Jeff Ford
I became a born again christian at age 20 in my apartment at the University of Alabama. This is when the Christ-following adventure began. I’m blessed to be a Child of the King. Missions adventures soon followed my conversion. I served at as a summer missionary on 3 wonderful mission fields: 1. Penn State, 2. Hawaii, and 3. Israel. Between summers I served in various leadership roles at the Baptist Campus Ministries (at Jacksonville State University). There I grew in my faith. I practiced the principle: “God doesn’t called the qualified; God qualifies the called.” Upon graduation from Jacksonville State University, I served several years as a resort missionary down on the gulf coast of Alabama. From there I served two churches: First Baptist Church in Fort Payne, AL and Carlisle Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, VA.
While serving as a “minister to families” in Virginia, I reconnected with a ministry friend: Natalie Flake. Love bloomed. We were married in 2013. I have blessed to be God’s messenger in North Georgia over the last several years. Natalie and I have used tragedy (the death of her first husband, and the death of my mom) to reach out to this community with God’s love. The broken pieces of our lives have been used to create a beautiful mosaic of God’s provision and care. I am also beyond blessed to call myself: Dad to Jorjanne Flake. She is currently a student at Georgia Southern. Jorjanne is a gift from God. Her joy for God and faithfulness to God inspires her parents. Natalie and I are currently in the strange but true classification of “empty-nesters."
God’s love for me and for the world is what has brought me to Helen First Baptist Church. I am blessed to be a part of our Great Commission Team. God’s provision for my life is basically my story. Every good thing in my life is a gift of God. No matter what the future holds, I know God will carry me through. My life verses are Psalm 37:23-24: “When people’s steps follow the Lord,God is pleased with their ways. If they stumble, they will not fall, because the Lord holds their hand.” This faith-life that I live is molded by God’s guiding hand. He is my reason for being. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is my reason for serving, my reason for ministering, my hope, and a life-changing message that I will carry with me all of my days.