Andy Proud

Solid Ground (Youth) Leader

Andy Proud

Andy's testimony reads: "I became a Christian when I was around 7 years old.  My Mom taught me about the Lord.  She used to do Back-Yard-Bible-Clubs.  She led many of the kids in my neighborhood to the Lord.  Every morning my Mom listened to “Thru the Bible” with Dr. J. Vernon McGee.  I sat on the couch and she in her rocking chair.  I think the three of us went through the Bible at least 3 full times before I finished high school.  In addition, my Mom raised foster kids while I was a boy.  When she had time, she attended college to become a teacher.  I think I got my gift and desire to work with kids from her and the Lord.  In 1998, while a junior officer in the Air Force, I started teaching Sunday School to 7th grade boys in Fairborn, Ohio at First Baptist Church.  I also was a counselor at summer camp.  Later, I helped with the Wright-Patterson AFB Chapel urban youth outreach and taught middle and high school children.  Then in Alabama, I taught 3-5 grade boys and girls at Frazer United Methodist Church.  In addition, the Air Force gave me specialized training in developing curriculum and teaching.  After moving to Florida, I taught high school boys and girls at Niceville Assembly of God.  While in San Antonio, TX, my new bride Archie and I led a Royal Rangers troop for 5-14 year old boys at El Sendero de la Cruz Assembly of God.  (Royal Rangers is a Christian boy scout program.)  I used my military training to help me teach the boys orienteering, camping and tying complicated knots.  Sendero is a Spanish speaking church.  It took a while for me to gain the kids trust since I did not speak their language and many were influenced by gangs.  Archie did better at picking up Spanish.  God has given me both a blessing and burden to teach children about the Lord Jesus and to counter the daily mis-information pulling them away from our loving Lord and Creator."