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I was very fortunate as a child to have a mother that took me to church. She took my brothers and me for several years to a little Church of Christ in Cave Springs, Arkansas. I really feel this had a big impact on me growing up. Not only did I have great parents to instill in me right and wrong, but there was also a strong influence from the church. I remember attending often and felling very excited every year about Vacation Bible School. However, like a lot of families we attended regularly up until I was in junior high when we moved farms and had to move towns. I can't remember getting involved with any other church. I went through my junior high, high school, and college years without ever attending church. Although, generally I was a good kid and did not get into too much trouble. I knew all along deep down that I was not living right and there was something missing in my life. That all changed in January of 2003.

Following college I went to work for Tyson Foods Inc. for 13 years, of those I spent the last 6 years with them as the plant manager of the Randall Road Cornish Hen Facility. This is where I met one of my best friends, Danny Williams. Danny was a USDA inspector in our facility. Even though we are not really supposed to socially interact with the inspectors, Danny and I became great friends. I always had a lot of respect for Danny not only as a person, but he was also the Pastor at Sonora Baptist Church. Danny did a great job of not pushing religion or faith on me. He knew that I was not living as Christian, and he wanted to share with me when the time was right. We became great friends and he would occasionally invite me to church. I never accepted, but I always knew I needed to join and attend.

Fortunately I had several strong Christian influences in my life; Shannon Fancher who I worked with and had become very close friends with and Shannon Henderson, who was one of my best friends since college. Both of these guys are the people who "walk the walk". I had a ton of respect for both of them. With their influence, I started asking Danny some questions, and he started to share more with me. About this same time Holly and I were into our first year of marriage and I knew I wanted Jesus Christ in our marriage. I remember standing on our deck overlooking Beaver Lake and knowing that only God could make things so bountiful. I also remember thinking...How did we get here on this earth...Only God could have done this. The next day I asked Danny if he could come to my house and pray with me. The next day Danny arrived and we sat in my living room and I invited Jesus to come into my heart. Since then my life has continued to get better, exponentially!

I have an awesome wife, a beautiful son and I get to fish for a living. Some days I have to pinch myself. Holly and I know we are not perfect by any means, no one is, but we want to raise Brock to look to the Lord for guidance when he makes decisions in the future. I would encourage everyone to surround themselves with good people. My travel roommate on the road, Mark Rose has been a huge spiritual influence in my life. He is a very strong Christian and a very good father. I think it is important to surround yourself with a strong support group. God knows all of our strengths and weakness, he wants you to come to him just as you are...When you do, you will start to notice awesome changes in your life.

God Bless and Good Fishing!!!

Greg

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