(Click your browser's "BACK" button to return to this menu)
What is your personal testimony?
I went forward at an altar call to receive the Lord just before my ninth birthday. I
was raised in Southern California where my family attended a Southern Baptist
church. As a young adult I eventually moved to Portland, Oregon where I worked
as a police officer. I attended church sporadically as an adult but was never really
able to find the peace I was searching for. Even though I would call myself a
Christian my lifestyle in no way demonstrated that I had a personal relationship
with Jesus Christ. While a police officer fulfilling what I thought was the desire of
my life, I knew something was missing. One evening while taking a walk around
my neighborhood I looked up at a nearly full moon and called out to God to take
control of my life. I wasn’t facing any particular problem but I knew there was
more to life and God was the answer. Soon after that prayer I rededicated my life to
the service of God. I submerged myself in studying the Word of God and began to
grow rapidly. Some time later I felt led by the Lord to take a leave of absence from
the Portland police department and begin theological studies. I would eventually
leave the police department to continue my studies and begin fulfilling the plan God
had for my life as a pastor.
Back to Index
What kind of relationship do you have with your wife and children?
My wife and I have worked together for the last twenty years pioneering and
pastoring several churches. My wife is a registered nurse and has been the
women’s pastor and the administrative pastor for more than fifteen years. Even
though we work together in the church and see each other every day we continue to
be best friends.
Our children are grown and have children of their own. We enjoy spending time
with them and our five grandchildren. Since they live in California we visit
with them as often as we can.
How has your wife influenced you in your personal and spiritual growth?
My wife has always been an encouragement to me in all I have done. During times of
discouragement she would be there to spur me on to finish the race. I don’t know if I would be where I am today if not for my wife.
What are your areas of strengths?
Areas where I tend to excel include leadership development, vision casting,
teaching/preaching, developing people through discipleship training and mentoring,
and tenacity as exemplified by refusing to quit before seeing the desired results.
What are your areas of weakness?
Areas that I would consider weak are areas that take my attention from my primary
responsibilities of teaching, leading and discipling the congregation. I am constantly
working to improve my time management skills as sometimes the busyness of my
schedule interferes with items of higher priority.
What are your hobbies and interests?
My favorite recreation is riding my Harley Davidson motorcycle. My wife and I also enjoy taking long rides in the car while we listen to sermons or books on tapes.
I enjoy reading, playing golf and visiting with friends and eating out. My wife and I
enjoy vacationing where we can visit historical homes and sites.
Describe your personal prayer and devotional life.
My prayer life is constant and consistent. There are times when I will spend a specific, dedicated amount of time in prayer. During this time I pray as the Holy Spirit leads, seeking His will not only for who to pray for, but how to pray most effectively. Most often I pray in short periods of time, but I pray more often. Smith Wigglesworth who was a man of faith and prayer with many supernatural results said it this way. “I never pray for an hour, but I never go more then an hour without praying.” He learned first hand what the scripture meant when it said pray without ceasing. My pattern for prayer is similar. I am constantly talking to God in prayer. This allows me to try and always hear God’s voice.
How do you organize and prioritize your week’s work, study, sermon preparation, counseling, visitation, devotion, days off, physical fitness, and so on?
I have a palm pilot that helps keep my schedule running somewhat smoothly. As I mentioned earlier, prioritizing time is an area of weakness I am still developing.
As a church grows, the responsibilities of the pastor grow also. A church with a vision will recognize the more traditional style of the pastor being “everything to everybody” and doing “everything that everybody wants” will not and cannot work if the church is going to grow. If the pastor is going to disciple the people and mentor the leaders, he will need to have time to accomplish this. This is where staff and volunteers have the responsibility to step in and do the work of the ministry.
What sports, hobbies, or spare-time activities do you participate in regularly? Which of these activities include your family?
My favorite things to do when I am not at church are taking a ride with my wife and listening to tapes while looking at historical homes and locations. I enjoy golf with other pastors and men in the church. I really enjoy fishing. My most favorite thing to do, without question, is ride my Harley Davidson Motorcycle. My wife does or can do most of these with me. She enjoys everything but golf and fishing. She likes to ride the Harley as long as it’s not too cold.
Name some Christian leaders or thinkers, past or present, which have had the most influence on your ministry life.
Leaders who have influenced my life have done so by and through my reading and studies. This is where I have the opportunity to understand who they are and what they really believe. As you read numerous works of an individual, you learn the way they really think. Those who have influenced my life are to numerous to name, so I will list only a few. They include Francis Schaeffer, Norman Geisler, David Noble, Ravi Zacharias, John Maxwell, Kenneth Hagin and C. S. Lewis.
Which magazines do you read regularly?
