Tom Rinehart

While my family didn’t attend church regularly, I did go to church off and on as a child. An older couple taught my Sunday School class and the husband would spend time with the boys in the class fishing and telling us about Jesus. At the age of 10, I asked Jesus into my life, joined the church and was baptized. During my teen years; however, I began to drift away from the church as I found things to do that were more “fun”. While not a problem child, church just wasn’t a priority.

Church still wasn’t important to me as a young husband with a family and a career beginning. But a year after my first marriage failed, God brought my current wife, Celeste into my life. She was a strong Christian woman and God used my love for her to draw me back to church. A corporate promotion brought us to Rock Hill and First Baptist Church where God began to show me my relationship with him wasn’t where it needed to be.

One night during my bible study and quiet time, I turned to Psalm 139 and after reading how God knew me and loved me even before I was formed in the womb, knows every move I make before I make it and is with me everywhere I go, I got on my knees and asked Christ to help me become closer to Him. Jesus answered that prayer and Jesus became not only my Savior, but my friend!

He’s been a faithful friend to me and my family through job loss, family illnesses and even cancer. He has never left me and I don’t want to ever drift away from Him or the church again.

Tom Rinehart