I was born in Newnan, GA in February 1978 to Jimmie and Melanie Hodnett. Although I was not raised in a Christian home, my parents made sure that I had some "religious" influence. My sisters would take me to church from time to time and any Bible knowledge we had was learned from the television. At the age of nine we begin going to church as a family. I quickly realized that if I wanted to fit in, I would have to make a profession of faith. I went to the altar just as I had seen others do time after time, but there was no difference in me. I was still lost and on my way to hell. At the age of thirteen, I heard a message by Evangelist Milton Taylor on having a head knowledge of Jesus, but no heart knowledge. It was then that the Holy Ghost convicted me and I realized that I needed a Saviour. I trusted Jesus that night and He has made all the difference.Shortly before my sixteenth birthday, God called me to preach the Gospel. I began preaching on the street, in local nursing homes. Soon was preaching on the radio and in local churches.On April 13, 1996 while hosting a youth meeting in Newnan, I met the most beautiful, godly young lady I have ever known. I began courting her in September 1996, and I married Ginger Lee-Ann Jones on March 14, 1997. After several years of praying and longing for a child, we found out we were expecting, sadly 10 days later we miscarried and our hearts were broken. The Lord was teaching us to trust him.  16 months later God showed favour and in 2003, we welcomed Autumn into the world. what a true blessing she has been. Nearly seven years later, and other losses God blessed our home again and in 2009, God gave us our second child, Savannah. She is also such a blessing.  God allowed me to Pastor two churches while living in the states, one in Alabama and one in Florida. I am also privileged to have been a full-time evangelist. For sometime, God dealt with me about  bringing the gospel to Scotland, I struggled for a while, because this was more than a move, it was a life long decision and change for our family . On March 20, 2011, I surrendered to the Call of God to be a missionary to the Scottish people. Basically this means that I said yes to Gods request of me and my family moving to Scotland and starting a church that preaches truth. We bought out tickets and were planning to arrive in Scotland in 2015 but God had once more shifted our plan and we welcomed our Son Jody Jr (we call him J) into this world in September of 2015.  We rescheduled our move for October 2016 and we are so thankful that Gods timing is just as important as His calling. We started the church in Dumfries in 2017 and God has blessed. Earlier this year (2026) a dear friend passed away and the church he pastored asked me to come along and be their pastor, so in May of 2026 I accepted the pastorate in Carlisle England at Lighthouse Baptist Church. Gods plans are always higher than mine, I am thankful that I get to pastor both churches and I pray that God will grow them to his will and that souls will be saved as a result.