Luncheon: March 2025 - George Hester

George Hester was born and raised on his family’s farm in Sallis, Mississippi.  As a child he faced difficult challenges including severe asthma and stuttering which led to his being bullied by classmates. His dad was an alcoholic which caused George and his siblings to be fearful of their father, oftentimes hiding from him.  George’s mother was a dynamic woman and artist who was abandoned by her father at six years old. George and his family grew up going to church every Sunday but were by all definitions a dysfunctional family.

At age 11, George became a Christian, but at that time all he knew about baptism was the process of salvation. George’s identity was rooted in the soil of his family farm and his many physical and family challenges. He became a “people pleaser”, wanting people to validate him. But he believed “with every bad situation, something good can come out of it.” In high school George prayed to God asking for his asthma to be healed. His senior year, he started taking care of his body, lifting weights, and learned karate becoming a black belt. He won matches all over the state in addition to teaching karate.  Nobody bullied George Hester anymore.  George enrolled at Mississippi State University, earning a degree in agriculture with plans to work on the family farm.  He met and married his wife Patricia and started a family in Sallis. His primary job was as a farmer; but on the weekends, to earn extra money George served as a Deputy Sherrif, Constable, substitute mail carrier, and he taught farming classes at Holmes Community College. George’s focus was on making a living and creating a future for his life with Patricia.

George still did not have a good relationship with his father, especially as his drinking worsened. Additionally, he did not have a personal relationship with his heavenly father.  George viewed God as a “cold, judgmental, authoritative figure. He didn’t know how to ask God about His will or purpose for George. He believed that God was angry and disappointed with him.” Even though George could break a concrete block with his hand, he was consumed by insecurities. He couldn’t speak on the telephone due to this stuttering; he didn’t know how to love Patricia like Jesus loves the church; and he felt completely unfulfilled. Moreover, George’s father was going to lose the family farm, which was the basis of George’s identity. One night, in an act of utter desperation, George put his 357 Magnum to his head ready to end it all. But then he decided, “Before I kill myself, I am going to give God a piece of my mind.” And he did exactly that, ranting and raving to God that he was a “bully”. Afterwards, God said to George “Are you finished? Your challenges are because you won’t surrender to me.” Well George didn’t want to surrender because he thought being a Christian meant being “poor, sick, and hungry”, and he had already experienced all of these.

God showed George that the “image a son has of his dad, or a daughter has of her dad is the image of how you view God until He can change that for you.” Immediately George began to transition his thinking based on: “If you have seen Jesus, you have seen the Father; and the same power that raised Jesus Christ from death is the same power that is in you.”  At that time, George used curse words, and they didn’t align with his new thinking. He explained while working in law enforcement on the weekends “you don’t arrest people and bring them to jail by saying ‘Praise Jesus and come to jail with me’.”

God continued to work in George’s life. A friend shared the book “A Daily Guide to Miracles” by Oral Roberts. George thought to himself, “I’m a good candidate for a miracle because I am broke, unhealthy, a stutterer, and unfulfilled.” He devoured the book. He learned how to pray through the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. George learned where to focus his priorities from Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto to you”. In Malachi he learned about the blessings of giving. He was so poor at the time, but God convicted his heart asking “Will you rob me? I will rebuke the devil for your sake and give you many blessings.” George found comfort, peace, direction, and guidance in God’s word. His personal relationship with Christ began to grow and he became filled with the Holy Spirit. “When God fills you with the Holy Spirit, it is not just for you, but for you to go out in the world and minister to others, creating disciples. You cannot live a Christian life in your mind, and you can’t put God in a box.”

As George started reading the Word, applying scriptures to his life, praying, and tithing, his life slowly started changing. He was able to purchase his family farm and find a renter which supplied the mortgage payments. He left the world of farming and entered the world of finance. He realigned his identity with Christ. He learned to forgive his dad and consider him as a best friend. His dad even served as his speech coach. However, George was still crippled with a stutter. George had to learn to “trust God’s promises, take His holy Word and apply it, walk in it and slowly the stutter went away.” George relied heavily on “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13; and Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

God gave George a passion for families. Had he not experienced all the challenges he faced as a child and young man, he wouldn’t understand the preciousness of families. George stated, “He didn’t know how to be a daddy, raise children or how to bless his family based on his experiences with his dad. But God.” This year, George and Patricia will be married for 54 years and six generations have been raised on the family farm. George is the co-founder of Bellfire Wealth which has offices in 17 states; and he is the President of Unite Mississippi Foundation. He uses his resources for Kingdom work.

George encouraged:

1.  Put God first in your life.

2.  Your value is based on your identity in Jesus Christ.

3.  Develop an intimacy with God. “It ain’t about religion but relationship.”

“We all face challenges in life and must believe in the sovereignty of God in our lives. When you are at a crossroads, ask God for help. Cut all the chatter out of your life so you can hear God’s voice and wait expectantly for God to respond. We serve a loving, wonderful, all-powerful God. Only the body of Christ can save the world. When the body of Christ unites, comes together as one, transition takes place. Put God first in your life.”

Chip Miskelly introducing the guest speaker.

Guest speaker, George Hester

Joanne Bell and George Hester, President if Unite Mississippi Foundation.

Joanne Bell leading in worship.

Joe Humphreys, Unite Mississippi President George and wife Patricia Hester, and Mark Robinson (left

Unite Mississippi Board Member Chris Gillard, K.C. Hamp, Tunica County Sheriff, Unite Mississippi Pr

Louie Moore, Unite Mississippi Board Member with fellow church members.

George Walker, George Hester, and Charles Greenlee.

Chip Miskelly, President Emeritus Unite Mississippi Foundation and Ben Minifield

Unite Mississippi Board Member Chris Gillard, K.C. Hamp, Tunica County Sheriff, and Pastor Gregg Div