The Lord blessed me greatly by giving me to Christian parents who faithfully taught my siblings and me the word of God and encouraged us to do whatever God would call us to do. I grew up attending Bible-preaching Baptist churches in Rhode Island and North Carolina.
When I was a senior in high school God graciously saved me after the preaching service at a youth rally, though I had known the facts of the gospel for many years—that I was a sinner under God’s just judgment for my sin, that Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sins, and that by fully trusting only in Christ I could have eternal life. I thank God for His love in turning me “from darkness to light.”
During that senior year of high school, I also became convinced that God wanted me to pursue full-time Christian ministry. Throughout my childhood and teen years our family was regularly involved in the ministries of our local churches. As a teen I became involved in church outreaches such as visitation, bus ministry, nursing home ministry, and youth rallies. My childhood interest in preaching continued during high school as I was given opportunities to preach at nursing homes, a rescue mission, and Christian school chapels and competitions.
I studied Missions and Spanish at college, and then earned an M.A. degree in Bible. I married my best friend, Mary, and we became heavily involved in various outreach ministries at our church, including VBS, door-to-door visitation, and neighborhood Bible clubs. Various teaching and preaching opportunities combined with leadership roles at our church strengthened in our hearts the sense that I ought to pursue pastoral work. I served as an assistant pastor for eight years at a Baptist church in Maryland, where I was ordained.
We’re thankful for the Lord’s leading in bringing us to Kettle Moraine Baptist Church in April of 2018. It is our prayer that God will use us here for His glory for as long as He desires.