When I was 15 years old, I met Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. It was the summer before my sophomore year in high school. That summer, the Lord called me to preach with an unmistakable calling on my life. I had a dream of one of my best friends one night. He was surrounded by flames and darkness and calling out to me, "Larry, why didn't you tell me! Larry, why didn't you tell me about Jesus!" I woke up from that dream and called my best friend in high school at midnight and led him to faith in Christ. I had no clue how to do it. It had to be God. It certainly wasn't me. That friend became a tremendous lawyer and author of Christian books. I realized through that experience that there was nothing more exciting than sharing the Gospel. The next Sunday I went to my home church and shared with the Pastor during the invitation that I believed God had called me to preach.

A ton of people came by to encourage me and hug me. The very last person who came through the line was my father. He said, "Son, I need to tell you a story." I said, "Well, Dad, can you make it fast? The Cowboys and Packers are about to play a football game on tv and I'm hungry!"

Dad looked at me and said, "Years ago a baby was born in Dallas and the parents were later warned that he might not live very long because of a complication. Sure enough, he became very ill and the doctors said he probably would not make it. The father went out in front of the old St. Paul Hospital in downtown Dallas and got on his knees on the front lawn of the hospital and cried out to God for his healing."

I had no idea who Dad was talking about and I was getting very hungry.

Then Dad began to weep and said, "Son, God answered the prayers of that father and healed that boy. The father gave his son to the Lord and said, 'Do whatever you want in His life. Just let him live.' And Son, I want you to know today that YOU are that boy and I was that father." I had never heard that story before.

I cannot tell you how this moment touched my heart on the day God called me to preach. I have preached to thousands of people and have been so blessed in my ministry. And when the enemy comes against me or I am facing doubts in my own heart, I remember that story from my father from years ago. I reaffirm to myself that I am alive because God healed me, God saved me, and God called me for His glory.

I should have been in Heaven years ago....but God allowed me the opportunity to have a beautiful life on earth, have a great family, have a tremendous ministry, preach the Word of God and tell you this story. There are no accidents in my life. As I always say, "I am in SALES.....He is in MANAGEMENT!" To God be the glory.

- Dr. Larry Petton