Godly Guys

 Since the day I was born, I believe that God has been using various people in my life to mold me and shape me for his ultimate purpose. Here, I specifically want to recognize the men who have sacrificed so much for Christ and have helped to make me into the man that I am today.

The man whom I owe the most to, is invariably my father, Joel Funchess. To say that I am blessed to have had him as a father is just about one of the biggest understatements I can imagine. His constant zeal for the cause of Christ and his costly sacrifices for his family have had a paramount impact on my life. While my dad is not perfect, he has set an example that I believe every father should follow. His love for me is unconditional, this being evident in my rebellious teenage years, when he had to withstand the antics of an annoying young boy (me). But through it all, my father showed me love, grace and mercy just as Christ showed love, grace and mercy to His children. While my father has worked tirelessly in his career in order to provide for his family, he has found great success in the business world. However, it is a beautiful thing to see my father gauging his ultimate worth and success on his job as a father. This is the call for any man who God blesses with the gift of children. He has worked and sacrificed his whole life for his beautiful bride and his children, and that is exactly what Christ did for us. So, to my father, I must extend the most genuine and thoughtful thank you. I will forever love you and strive to honor your name, because you honor His name.

Throughout my tumultuous teenage years, there were several men who also shaped me. One that comes to mind is Doug Stephens, my youth pastor. Brother Doug, as we called him, is now a pastor in a small town called Midway just outside of Tallahassee. It was Brother Doug who God first used to speak to me about giving my life to full-time vocational ministry. I remember very distinctly, all the times that Brother Doug would call me his “protege.” At the time, I would ask him what it meant, for my vocabulary was quite confined. But I eventually learned what the word meant and was honestly quite honored. This meant that someone believed in me. It was a beautiful thing. Brother Doug taught me so many things about walking with Christ that I still use today. I know that God is using him to reach students and adults alike throughout his sphere of influence.

Another influence that God used was the actual youth group that I was apart of. There were several guys who I looked up to that may or may not even be aware of the impact they have had on me. In my younger days, I specifically think of guys like Lee Williams, Mitchell Kauffman, Jeffrey Shifflett, Mike McAuliff, John Paul Linton, Josh Vasquez, Chris Hickox and so many others. If I were to list all of the guys from my old youth group, the list would be nearly endless. I can remember all the way back to 7^th grade when I went on my first mission trip to Washington D.C to the last summer camp that I went to in North Carolina my senior year in high school. All of the memories in between are innumerable. I am so grateful for the guys that helped set a Godly example back in the day. I'm not sure where all of these guys are at nowadays, but if any of you end up reading this, just know that God used you in big ways; ways that you probably didn't even realize until this moment. I pray that you would all still be readily available for Christ's call on your life; because you all have great talents and abilities from God to be used for His glory. Thank you guys. I miss each of you.

The next group of guys is a group whom I have the utmost respect for. These are the pastors who have either directly or indirectly spoken Biblical truths into my life and molded me into the Jimmy Funchess I am today. I first think of the only two head pastors who I have ever been under: Dr. Randy Ray from North Florida Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida and Pastor Anthony George from Aloma Church in Orlando, Florida. I had the opportunity to sit under the teaching of Pastor Ray for the majority of my life, learning the fundamental truths of Scripture, so as to set a foundation for the life I would one day lead. I remember as a kid, sitting on the front left pew in my church with my brother, Michael. My dad was on stage in the orchestra, and his furtive glances ensured that we remained attentive to the Pastor's sermon. As I grew older, I truly began to appreciate the Gospel that Pastor Ray preached every week. I know that he has been used in monumental ways at that church, affecting so many lives throughout his tenure at North Florida. I have so many memories at the church. I often times wish I could go back to the days of running through the halls of the church, playing hide ans seek in the basement, or running a relay at AWANA. Thinking if it brings tears to my eyes. Pastor Ray, if you ever read this, please know that I love you dearly and I am so grateful for the impact that you have had on my life. Thank you so much. I am also think of Anthony George at Aloma, whose preaching I look forward to week in and week out. I have met few people in my life who strive after God as Anthony George does. He sets an amazing example for his church in the way he lives and leads, causing those around him to strive for Christ as he does. Words can't express the respect I have for Pastor Anthony. One day, I hope that I can live in a way that God uses me for His kingdom as he uses Anthony George.

The final group of men I want to mention is the guys who have impacted me most recently. These are the guys in Orlando who have invested their time, effort and love in over the past two and a half years. The three men that come to mind are Jeff Fair, David Barker and Brad Crawford. If I were to expound about all the things that these guys have done for me, then this post would go on for several pages. Jeff Fair, has in short, been a theological anchor to me; a man that I can go to with almost any question and receive a Godly and Biblical response. He has been a key figure in my spiritual and theological development since coming to Orlando for college. His relentless pursuit of Godliness has affected so many students in a positive manor, and will continue to shape and impact students for many years to come. David Barker is one of my closest friends. I love his spirit and personality and the way that he connects with anyone and everyone. David can make friends and reach out to others in any context or situation. This is one of his gifts. And God uses this gift in him time and time again. David has been instrumental in teaching me to pay attention to my character and to become a man that is worthy of the calling of Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for the constant, Godly influence that David has provided me over the years. Thank you, my friend. Finally, I want to mention Brad Crawford. There is so much to be said about Brad, and I feel as if I could not sum it up accurately. God used Brad to keep me from falling into a life of sin at college. I came to college bitter and unhappy, but then a friend invited me to a ministry called Baptist Collegiate Ministries, where I met Brad and then became involved in BCM. Looking back, I can see the great impact that Brad and his ministry has had on my life. Brad sets a wonderful example in so many different areas of life, ranging from personal growth to Biblical study, to even the way a family should operate. Brad is a righteous man because he strives after Jesus Christ. He knows his mission, and he will carry it out to the dismay of the evil one! His impact on students and people spans several years, several people groups, several states and even several countries. And I am honored to say that Brad is a great part of my life. Thank you, Brad.

Ultimately, I am not writing this in order to praise mere men. On the contrary, the theme here is that the almighty and magnificent Creator and Lord, Jesus Christ is at work today. He is real and He is still doing great things through so many people. I want to thank these men for being open to the call of Christ in their lives, but over everything, I am thankful for the redemptive power of Jesus in all aspects of my life and my world. To God be the glory.