I read a variety of Christian and secular of magazines. I have several motorcycle
magazines and numerous ministry magazines. Ministry magazines I subscribe to
and read regularly include Christian History, Preaching, Leadership Journal and
Ministry Magazine. To keep abreast of the world’s slant on the news, I read Time,
Newsweek, People, and USA Today.
Give the titles and authors of Christian and non-Christian books you have read most recently.
Non-Christian books I have read recently deal with the prevailing world philosophy of today. These books help me understand our past and current culture and where we are headed as a post-Christian nation and how to respond with the Gospel. Some of these books include but are not limited to: Philosophy of Existence by Karl Jaspers, Socrates to Sartre by Samuel Stumpf, How We Think by John Dewey, Pragmatism by William James, Four Views of Salvation in a Pluralistic World by Dennis Okholm/Timothy Phillips and Way to Wisdom by Karl Jaspers.
Christian books I have recently read include: Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton, The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith both by Lee Strobel, Deliver Us From Evil by Ravi Zacharias, Why I Am a Christian and When Skeptics Ask both by Norman Geisler, Inside Islam by Reza Safa, What You Need To Know About Islam and Muslims by George Braswell Jr., Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Mind Seige by Tim LaHaye, The New Tolerance by Josh McDowell and The God Who Is There by Frances Schaeffer. These books, Christian and non-Christian, allow me to have a more rounded view of the world in which we live. Because of this, I am better able to respond to issues and needs of the church and society.
What books have influenced your views on leadership?
The books listed is a short list of what I consider to be important leadership books which have made a difference in my life and have helped me develop my leadership skills. They include: Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders, Why Leaders Can’t Lead by Warren Bennis, Principle-Centered Leadership by Stephen Covey, Leaders-The Strategy of Taking Charge by Warren Bennis/Burt Nanus, Leadership When The Heat’s On by Danny Cox/John Hoover and Developing The Leaders Around You by John Maxwell.
If there has been a time when you were hurt deeply, please describe. What did you learn from this experience?
There is no pastor alive that has not been hurt deeply by someone (or many) he has pastored. I have learned much by those who have hurt me. One thing I have learned is how to forgive and continue to love the one who hurt you. It’s easy to become hardened to people in general and want little or nothing to do with the congregation. The idea behind this is, I don’t want to leave the ministry, but I don’t want anything to do with people. As a pastor called by God to love His flock, this mindset cannot exist. If you close your heart in fear of getting hurt you also close your heart to finding true loving and honest friends. God heals the hurts and He often does so through new friends.
Describe an ‘average’ day for you as a Senior Pastor.
I don’t believe I have an average day. I can explain a routine but it would not be valid day to day. I do much of my pre-sermon preparation, continuing education
and personal devotion and prayer in the mornings and often in the evenings if I am not involved in an evening activity. My office time is often spent in additional
study, staff meetings or meeting with people from the church for relationship development. I will have prayer meetings or lunch with pastors from outside our
church to develop relationships within the community. I become involved outside the church as I feel led by the Lord, but not to the extent it takes away from by first
responsibilities.
What is the order of your priorities regarding your responsibilities to the church and your responsibilities to your wife and children?
I work hard to keep my priorities in appropriate balance. There are those who teach there is an order of priorities to which Christians should adhere. The Bible does not have a list of priorities such as God first, then family, then job followed by church, etc.. If there was a list, every pastor would have a different set of priorities depending upon what was important to him. The Bible teaches that God has given all of us gifts and talents. The apostle Paul tells us in the book of Romans that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. In other words, it is our responsibility to do what God has called us to do in the church and in our families without neglecting our other responsibilities. We must learn to balance all our responsibilities.
How did God confirm your call to the ministry? Have you ever deeply doubted this call?
God placed in my heart an overwhelming desire to preach His Word. In obedience, I took a leave of absence from my job as a police officer in Portland, Oregon and attended Bible school. It was during an assembly at school one day that the Lord, in a supernatural way, confirmed my calling into the ministry. Later, I had other Christian leaders and pastors confirm this confirmation.
Do you hear from God? How does He speak to you?
I hear from God like any other believer would hear. I believe the Lord speaks to me through the still small voice, the inward witness, my conscience and sometimes what seems like a clear audible voice, though this does not happen very often. Most of the time when I hear from God it is through the voice within that I have come to recognize over the years as God’s leading. I have learned how to test what I hear and in many cases wait for conformation. When God speaks to me on a more prophetic note I seem to “know” it is God. Whether it is prophecy or Word of Wisdom or Knowledge it seems clear and precise. After testing the word over the years, it seems to prove itself fairly accurate.
What are your personal, professional, and family goals over the next ten years?
My personal goals are to continue my religious studies while I continue to develop my pastoral gift. I believe that it is important to maintain a constant study so that you are challenged to grow. My professional goals are to continue as a senior pastor in a church that wants to grow in their knowledge of God, to raise the level of leadership, commitment and church involvement within the community and to prepare the church to be a leader in the community and influence those around us.
