Some of you know him and some of you don’t, but I want to tell you about my friend Paul Chandler. I never knew growing up that we would both end up in another country. Paul used to come over to my house to jump on the trampoline with my brother Brandon. As we both grew, we both also matured in our faith. We were part of the same youth group, taught by the same youth minister (shout out to Ron K. Brack), and mentored by some of the same people (I specifically think of both of our parents, the Tosh’s and Ms. Sandy).
We both served others together until I left to study in Brownwood in 2015. A year after I started attending Howard Payne University, Paul also moved to Brownwood to study there! It was surprising to have someone I knew from childhood also at the same university, and there we also served together and shared the Gospel. I graduated in 2018 and moved to Honduras shortly after to work with 61 Isaiah Ministries. In 2021, guess who else moved it to Honduras! You got it, Paul and his wife Taylor!
Paul has been a breath of fresh air for me (and also for all of our ministry team). Having someone to talk to that I already know on a deep level has been stupendous. I don’t have to explain the back story to my stories or experiential perspectives because Paul was there for much of them! Paul has an unmoving commitment to God and God’s Word that challenges me to be better. His presence has brought hope and peace to our team after the hard years of Covid and hurricane relief efforts.
Who would have thought that two of those boys jumping on the trampoline would one day be two of the men serving in Honduras with 61 Isaiah Ministries? I am proud of Paul and honored to work alongside him, learn from him, and advance the Kingdom.
This is just another example of how God connects people and carries out relational ministry. If you had asked Paul and me 10 years ago where we would be in 10 years, neither of us would have told you precisely that we would be serving with a ministry in Honduras together, but we were willing to do as God led us and now we get to serve together with an awesome ministry team.
As a ministry, we are sharing the gospel continuously with our youth group and with the people we encounter. We are encouraging two pastors to start discipleship with others, we are teaching how to do marriages and baptisms, and we are doing our best to be closer to God in each step of it.
Sam Goff says
Proud of you both as you fulfill God’s calling for your lives. Continue doing your work as unto the Lord, and He will guide you each step of the way, for He is faithful.