I wasn’t raised in the church, but for some reason, even as a 12-year-old, I had this deep, unshakable desire to know the Bible and be a part of church life. My best friend at the time was Baptist and invited me to church with him. I went, not knowing exactly what to expect, and a few Sundays in, something interesting happened.
After class one morning, the youth pastor pulled me aside and asked, “Are you saved?” I had no idea what he meant. Then came, “Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Savior?” Still unsure, I hesitantly said no. He offered to lead me in a prayer, and although I felt a bit uncomfortable, I went along. I confessed Jesus as God’s Son, acknowledged His resurrection, repented of my sins, and asked Him into my life. He smiled and said, “Welcome to the family.” I didn’t really know what had just happened, but I kept showing up.
I spent about a year in the Baptist church, even singing in the choir and attending Bible studies at two different churches. I was hungry for the Word. But one morning during Bible class, a boy asked our teacher about a conversation he’d had with a friend who said we weren’t under the Old Law anymore, but under the New. The teacher firmly replied, “We’re under both.” I had been reading Hebrews and remembered chapter 8 talking about the New Covenant replacing the old. When I asked about it, she brushed me off with, “You’re too young to understand.”
That answer didn’t sit right with me. If God gave us His Word to understand, why was I being dismissed for asking questions? That moment began my journey for something deeper—something more biblically grounded.
Around that same time, I learned my parents had previously been members of the Church of Christ. We started visiting local congregations and eventually placed membership with a small church in Irving, TX. At 13, I quickly found friendship and spiritual growth among the youth group, most of whom were in their early twenties. One of them, Michael Lowe, would change my life forever. On the drive home one night in his classic ’69 Mustang, he asked me, “Are you saved?” I told him about my previous experience, but he gently and clearly explained the Gospel. I realized then that I hadn’t truly obeyed the Gospel as Scripture outlines. That night, with my friends and our preacher gathered, I was baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of my sins.
From that point on, I dove headfirst into the Word. I took notes constantly—categorizing, cross-referencing, and staying up late studying. The simplicity and biblical nature of the Church of Christ stood in stark contrast to what I had experienced before. There were no pledges to “the Christian flag”, rock bands, or scripted prayers—just simple, Scripture-based worship: preaching, acapella singing, communion, prayer, and the call to faithful living.
As I matured, I began leading worship, praying publicly, serving the Lord’s Supper, and even preaching from time to time. Being in a small congregation gave me opportunities to grow and serve in nearly every role. But with that came deeper questions. I encountered doctrinal disputes on things like whether churches could support orphanages or colleges, or even whether it was scriptural to eat in the church building. I found myself in a “non-institutional” congregation, and while much of what was taught aligned with Scripture, these specific issues seemed more rooted in tradition than in truth. Over time, I moved to congregations within the Churches of Christ that weren’t divided over these matters.
At 21, I met the love of my life, Betsy, through a mutual Christian friend. What started as a blind dinner outing turned into a whirlwind romance. Two months later I proposed, and just four months after that, we were married.
We started our life together in Watauga, TX, where I was working in IT at TrinTel Communications. Life was full of hope—until September 11, 2001. Like the rest of the world, we watched in horror as the attacks unfolded. Within days, I was laid off as the company struggled. With a new home, a new marriage, and no job, we leaned on our faith. Eventually, through a contact from Betsy’s high school job, we found work with Delta Airlines, moving through several promotions before another round of layoffs sent us searching again.
That search led us to something even greater. In 2003, we moved to Denver and enrolled at the Bear Valley Bible Institute. I earned my Bachelor of Theology and Betsy her Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies. Ministry followed—first in Prescott, AZ as an associate minister, and later back in Texas as I returned home to be closer to my ailing mother. In 2006 we had our first child – Andrew Barrett Bailey. In 2014 we had our second – Anna Leigh Bailey.
Eventually, I transitioned back into IT through a Christian friend who helped me land a role with EMC Corporation. When Dell acquired EMC, I stayed on through the integration until layoffs started hitting the legacy EMC employees. Sensing what was coming, I made the leap into entrepreneurship.
In 2020, I launched LoadTrekker LLC—a flatbed hotshot freight business. The first two years were incredible, but the economy and regulatory changes hit the industry hard. After a few challenging years, I transitioned to tractor-trailer driving with Werner Enterprises and eventually accepted a local driving role with J.B. Hunt in 2024, bringing me home daily and closer to my family.
Through all of life’s highs and lows, one thing has remained constant—my passion for God’s Word and my desire to live according to it. From a confused 12-year-old praying a prayer I didn’t understand, to a baptized believer committed to simple New Testament Christianity, my journey has always been about seeking truth, finding clarity, and serving wherever the Lord places me.