My family goals are to continue to be a good husband to my wife and a loving father and grandfather to my grown children and their children (my grandchildren).
Please describe your preference for continuing education in ministry.
My preference for continuing education is two-fold. The first is continuing my theological studies. Continuing my studies keeps my mind fresh and my heart hungry for God. The longer I pastor, the more I recognize the need to systematically study God’s Word. As I mature as a pastor, I develop new insights on previously studied material. New studies add to what I have learned and give me greater understanding of scripture. My desire is to be the best pastor I can be so that I can lead my congregation to new places with God. One can never stop learning and growing. My second preference is attending specific conferences or seminars which address subjects where I need refreshing or updating.
Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible
I believe that the original manuscripts of the Old and New Testament comprise the full, inerrant and divinely inspired Word and Revelation of God. It is, therefore, our complete authority in doctrine and practice. 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:21.
Trinity
I believe in one God eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit who have the same nature and attributes, but are distinct in personality and office. Deut 6:4; Jer 10:10; Mt 28:19-20; Mk 12:29; Jn 1:1-4, 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor 13:14; Heb 1:1-8; Rev 1:4-6.
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
I believe that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, true God and true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and died upon the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for all who believe on Him as Savior and Lord. We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, His ascension into heaven, and His personal, visible imminent return from heaven. Jn 1:1-3,14; Lk 1:26-38; Rom 3:24-26; 4:45; Phil 2:6-8; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Heb 1:3
Holy Spirit
I believe in the personality and divinity of the Holy Spirit, who Jesus Christ sent as a comforter to indwell, teach, lead and anoint believers. The Holy Spirit imparts spiritual gifts and was sent to “convict the world of sin, and of all righteousness, and of judgment.” Mt 28:19; Jn 14:16,17,26; 16:7-11; Acts 5:3,4; 28:25; Rom 8:11,26,27; 1 Cor 2:10,11; 2 Cor 13:14; 2 Cor 3:17; Eph 4:4-6; Heb 9:14; 1 Jn 2:27
Church
I believe in the church, both universally and locally, as the spiritual body of which Jesus Christ is the Head. The local church was established by Jesus Christ who gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. The fivefold ministry is still a vital and necessary part of equipping believers to fulfill God’s plan and purpose in the church today. Eph 1:22,23; 4:11-16; Col 1:18
Nature and Sinfulness of Man
I believe man was created in the image of God, that in Adam “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” thereby incurring physical and spiritual death (separation from God) and are in need of salvation. Gen 1,27; 2:17; Rom 3:10,23; 5:8,12; 6:23; Eph 2:8,9; Titus 3:5
Salvation
I believe in salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross; that Jesus Christ gave “His life a ransom for many,” and “bore our sins in His own body on the tree”; that if you “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved”. We believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through Him.
Mt 20:28; Jn 14:6; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 2:1,2; Rom 10:9,10;
Jn 1:12; 3:16,36; 5:24; 10:28; 11:25,26; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Eph 2:8,9; Titus 3:4-7
Sacraments of the Lord
I believe in the sacraments of Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These were established by Jesus Christ to provide a clear understanding so the believer is able to enter into the communion of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ through water baptism. The Lord’s Supper reminds us of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross. His broken body and His sinless blood would pay the price for the guilty who accept His sacrifice. Every time we receive communion we proclaim theLord’s death until He comes. Mt 28:19; Act 2:38,41,42; 20:7,11; Rom 6:3-5; 1 Cor 11:23-27; Col 2:11,12
Gifts of the Holy
Spirit, Miracles and Healing
I believe that God continues to perform miracles, signs and wonders
through the disciples of Jesus Christ. We believe that it is
God’s will for believers to be baptized with the Holy Spirit as experienced by
early Christians. We believe that healing was provided in the redemptive work of
Christ and is available to every person. Mt 3:11; Mk 16:15-20; Acts 1:4-8;
2:4,14-21,38,39; 8:15-19; 10:44-48; 19:1-6; Ja 5:14,15; 1 Pet 2:24
Rapture, Second Coming of Christ and the Millennial reign of Christ
I believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church and the pre-millennial reign of Christ which follows the second coming of Jesus where He will set up a literal 1,000 year reign on the earth.
1 Thess 4:13-18; Zech 14:16-19; 2 Tim 2:11,12; Rev 5:10, 20:3,6
Heaven and Hell
I believe in a literal heaven for all born again followers of Jesus Christ who have accepted the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and remain steadfast in the faith. We believe in a literal hell, a place of punishment and torment, for all who deny and reject the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Mt 10:28; 13:36-50; 25:31-46; Jn 3:16-21; 2 Thess 1:7-10; Rev 14:14-20; 20:11-15; 21:1-5