During most of my life (between the ages of 1-21), I went to church with my family and thought I was Christian because my family went to church (a Lutheran church). I knew who Jesus was, I knew God was angered with Sinners, and I knew the Bible stories from Sunday school.

I went to college in 1984 at Rio Grande College, Rio Grande, Ohio. I received and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ at Cocoa Beach, Florida during a college baseball tournament that I participated in. The college I attended, Rio Grande is not a Christian college. However, the other colleges in the conference and tournament were Christian colleges. I attended a Bible study and heard a man named "Tom Roys" share the gospel / salvation message. I learned what it truly meant to be a Christian. And, that I was not a real Christian. He mentioned that we were all sinners and that because of that, we could not have a relationship with our Holy God. Unless, we trusted what Jesus did on the cross (died for our sins, my sins), ask him to come into our life. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, John 3:16, Rev. 3:20, John 3:3, Romans 10:9,10). That night I went back to the dorm room I was staying in, re-read the verses Tom Roys gave. I got on my knees and asked Jesus to come into my life.

Shortly after I returned to Rio Grande College from the Baseball tournament, a young lady named Tracy suggested that I go to Sunday School at Trinity Baptist Church (right next to the campus). I started going about once every two weeks, because coaching baseball (as a student coach) was taking up much of my time, including Sundays. God really started speaking to my heart about that. By the next fall, I told the head coach that I would no longer be coaching. So during my junior year, I spent more time in God’s word. I got together with my Sunday school teacher, David Perry. He spent time with me and shared the importance of Baptism, a daily quiet time and full commitment to God’s word.

In January 1987, I met Jackie (my now wife over 11 years- June 24, 1989!). God really impressed upon my heart to invite her to church with me. She was a Christian too! David Perry taught me many things that I needed for a Christian walk. In April of 1988, Jackie and I were both baptized together!

I knew that I needed to be obedient to God. But still as a baby Christian, my life was not always reflecting that. The thing I remember being challenged about the most was that David taught me that I needed to be a doer (James 1:22) and not a pew sitter. After Jackie and I were married and moved & settled in Columbus, we searched for such a church that would provide us the opportunity to serve. After attending different Baptist Churches and praying where God would want us. We felt that Bethesda Baptist Church was where he wanted us. After six months, I learned that there was a need for someone to teach the High School/ College Career kids. I prayed about it and asked Pastor Vaughan if I could teach those students. Pastor and the Deacons said yes and then took it on for the "summer". Jackie and myself have been working with students ranging in grades 7 through college age ever since. 7 - 8 years now?

We have had a Word of Life Teen Bible Club for Three years . God has also given me opportunity to serve in the church choir, on the Deacon board, on visitation, as the song worship leader in church, as pulpit supply and as a counselor and teacher in the Columbus Public School system.

God has bless me with a daughter in 1998 and has been showing me the importance of being accountable for where and how she is trained up. We moved to our current location after she was born and are now serving at our local church here with high school and college students. God has taught me much through the opportunities in serving Him. I am not the perfect servant. But He has been gracious and patient in dealing with me as I have been growing in Him.

I love young people, not just to help them learn about Jesus but to love Him and obediently serve Him. Only two things are of eternal value: Investing my life in God’s Word, being obedient to Him in His word and Investing God’s Word in the life of others.