I grew up in a Christian home, in a small town in the state of Oregon, but unfortunately I didn't follow the faith of my family throughout my teenage years. While contemplating suicide during my senior year of High School, I desperately called out to God and surrendered my life to Him.
I abandoned my dreams of pursuing a career in art and dedicated myself to ministry. For the remainder of my senior year I did my best to be a witness of God's salvation through Jesus Christ. I also spent a lot of time reading the Bible and praying for direction. Through various circumstances I believed God was calling me to move to Chicago.
I abandoned my dreams of pursuing a career in art and dedicated myself to ministry. For the remainder of my senior year I did my best to be a witness of God's salvation through Jesus Christ. I also spent a lot of time reading the Bible and praying for direction. Through various circumstances I believed God was calling me to move to Chicago.
My original intention was to join the organization "Jesus People U.S.A." which ministered to the homeless in Chicago as well as other outreach ministries but little did I know that God had some other plans for me. I was only at Jesus People for a month and during that time I ended up getting involved in a summer program called Chicago Outreach which led to a full time position as a custodian at Lakeshore Family Church. It was there that I worked with youth pastor, Dirk Currier, who began a ministry to skateboarders by building a skate park in the basement of the Church. I also spent time doing street evangelism as well as volunteering with an inner city children's camp ministry.
During that first year in Chicago I sensed a strong calling to begin a music ministry though it seemed strange to some since I did not sing, write music or play an instrument at the time. Nevertheless, I eventually began to learn how to play guitar, write songs and attempt to sing them. The greatest thing that happened to me at Lakeshore Family Church was meeting the Church secretary, Mary, whom I have been happily married to for over 18 years now. In the last 19 years I have written around 100 songs and have been given the opportunity to sing them in churches, schools, festivals, prisons, camps, coffee houses, living rooms and on the street. Many of the songs are directed upward as worship to God and some of them are directed inward to the church for the purpose of discipleship and to encourage ministry. Several of the songs are evangelistic and are directed outward to the unbeliever, skeptic or someone seeking to know God. From the beginning of the music ministry I adopted a policy to not charge for concerts, CD's or cassettes but to offer them on a donation basis.
We lived for several years in Chicago, Illinois where I ran a small business and was involved in Christian coffeehouse ministry, both performing and directing. I was also a volunteer worship leader at our church in Chicago as well as a small group Bible study leader. We eventually moved out of Chicago to a small community in rural Illinois where I served as a full time youth/associate pastor. In 2003 I resigned in order to pursue music ministry full time. At the same time I became more involved with teaching on the subject of media discernment which eventually led to the founding of Media Talk 101 in 2005.
In the Summer of 2006 the Lord moved us to San Antonio, TX where I continue to direct Media Talk 101. We became involved with Living Water Fellowship in Bulverde, TX and I was asked to help start a school of ministry. In the Fall of 2007 I began to direct the Living Water School of Ministry and shortly after was invited to join the pastoral staff of Living Water Fellowship.
During that first year in Chicago I sensed a strong calling to begin a music ministry though it seemed strange to some since I did not sing, write music or play an instrument at the time. Nevertheless, I eventually began to learn how to play guitar, write songs and attempt to sing them. The greatest thing that happened to me at Lakeshore Family Church was meeting the Church secretary, Mary, whom I have been happily married to for over 18 years now. In the last 19 years I have written around 100 songs and have been given the opportunity to sing them in churches, schools, festivals, prisons, camps, coffee houses, living rooms and on the street. Many of the songs are directed upward as worship to God and some of them are directed inward to the church for the purpose of discipleship and to encourage ministry. Several of the songs are evangelistic and are directed outward to the unbeliever, skeptic or someone seeking to know God. From the beginning of the music ministry I adopted a policy to not charge for concerts, CD's or cassettes but to offer them on a donation basis.
We lived for several years in Chicago, Illinois where I ran a small business and was involved in Christian coffeehouse ministry, both performing and directing. I was also a volunteer worship leader at our church in Chicago as well as a small group Bible study leader. We eventually moved out of Chicago to a small community in rural Illinois where I served as a full time youth/associate pastor. In 2003 I resigned in order to pursue music ministry full time. At the same time I became more involved with teaching on the subject of media discernment which eventually led to the founding of Media Talk 101 in 2005.
In the Summer of 2006 the Lord moved us to San Antonio, TX where I continue to direct Media Talk 101. We became involved with Living Water Fellowship in Bulverde, TX and I was asked to help start a school of ministry. In the Fall of 2007 I began to direct the Living Water School of Ministry and shortly after was invited to join the pastoral staff of Living Water Fellowship.