This August I celebrate 20 years of marriage. In those 20
years, I became a mother of two children (Rachel (17) & Jacob (almost 16)
and I spent three years as a youth
minister's wife, four years as a pastor's wife, eight years as a missionary
(did you notice I didn't say a missionaries wife)?! and I have spent the last
four years in Raleigh, where I am currently a PhD student/Director of the
Center for Great Commission Studies'/Associate Pastor of New Covenant
Fellowship Church's wife as well as a mentor for college/seminary student's as
well as seminary wives, and guest lecturer for the course Preparing for Missions
for the Biblical Women's Institute Program. Had someone approached me even 25
years ago with this picture for my life I would have not believed them.
For you see, I was raised in a divorced home and my mom and
step father did not come to Christ until I was in college. As a young child I
was only brought to church periodically; mostly for Easter and Christmas
services. My grandmother was a committed member of her Catholic church but when
I attended the services they were still taught in Latin so I didn't understand
anything that was being said or done.
However, when I was nine years old a neighbor began to take
me to church, and I accepted Christ as my Savior during a Vacation Bible School
service. My mom was happy for me and bought me a Bible but didn't not feel
comfortable allowing me to follow through with baptism, and was not prepared to
help me grow in my new faith. Unfortunately, shortly after my decision my
family moved to another city and I spent the next six to seven years without a
church or someone to disciple me as well as making several other moves that had
me attending three different middle schools and three different high schools.
Throughout those years I had a sense of the sin in my life
and carried a lot of guilt with me simply because I didn't have an
understanding of living in obedience to God's Word. During this time I made some poor choices and
tough lessons of life were learned. While I was in my early years of college my
younger sister was saved and invited my mom and step dad to church where they
both accepted Christ. At this point I had filled all of my time with college
and work and didn't make church a priority. As I finished up my Associates
Degree at a Junior College I began to think about what college I would transfer
to in order to finish my Bachelors Degree. At the time my mom was a secretary
at a church and growing as a new believer and she knew many people associated
with the University of Mobile (a small Baptist College in Mobile, Al.). I
decided to attend this college and it was there that God began to do a
tremendous work in my heart and life.
For the first time in my life I was able to see with my eyes
the transformation that is made when one accepts Christ as their Savior and
allows Him to truly change their life. I took courses where I was able to study
the scriptures and learn about the life of Christ for the first time. Before
this time I had only known that I was a filthy sinner in need of a Savior.
After this time, I was aware of my responsibility to deny myself daily and
follow after Him.
I began attending church with my family and that is where I
met my husband. I knew when I married him that our life together would be spent
in ministry but never imagined all the things and places that commitment has
taken us. You see, we both learned that following Christ is a daily surrender
to what He wants for our lives and not necessarily one particular job that you
spend years preparing for. It has been a joy to serve Him together and to see
all the opportunities He has given us to lead others to that same sweet
salvation we call our own.
Lesley is married to Scott, and they have two children, Rachel and Jacob. Scott Hildreth is is
currently serving as the Director of the Center for Great Commission
Studies at Southeastern and working on his PhD in Theology. Lesley
teaches Preparing for Missions each Fall for the Biblical Women's
Institute. In her spare time she loves spend time with people, read and
be outdoors. Lesley has a strong heart for the nations and desires to
see people come to Christ. 
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