I have the privilege of leading Jr. & Sr. High students in the adventure of becoming like Christ. I give oversight and direction to an incredible group of adults who minister “hands on” with the Jr. High students, and I partner with more incredible adults who work along with me directly with Sr. High students. I am consumed with understanding God’s heart and plans for COD’s student ministry, and then strategizing and implementing His desires.
Describe your family:
I have been truly blessed by God with a tremendous family, whom I love dearly. I am the father of three and the husband of one. Stacey and I have been married since 1990, and enjoy each month together more than the previous one. Our daughter Makenzy was born in 1994, then our son Andrew (Drew) in 1996, and finally our son Joshua (Josh) in 2001. The kids will tell you that they have two more brothers: our dog Barkley who is lives with us, and our “sponsor child” Makendy who lives in Haiti.
I like to hunt and go fishing with my sons, and I love to play basketball. I coach my kid’s little league and rec. league basketball teams. As a family we will play table games, play the Wii, ride bikes, go to Cavs & Indians games, go on hikes together, and we like to laugh at & with each other.
Stacey and I both grew up in the Erie, PA area and both graduated from Messiah College in Harrisburg, PA. Stacey earned a B.S. in nursing in 1990 and is an RN. I earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies with a concentration in Youth Ministries in 1989. After graduation, I served as Pastor of Youth and Evangelism at a church in North East, PA, and also part-time staff with Youth for Christ in North East, PA for 6 years. I then served as Student Ministries Pastor and Interim Lead Pastor at a church in Jefferson, OH for 10 years. In 2005 we moved to Belgrade, MT and planted a church with the Evangelical Free Churches of America, where I served as Lead Pastor for 4 ½ years before coming to Church of the Open Door in February, 2010.