Growing up with an alcoholic father who died when I was 13, getting married at 17, and graduating high school the father of two, I have a unique life message of God’s love, forgiveness, and power to redeem. In 1985, I began to write down all that God was teaching me in obedience to a prophetic word given to me.
Today, those notes are my testimony of God’s faithfulness as God continues to pour out His grace in my life.
I’m not one that came to Christ because it made a lot of sense. God broke into my situation, made Himself known to me, told me He had a better plan for my life and asked if I would trust Him as my Savior. I was desperate, so I agreed. He then told me He needed to be my “Lord” to make the better plan happen. I said okay.
Savior “and” Lord? It took a few months for me to understand what that meant. I’m still trying to get it straight.
Along the way, He has continued to transform my thinking. I had a lot of baggage that I was hanging on to. False ideas, concepts, attitudes, and desires that had been carried over from my old life and the lies I lived by. It has taken a long time, I’m still in process and it seems God is hopeful, He hasn’t given up on me yet.
Now, who am I? I’m still me. The better plan for my life God promised, well it isn’t what I expected, but I have to say, I never would have imagined it. The past doesn’t disappear, it is the foundation that He uses to show me I shouldn’t trust in my own understanding. As I get to know who God “is” I can begin to understand the unique person He created me to “be”
Missions and Service Experience
1982 YWAM Base, Honolulu, HI
Volunteer Counselor (Discipleship Training School Outreach - 3 months)
Duties included relating to and counseling with street people of "Hotel Street", building relationships with people on a one-to-one basis, and assisting them to get off the streets.
1983-1985 Dawson Creek, B.C. Canada
Founding President of "Fishnet Ministries Society". A multi-church community outreach.
Worked with participating churches to communicate vision and recruit volunteers.
Developed a "youth" focused outreach called "Christian Activities Club". Had a weekly small group study where I was able to disciple and mentor Christian youth through their participation in community outreach to their classmates.
Worked with youth in three local high schools; organizing community activities and field trips; establishing one-to-one relationships and assisting young people to overcome personal and family conflicts.
Organized alternative activities within the community to give youth other choices for after school such as swim nights at the local indoor pool, camping trips, and the first-ever city-wide "Planned Famine" with World Vision. It involved all three high schools, the police department, the Mayor's office, the local newspaper, and the Television station as well as being sponsored by several large businesses in the community.
1985-1986 YWAM Base, Turner Valley, Alberta, Canada
On Staff in the communications department and Discipleship Training School (DTS).
Recorded live teaching sessions of visiting lecturers for the production of future video training seminars. Also sales and duplication of videotapes that were distributed to mission donors and prayer supporters
DTS duties included working in a live-in environment with six months of intensive training and counseling of young people to assist them in their desire to pursue Christian Missionary work. Three months of this school I co-led a field trip to Mexico. I was responsible for the welfare of 30 students as we lived with and served nationals in a third-world setting. Had my own small group (6) where we met for “Share and Prayer” each week.
1986 YWAM Base, Tacoma, WA
Worked in the communications department editing incoming video field footage to produce video reports on various outreach efforts in the Amazon and Poland.
Was a production assistant on the video series called the "Double Benefit" by Graham Kerr (Galloping Gourmet fame) who taught healthy menu choices for individuals who had medical issues to overcome.
Duties included lighting, sound, and dolly work.
1987 Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, Dawson Creek, B.C. Canada
Spent 9 months as the "Assistant to the Pastor" (A pilot program)
Duties included developing singles ministry within the church. This provided fellowship and counsel for singles with unresolved personal problems carried over from youth. Met weekly for fellowship, teaching, and prayer.
1988 University of the Nations (YWAM), Communications Department, Kailua-Kona, HI
Duties included directing live recordings in a 3 camera studio and post-production of video teaching tapes distributed worldwide. Also maintenance and distribution of A/V equipment for University campus.
1989 Social Worker, South Peace Community Resources Society, Dawson Creek, B.C. Canada
Duties included advocating and mediating for youth living on the street in a Reconnect Program funded by the B.C. Ministry of Social Services and Housing. Dealt with parents on issues they were confronted with unruly teenagers. Worked with school counselors to integrate students back into school
1990-1992 University of the Nations (YWAM), Communications Department, Kailua-Kona, HI
With the financial support of Elkhart Christian Assembly Tracy and I returned to the Communications Dept and I resumed duties.
Duties included directing live recordings in a 3 camera studio of visiting lecturers and post-production of video teaching tapes distributed worldwide. Also maintenance and distribution of A/V equipment for University campus.
We also traveled to the Amazon for a month and a half expedition and shot field footage for a documentary report of a California church group doing mission work amongst the Paumari Indians of the Tapauá River, a tributary of the Amazon river.
2010-2013 County Line Church of God, Auburn, IN
Volunteer work
Worship Service Planning Committee. Met weekly with a small group to help the Senior Pastor and Worship Pastor plan the weekly service.
Video production and editing of weekly sermons.
Shot and edited short video testimonials.
Shot and edited Construction Video Updates.
“Hot Group” assistant with William Schwartz. When he moved to California I led the group for about 5 months.
Weekly Youth Ministry Prayer support with Donna King and Shirley Woods
Aug 2014 – Jul 2015 Soul Medic Volunteer - RemedyLIVE
RemedyLIVE engages youth in meaningful conversations, through technology, as a step toward Christ.
Member of Oversight Team for Home Group Ministry
March 2020 – Present StoryPoint Fort Wayne, IN
HomeGroup Leader - Senior Independent Living Residence
Direct discussion/fellowship concerning current events, God's word, and Biblical principles that are applicable to common issues and struggles for Seniors.
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