I was born and raised in Horseheads, New York where my life’s dream was to play professional football.  At the age of 10, my best friend invited me to his church activity, and an elderly man from that congregation took interest in me. He found out my address (two blocks from his house), showed up one day and arranged with my parents to take me to church in his car every Sunday.  On the third Sunday I attended, I finally understood the gospel, gave my heart and life to Christ, and He saved me.

When my earthly father died from cancer just before my high school graduation (he was the first person I won to Christ two weeks earlier), I decided to decline the scholarship offers I had and play football as a walk-on quarterback at Liberty Baptist College.  At our first scrimmage, I broke my left collarbone.  However, I was able to be the punter for that season.

Then January 1978 came around and God called me to preach His Word.  I remember it well.  I resisted during the invitation and my body began to shake.  I couldn’t control it.  As I grabbed the pew in front of me thinking that would make it stop, it only made it worse and others began to look at me.  So I stood up, walked forward (the shaking now stopped), knelt before God and said,  “Here am I, use me, wherever you want.”

However, still wanting to fulfill my dream (why are we so stubborn?), playing in the spring game, I hyper-extended my left elbow.  It wasn’t easy; I wanted so much to be on the football field, but God wanted me on the mission field. So I finally completely gave in, quit the team and joined a singing team called SMITE where my microphone partner, and now wife, was Annita DeVilbiss.

For the last 35 years God has helped us in Mexico City to establish 8 churches, currently oversee 15 missions, run a Bible College that has 35 students and 67 graduates all over Mexico and other countries, administer various Manna feeding centers for needy children, and reach thousands of new Mexicans every year with our summer evangelistic events.

Am I happy?  You better believe it.  Do I miss the States?  Not really (maybe my family, friends, and Land of Lakes salted butter).  Nothing gives Annita and I more joy and satisfaction in life than to know that we are right where God wants us, and He’s blessing our efforts.  We plan to breathe our last breath on the other side of the wall.

What about you?  We all experience divine moments in life. Make the most of yours for the cause of Christ.  Go ahead, launch out into the deep. If that’s where God wants you, you’ll never be happier any place else.

-by Ed Hoagland, missionary to Mexico