Joe Mounts

I was born May 23,1962, six weeks before my due date. It seems like from that day, I've always been in a hurry to get something done.

Growing up on the outskirts of Pine Bluff, AR in the 60s and 70s was a constant adventure. Days spent playing ball, playing army in the woods, building the newest, coolest chopper out of old bike frames and getting dirty just being a boy were the light and water that caused me to flourish and bloom as a child.

Life changed in the blink of an eye on Aug 30, 1979 when I was 17. My dad, Arthur Mounts (a man's man in every way) passed away suddenly at the age of 48. Later that same month I learned that I had a congentintal hip disease that would cause me a great deal of pain and physical deformity for the next 30 years.

On Mar. 28, 1987 I convinced the former LaWanda West to be my wife. She has been the greatest earthly blessing in my life and my greatest confidant and supporter. Over the years, we have been blessed with 5 natural children: Timothy, Jonathan, Matthew, Sarah and Faith. Each of them have been a wonderful blessing in their own way. I praise God for each one.

I guess I've always been a Christian. Some of my earliest memories are of visiting the small country church where my dad grew up, listening to him preach and swatting wasps in the summertime. As I grew, I became more and more involved, preaching my first sermon at age 14. After college, I spent several years traveling to small churches and preaching for them on Sunday. In 1992, I decided that it was time for me to begin preaching full time and entered into full time ministry. In 2003 I suffered a massive back injury requiring emergency fusion surgery. This surgery was followed immediately by a left hip replacement and 6 weeks later by a right hip replacement.

It amazing how your prespective changes when you are a man who has always trusted in his own strength and suddenly you are totally dependent on others for even the most basic things in life! Over the next year, as I progressed from a bed- to a wheelchair- to a walker- to 2 canes- to 1 cane- to finally walking alone, I began to grow in my relationship with God.

That process of growth continues today. Adopting special children, helping the needy, serving my brethren all teach me about God's love. I am but a student.

Join me on the journey.