The Mike Arnold Podcast

My Story

Like many, I grew up in a home that went to church, but I never enjoyed attending. Sundays were often spent trying to find a way out. My family attended the Church of Christ, where the focus seemed to be on money and the building fund rather than God’s Word. As I grew older, I began to feel a deep sense of shame that I hadn’t been baptized. I thought I was doing what the church required, yet something inside troubled me. (Spiler alert: Water baptism does not save you!)

While attending Texas Tech University, I started attending a Baptist church. It was there that I finally walked the aisle for Jesus. I participated in two mission trips and became involved with the college ministry. But after two years, I found myself sitting alone in a park, feeling depressed and rejected. In that moment, I fully trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior. The weight of the world lifted off my shoulders, and I experienced true joy.

Even then, a hunger remained. I desperately wanted to learn more about the Bible, yet I wasn’t receiving the spiritual nourishment I craved.

Several years later, I met Jerry Lockhart, a traveling Grace preacher and teacher. He crisscrossed Texas every week teaching the Bible, and unlike other preachers I had met, he could answer my questions and explain Scripture clearly. Through the lessons I learned from Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, I realized that all I truly needed was my King James Bible and a careful understanding of God’s truths.

When Jerry stopped traveling to Arlington, Texas, I took over the local class. For the next 20 years, I led home Bible studies across the DFW area, sharing God’s Word and teaching the grace of Christ. Today, I live in North Carolina, and my passion for teaching the Gospel continues. I’ve learned that religion cannot save anyone—only the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings true life.