Here we go!

Welcome to my initial stab at blogging. Since I have zero experience, and, I am not a great writer, this experience may be short lived. I welcome any and all comments, criticisms, and suggestions.

One of the things I hope to do is to introduce our church family. Our church is made up of families that love God, country, and church. God has blessed us with a group of likeminded, sacrificial, hard working people who desire to see God work in their lives. Getting to know them will be a blessing.

Another item I hope to share with you is a simple thought about the Word of God. It may take the form of a paragraph or several. It may be something I gleaned from another person or something a little more original. (The Bible says there is nothing new under the sun.) One thing I know is it will be...brief.

Let me tell you a little about myself for those of you not familiar with our ministry or family. My name is Dr. Michael Taylor. I don't often use that title, but, I did earn the degree. I did my undergraduate and Master's degree at Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida. I received my Doctor of Biblical Studies degree from Gulf Coast Theological Institute in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. I am a thesis away from a second advanced degree, a PHD in Biblical Counseling, from Immaunel Theological Seminary in Peachtree, Georgia. (I will most likely never complete it.)  My family and I spent nearly sixteen years of service to the country of Ghana, West Africa. We were church planting missionaries. While there I founded Western Baptist Bible Institute in the city of Takoradi. In November 2006 we moved to Katy, Texas (25 miles west of Houston) and started The Church at Katy the following March (2007).

Kim

My wife Kim is a jewel of a lady. I am most fortunate to have a wife that is willing to suffer through the life and path I have trod. Our years spent living in Africa was a true testament to Kim demonstrating the grace of God and "the patience of Job." Life in the ministry is life in a fishbowl. We have five children, three boys and two girls. We also have four grandchildren. Our life is family centered.

I love pastoring and can not imagine myself doing anything else. This story kind sums up what I feel about the life God has chosen for me.

"I can remember shortly after I realized God was calling me to a life of ministry I went to an uncle, and aged, godly, southern gentleman and told him what I believed God wanted me to do with my life. Expecting to hear some sort of positive congratulatory response I was taken back by what he said. He looked me right in the eye and said, "Son, if you can do anything else, do it." Wow, you talk about being floored. I left there that day confused and bewildered to say the least. It was not until I had several years under my ministry belt that I finally understood what he was telling me that day. What he meant was that if I "could" do anything else then I was probably not called to the ministry. You see, when a man is convinced that God has a plan, purpose, and path for him he must walk that path." In the center of God's will is the safest, most glorious place you can ever live your life.

The Apostle Paul said it this way, "Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel."