MY “WHY”

I am driven by a need to pursue truth, share the gospel, love my wonderful family, equip the church, and see God move!

 

MARRIAGE

My fun-loving, beautiful wife, Emily is a blessing to me and our family. She's a person I can be completely transparent with and someone I know is always in my corner. Our marriage has had its challenges throughout the years, but we have seen God cover it with His mercy and grace.

 

FAMILY

We have 2 awesome boys: Ethan and Caleb. Ethan is my strong-willed, creative, and theatrical scholar. Caleb is my whole-hearted, passionate, and free-spirited warrior. God has taught me so much through being a father. 

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BACKSTORY

I was born and raised in Michigan as part of a loving, supportive and moral family; but without any knowledge of the source of morality. I've always enjoyed sports and music and remained active in these through high school and college. My late teens and early 20s were introspective, searching, and ultimately life-defining. I was plagued with unanswered questions: “Where did everything come from?”, “Where do we go when we die?”, and "What is right and wrong?” After being invited to a church service by a co-worker, I heard the Gospel for the first time and a message that changed my view of what church could be. I was given a bible after leaving the service and skeptically started reading...cover to cover. I began writing down my questions and doubts as I plowed ahead verse by verse. Over time, I came face to face with some key truths: I'm a sinner, one day I'll die, and Jesus paid for my sins. One night I prayed beside my bed, confessed to the Lord, and decided to turn from my sin and follow Jesus. A few years later, at 24, I moved across the country to Southern California, backslid, and came back to the Lord...then I got a calling.

 

CALLING

My career in sales was depressing. Sure, I was successful, but I hated getting up in the morning and was, well, bored. During a lunch break, I sat on the bluffs in Del Mar overlooking the ocean, contemplating my life. Feeling lost, I started talking to God. At one point I exclaimed, "What do you want me to do?" To which I heard God say, "Pastor." No, it wasn't an audible voice. I couldn't escape the weight of the message; they became almost unbearable. I finally yielded and cried, "OK, I'll do it." Instant peace. Within a few weeks, I had quit my job, moved, and enrolled in bible college. God is good.

 

EDUCATION

I am a life-long learner with a Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies from Calvary Chapel Bible College. Prior to that, I acquired a Bachelor’s in Marketing from Western Michigan University with minors in Management and Business Administration.

 

LIKES

Adventure, the outdoors, BBQ, sushi, weight training, MMA, guitar, shooting, board games, Dungeons & Dragons, video games, classic rock, jazz, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Office, and anything coffee.

 

DISLIKES

Bad drivers, poor customer service, and insincerity.