My name is Michael Jones, and I was born in 1966 in Victoria, Texas to non-church going parents. As a child one of the only times, I went to church was summer Vacation Bible School at my grandmothers and aunt’s churches. When I was about 10 years old, I came home from VBS at my aunt’s church and sitting across the table from her eating lunch she told me that I would be a preacher when I grew up. At the time that really meant nothing to me. At the age of 14, I started getting on a bus and going to Mission Valley Baptist Church with no prompting from my parents but looking back now, I know it was the Holy Spirit leading me.

When I was 16 and in 11 th grade, I was in a car accident that totally changed the direction of my life. Up to that point I thought I would follow in my dad’s footsteps and join the military. With an injured left arm that plan got totally changed. After the accident I began to feel that something was missing in my life. I thought I should go see a psychologist or psychiatrist to figure out what was wrong with me. A friend of mine suggested that I go see the youth minister at Victoria First Baptist Church. I went to visit him in May 1983 and Terry McCowen led me to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I attended church on a semi-regular basis but was not discipled.

In May 1984 I graduated High School. In May 1985, I moved to San Antonio. In 1986 I began attending a large non-denominational church as a pew warmer with my then girlfriend and her family. In 1987, I began to experience real spiritual growth as I began serving and being mentored as a volunteer in the children’s ministry. Outside of working my full-time job, I committed all my spare time to serving in the church. In 1992 I met my wife in a Home Ministry that I was attending and June 1993 we got married. From 1995 – 2000 we had two girls and two boys. From 1995- 1999 I was on full time staff as an Assistant Children’s Director at the large non-denominational church.

The year 2000 was a life changing year for me and my family. Our last child was born in February. I donated a kidney to my best friend in March. My father-in-law passed away in August. In October we moved my legally blind mother-in-law and her three 7 – 15 years old children next door to us. This was quite a challenge because we went from 4 children to 7 over-night. We went out and bought a 12-passenger van.

From 2000-2020, I worked at Home Depot full-time while raising our children and staying involved in three other churches during this time. January 2007, my wife and I were asked by Pastors Warren and Julie Cook to help start Friendship Church in San Antonio. For the first few years I ran the children’s ministry on part-time staff. 2009, I began facilitating intercessory prayer and marrieds classes. I served as interim Youth Director for about two years. In 2013, Pastor Cook ordained me and in 2014 Laurie and I were asked to serve as elders. It was my privilege as well to substitute on Sunday mornings in the pulpit about twice a year.

May 2008, I had a great-nephew born to some parents that were challenged to raise him. In 2010 we took 2-year-old in full-time. Our 3 bedroom/2 bath 1300 sq ft mobile home now had 7 people living in it with my wife’s three siblings at our house constantly. Our van was always full to the max every where we went including church on Sundays.

October 2019, after 13 years at Friendship Church and 22 years of living in the same neighborhood we changed both. With Pastor Warren’s blessing we moved to a church within walking distance of our new home. February 2020, I left my 19-year career at Home Depot. May 2020 we officially adopted my great-nephew.

Serving Jesus has been quite an adventure since 1987. I have been on full-time staff at a large church and on part-time staff at others. I have had as many as 60 volunteers ministering to over 300 children to my wife and I running ministries alone. We have assisted in starting 2 churches and have run small marriage classes. I had the privilege of playing several roles in the Billy Graham Crusade in 1997. I have done many outreaches with ministry teams and alone. After being ordained in 2013, I did 4 weddings for Home Depot co-workers along with many others for family and church family.

In addition to ministry, I served as president of my neighborhood HOA for over 10 years. In 2017, I was certified by The John C. Maxwell Certification Program as a speaker and coach. November 2018, I began pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry from Wayland Baptist University. March 2021, I finished my degree at WBU.

After graduating WBU, I began asking the Lord what I was supposed to do with my degree. I got a very answer, start a ministry called “All for Jesus Ministries”. My heart is to go anywhere and everywhere God allows me to go to draw people to Him and to encourage those that are already His children. I will speak to any size group of any age. I love Jesus, love people, and want to bring His unfailing, non-judgmental love to anyone who will listen.