Instructor
Read Wall Name: A. Read Wall
Rank: er duan (2nd degree black sash)
Title: Shifu

Teaching Experience:

*Assisted teaching in Shiloh, IL at a locally ran church class as well as helped his instructor teach class, taught privately, traveled to Romania and spoke to churches encouraging them to find their unique area of service using demonstrations and sermonettes about kung fu.

*Designed and ran martial arts ministry program for Sullivan Southern Baptist Church in Sullivan, IL.

Background: "I am a Texas Born, homeschooled, Southern Baptist, Born again believing Missionary Preachers Kid and Proud of it!" That is how I used to describe myself. I was born in Fort Worth, Texas while my father was in seminary to be a pastor. Being born into a strong Christian family, I had special opportunities that many did not have. I had a strong Christian model in both of my parents and for the most part lived a Christian life myself even before being saved. At the age of 5, I was brought to the realization by the convicting of the Holy Spirit that I was a sinner and that by myself, I would not be able to pay for the debt of sin I owed.

Due to fear of being in the public eye and of water, I fought that realization because acting on it meant that I would need to publicly profess my belief and follow the Lord in Baptism, two things that I feared a great deal. My parents constantly encouraged me and told me that it was ok, that I could do this. But I let fear rule my life for two whole years. But finally, in 1988, we had a week long tent revival at our church.

It was December 4th, 1988 a Sunday, the last day of the revival. All week long I fought the conviction to step out and walk the aisle and accept Jesus as my Lord. Finally, I was fighting God and it was as if I heard Him say to me, "If you don't do this today, you never will." And my fear of hell won out over my fear of water and the public eye and I slipped out of my seat and walked forward, my father following me. I told my pastor what I had come to do, and he and my father led me to the Lord. That was a day and a decision that I have never regretted and never will.

In December of 1990 my father moved my family to Pana, IL to be a missionary pastor where we lived and served for 10 years. I graduated High School from Christian Liberty Academy School System and moved to St. Louis where I pursued my B.A. in business management, graduating in April '05. In April of 2006, I moved back to my parents, now Findlay, IL to assist with the care of my grandmother. She passed in December '07 and I moved back to St. Louis to open my school in January '09. My life has been relatively smooth, but not without its troubles. The important thing is to recognize that God has never left me and is with me throughout all my trials, ever constant, ever reliable, empowering me to do His good work and to use the talents and the skill sets He has gifted me with for His glory.