served for many years bivocationally by teaching in Christian day schools and evening Bible institutes to help supplement income while pastoring.

 

 

While pastoring, there would actually be times in which I would awaken during the night with the fear that I would no longer have the ability to draw.  I was eased in my spirit the next day when I would sit down and "doodle" on a sheet of paper.  I did not understand why the Lord had given me this particular gift, but I was not in a capacity to use it.

It was in 1990 that the Lord began dealing with my heart about this ministry of art.  Through observing the chalk art ministries of two Baptist preachers, the late evangelist Paul Turner of Roanoke, Virginia and Dr. Peter Ruckman of Pensacola, Florida, I felt a definite impression of the Lord to move into this area.

 

I went to a dear brother in our pastorate, John French (who recently went home to be with the Lord), and shared with him my burden.  He built a portable wooden easel (a six feet wide and four feet high drawing surface) which I have now used for the last seventeen years!  God began opening  doors to conduct Vacation Bible Schools until I finally started receiving a full slate of meetings during the summer! 

 

In 1993, I felt led of the Lord to resign the pastorate and enter evangelism on a full-time basis.  I am so thankful for the many doors the Lord has opened for us through these years.

It has been our joy and privilege to preach the Gospel in ten different states.  My heart's desire would be to travel into new areas, including foreign lands, carrying what I believe to be a very powerful method of communicating the Gospel of Christ.  Pray for us in this regard.

 

 

Drawing Nigh to God Ministry has allowed me various outreaches.  Using the chalk art medium, I conduct revival services, Vacation Bible Schools, missions emphasis, Christian school and college chapels, and special days for pastors and churches.

 

It has further been my privilege to be involved in Christian education since 1985.  I have enjoyed working with young people in both Christian day schools and Bible colleges, serving as a teacher, administrator and Bible professor.  Along with experience as a pastor and full-time evangelist, I can honestly say that "my plate is full"!  Although we get weary in the work, we do not get weary of the work.

 

 

Dear pastors and churches have let us serve their ministries through the years. We have never taken this trust for granted.  Some churches and individuals support us on a monthly basis, helping us stay on the road.  To these we say, "Thanks!"

 

We appreciate the support and backing of our home church, Bible Baptist Church of Collinsville, Virginia.  Our pastor, Raymond Moorefield and his dear wife Linda, as well as the congregation, are so very kind to stand behind our ministry.  A strong local church support is crucial to an evangelist.

 

But, most of all, I would like to express my appreciation to my wife and daughter, Darlene and Bethany.  No husband or father could ever have a more supportive family.  I absolutely could not do what I do (or have done) without them.

 

 

Thank you for visiting this website.  Thank you for taking time to read this short biography.  Pray for our ministry and open doors of service.  Send an email;  it would encourage us greatly!