I Found Church

This week we highlight John Mikel Smithson and his "I found church" story. Visit www.ifoundchurch.com for more stories.

"My I Found Church moment was I found Identity. Growing up as a great grandson, grandson, son, and nephew of a pastor was hard to figure out my identity because your conflicted with, do I follow in the Smithson legacy or is there another calling I have? My father pastored his first church in Gladstone, Michigan and that’s where I started my work in ministry. We moved there when I six and when I turned nine the church bought a giant tv screen and a laptop to run the lyrics and my dad sat me down and I began to run it.



At the age of 12 after moving to the south side of Chicago where my dad preached at his second church is where I got the calling to ministry. It wasn’t a call to preach, or music, or teaching but just a call to ministry. I knew that I was somehow, someway going to be in ministry.



I was taught the bass at the age of 13 and after a week a two I was playing on stage, it was there that I was taught to run the sound board and after a couple times I was running it. I began using Microsoft office in school and outsmarted my teachers, I learned photoshop and outsmarted my teachers, I learned movie maker, and after effects and I make logos, videos and more for all kinds of services and churches around.



It was at a later point in my life around the age of 18 I heard my dad preach a sermon and he said everybody has a specific calling in their life whether it’s to preach, teach, pray etc. that was when God spoke to me and said I was called to preach. I am proud to say that I’ll be taking my second to last test in my denomination for my minister License and I am currently the assistant pastor and it was through church that I Found My Identity."

This week we highlight Crystal Walden and her "I found church" story. Check out www.ifoundchurch.com for more stories.

"Church, this church in partial, has changed my life by giving me a sense of purpose. Also, by giving me and my children a loving and caring family. I no longer feel helpless or lost."