Areas of Ministry: My areas of ministry include the Gateway Adventure and Gateway Equip classes. My primary responsibility is the development of Gateway Equip classes in an online format.
Family: My wife, Jill, and I married in 1994. We have four children—Jacob, Rachel, Rebecca and Reegan; one dog—Rooney; and king of the house—Jack, the Cat.
Saved: I gave my head to Jesus when I was a child. It wasn't until the Summer before my Junior year in high school that I decided to include my heart. Up until that time I had lived a mostly reclusive life, afraid of interacting with those around me. I feared people judging and rejecting me, so I simply refused them that opportunity by keeping others at arm's distance. On June 6, 1986, at youth camp, I became tired of the person I was and asked Jesus to be my Lord. My transformation was near immediate as Jesus accepted the invitation; and He continues His advance into the secret places of my heart everyday.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry from Southwestern Assemblies of God University—1994. Master of Education from Dallas Baptist University—2005. I'm working on a PhD in Education from Texas A&M University.
Previous Line of Work: Taco Bell, newspaper delivery, nightshift at UPS, cleaning horse stalls. I was also a youth pastor for 12 years in various churches across the DFW Metroplex. I was the Director of Youth Ministries at Christ For the Nations Institute (CFNI) and served on faculty teaching youth ministry courses. During that time I was also the Director of Youth For the Nations, a youth camp at CFNI. For the next four years, I was in Public Education as a 4th and 5th Grade Teacher. The three years before coming on staff at Gateway Church, I was an Assistant Principal at both a Middle and Intermediate School.
Most Fascinating: There are six billion people on the face of the earth, each with uncommon personalities, hopes, dreams, wants and desires. But the Father has created a singular gospel message that satisfies their every need without minimizing their uniqueness.
FAVORITE
Food: Green Beans and Fried Okra
Snack Food: I'm learning to love dry
TV Show: LOST, Boston Legal, reruns of The Practice
Musical Artist: There's something other than Gateway Worship?
Time of Day: When the house is quiet, just before I go to bed
Season: Christmas
Place in the World: In the arms of my wife
Place to Pray: My car
Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Hanging out with my family, working in the yard, riding motorcycles
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:9
Sports Team: Cowboys
Sport: Football
LEAST FAVORITE
Food: Overdone steak
Snack Food: Chips that leave residue on your fingers
Time of Day: Waking up five minutes before my alarm and realizing it’s not worth trying to go back to sleep.
Season: Winter—when the sun isn't shining, nor is it raining or snowing; it's just … blah.
Place in the World: ICU hospital room
Sports Team: Sometimes the Cowboys
Best thing someone said to you: Your heart is functioning normally. You're going home today! (Said by the cardiologist on my last day in the hospital.)
Life Motto: All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
People I'd Like to Meet: William Harley, Arthur Davidson, Abraham Lincoln, the grandfather I never met
My Hero: The woman who raced across the DFW Metroplex to greet me in ICU after my Careflight trip. I call her my wife.
One of My Greatest Experiences with God: Kneeling on the red carpet of the chapel at Southwestern Assemblies of God College and hearing the Lord say, "Ask her to marry you."
Most People Don't Know This About Me: I'm saving up for a tattoo.
