Richard H. J. Long

I was born and raised in a small town called Sikeston, Missouri. My mother and dad, John and Ethel Long, had twelve children; six boys and six girls. After high school I served in the U. S. Marine Corps from 1966-72. I served in Vietnam in 1967-1968. After my time in the Marines, I attended and graduated from college and seminary.

Afterwards I became a pastor. However for the most part of the 30 years my spiritual life was a failure. I lived with spiritual doubt and sin controlling my life; I was a hypocrite and not a true follower of Jesus Christ.

I had no peace with God.

In the Fall of 2004 the LORD Jesus Christ brought me to a great conviction of sin that I had never been born again. The LORD Jesus Christ changed my life forever on March 31, 2005. That day He called me to repentance and salvation. For the first time in my life I lived at peace with God and never another day of doubt gripped my life.

After I was born again on March 31, 2005 I became a true disciple of Jesus Christ and longed to know Him more and more every day of my life. For the first time in my life the Word of God came alive to me. After that day, I began a hunger for the Word of God every day.

When I finally repented of my sins the LORD Jesus confirmed to me that He had called me to be a preacher. In the Fall of 2013, Pastor PeteTackett invited me to be on staff with him at Antioch Church in Johnson City, TN. I served with him for almost 10 years until June 4, 2023.

Today I believe that LORD Jesus Christ has called me to continue growing as one of His disciples and to be a disciple maker. My added joy is in writing devotionals from my daily Bible readings each day.