Austin Gardner

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Our Generation Summit 2011 from Christian Ministry Videos on Vimeo.

Even if you are close friends with our family you might want to skip this post. It is very personal. I just wanted to tell my wife I love her and thank her for the 37 years together.

I know you will not believe this but from about the age of 12 I dreamed about getting married and having a family. I dreamed of a girl who would share her life with me. In the fall of 1972 I saw that girl. She was wearing her hair long, wearing blue jeans and moccasins sitting on the curb in front of her dorm. She smile and spoke to me. I thought what a wonderful girl.

I want to tell her and you how much I love her and what she has done in my life. We had our first date in December of 1972. I called her from a pay phone back in McEwen, Tennessee over Christmas break. Her mother answered and told me that she was not at home but staying with a friend. I called twice. She was never home. My cousin, Mark, told me that Betty just might be the one. I told him that she had no interest in me.

He said call her. I did. She wasn’t home. You would never believe where she was but it sure discouraged me.

We rode horses together, sang in a gospel group, traveled together etc but she wasn’t in love with me. She thought I made a good big brother. I was more and more in love with her every day.

I didn’t tell her because enough girls had broken my heart already. I didn’t plan on that happening again.

Finally in May of 1973 I asked her to marry me some day and she accepted. I then called back and asked her about August. She thought I was crazy and her parents really thought I was crazy but we got married on August 18, 1973. Betty was 19 years old and I was just 3 days short of 19.

We had nothing. I still lacked 3 years of college but boy was I happy. I had married the most wonderful woman in the world. Life was finally complete. She made all the difference in the world.

I stayed in school and we started working in our first church in October of 1973. From there it has been a whirlwind. Almost 37 years in full time ministry. Not getting paid enough to make it and working other jobs. Not knowing what I was doing in the ministry or as a husband but we made it.

God gave us 4 wonderful children. They have been the greatest blessings to us. He has now given us 14 grandchildren and one more to be born in December, Lord willing.

What a God and what a life!

I don’t know another woman who has experienced such drastic change in modern days. We have lived in 3 countries, 16 houses, pastored or worked in 9 churches, 1 Bible College, and many other ministries.

In the beginning we literally had no money. We struggled to get by but we were happy.

For over a year I gave up my salary, Betty didn’t have a job, and we lived out of an offering box like George Muller. God met every need. It was a thrill.

We finally had a church that was paying us and bought us a car and we surrendered to go to the mission field. We again had no income so it was full time on deputation but God met every need.

I can truly say like they sang the other night at Vision, All the Way My Savior Leads Me!

Betty there has never been another like you. You were meant for me. I am so glad that God blessed me with such a wonderful gift. You are more than life to me. I love you.

I have made many, many mistakes in my life. There is much I could go back and do better. I haven’t been the best husband, the best dad, the best pastor, or even the best Christian, but one thing I have never regretted was asking you to marry me! I love you.

I have no idea what God has for our future but I can promise you this, with you it will be fun, good, and worth it. You are the greatest. I love you.

For those who know us. She wanted more than these posts on my blog. She wanted a card. So I got her one this time.

What Matters Most? from Christian Ministry Videos on Vimeo.

God has blessed me with a very wonderful Sunday School class. Tonight we had a get together at the Clapp’s house. It was a great time of fellowship. Everyone had a wonderful time of BBQ, talking, and enjoying each other’s company.

Something completely unexpected happened. The class gave me a framed work of Thomas Kincaid entitled Prince of Peace. It is beautiful. They were very generous and kind and I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you publicly to all of them and to the Lord for the privilege of being part of the class and pastor of Vision Baptist.

Thank you all so very much!

VIDEO CHURCH from WADE WILLIAMS on Vimeo.

Commercial for Vision Baptist Church from Christian Ministry Videos on Vimeo.

Vision Update 2010-08-03 from Travis Snode on Vimeo.

Evidence of my Prophecy from Trent Cornwell on Vimeo.