Life was no crystal staircase for Georgia-based pastor and entrepreneur Pastor Hudson.

There were several moments in his life where he encountered God, but in true prodigal child fashion, it took Pastor Hudson years to find his way back home.

Throughout his life, Pastor Hudson lived in multiple states, ranging from Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Georgia. Hudson completed his formal learning through a Job Corps program in Kentucky and matriculated into East Mississippi Community College.

From there, Hudson transferred to Mississippi State University, where he studied Education with a concentration in Social Studies.

“Initially, my dreams and aspirations were to become a high school principal, but God had other plans,” recounts Pastor Hudson, “I started undergrad, but I didn’t finish because my grandfather had gotten sick, so I came home to care for him. When I came home, I never finished my bachelor’s degree, so it [life] took me down other avenues.”

Regarding his faith, the avenue to Christ was not as clear.

“I didn’t have a spiritual leader growing up. I went to church, but I was a person who knew of God but didn’t know God”, Pastor Hudson said. “As I got older, that kept me level-headed. My grandmother would always tell me, Son, everything that I’m telling you about God, these experiences, you may not see it right now, but it’ll hit you like a brick when the time comes.”

That moment came when Pastor Hudson mysteriously fell ill. At this moment, he decided to see if the God he knew of was real.

“Out of ignorance, I tested God. I said, God, if you’re real, heal me. From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, I felt something go through my body and heal me. At that moment, I knew God is real,” he said.

Though he felt God’s presence at this moment, Pastor Hudson was not quite ready to receive salvation. He yearned to get closer, but his desire to still be in the world overpowered this desire.

“I had a hunger to get to know God, but I was young, naive, still wanting to have one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom,” he said.

Pastor Hudson would watch the A&E channel’s Mysteries of the Bible show to nurture his curiosity of God. He also found himself tuning into the teachings of Dr. Myles Munroe, a Bahamian evangelist known for his inspirational teachings.

“His method of teaching the Bible was so impactful in my life. That’s what helped me revolutionize my understanding of the Bible and made me want to pursue God even more,” he recounted.

Years later, Pastor Hudson came across a social media post from Dr. Myles Munroe while handling tasks at his corporate job. This post was the catalyst for his transformation.

“I went from knowing about God to knowing God. There’s a difference–he walks with you and talks with you. My prayer life had become significant; I went from praying about my problems to honoring and giving gratitude for the good and the bad because all things work together for my good,” Pastor Hudson rejoiced.

Though his transformation had begun, Pastor Hudson’s spiritual turning point happened when he decided to step out on faith—leaving his corporate job and worldly endeavors behind.

In 2016, Pastor Hudson and his wife, Rhitney, purchased their first home. Hudson acknowledged that this was a blessing from God.

“When we purchased the house, I told God I wanted to do better. I wanted to be the person that You called me to be,” he said, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the Lord will stand.”

God’s purpose for Pastor Hudson withstood many challenges. Despite all he’s endured, he currently operates his ministry, MayDay Ministries, which seeks to minister to incarcerated and rehabilitated men. Hudson and his wife also operate their own trucking company.

No, life for Pastor Hudson was not a crystal staircase. As a servant of the Kingdom, he looks forward to the day when we all walk Heaven’s streets of gold.

“Holy, holy, holy! Our God is holy. I choose to proclaim the Gospel, because our God is holy,” he said.