Favorite Verse: At the moment, I would have to say that my favorite verse is Acts 4:13: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” I just love that last part, don’t you? “They recognized that they had been with Jesus…” Man, that’s good! May that be said of us, amen?

I also like Ephesians 3:14-21 (take a minute to read it… it is SUCH a beautiful prayer!)


How long have you been at Faith? I have been working at Faith since the summer of 2007. It has been a joy and a privilege to work with the Junior Highers thus far, and I am looking forward to many more years to come!


What's your personal background? I was born in the little town of Hackettstown, New Jersey. Like most kids, my early years were filled with happiness and fun, but when I was five, my little world was shattered when my parents decided to get a divorce. My mother got custody of my brother and me and the three of us moved to the town next door. Coming from the perspective of a five-year old, this was the hardest event that had ever happened to me. But God was in it and it worked out for His glory. Because of my mother’s desire to serve the Lord, we went to a Christian Church every Sunday and I heard the truth about Jesus and His love on numerous occasions. But looking back, I never quite understood the full brunt of what was being said to me, not until one fateful evening in March of 1997 when all the details finally came together.

My mom had met a man through a Christian dating service and as our first family outing, we went to a Word of Life Passion Play. By this point in my life, I knew the story of Christ and could tell you how and why He died, but a real personal relationship was not present. I sat on the floor with eyes gaped open at the performance, and at the end, an invitation was offered. With tears flowing down my cheeks, on March 15^th, 1997, I trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior.

After that life changing decision, I started to get involved with Word of Life, going every summer and winter to their camps. It was a great time, but the “on-fire-for-Christ-at-camp syndrome” kicked in. I would go to the camps and become so charged up for my Savior, but then come home and live no differently. This practice went on for about four years, and finally ended when I turned 16. It was in this special summer that I was introduced with, and finally took seriously, the idea of committing my life to Christ. At the Word of Life campfire service, with the heat from the fire piercing my skin and the Holy Spirit’s fire piercing my heart, I gave my life over to Christ and asked that He would take his rightful position as leader of my life.

Shortly thereafter, I started noticing that Jesus had more plans for me then I ever had for myself. Up to this point, I desired to be a cartoonist and animator and work a selfish, money-hungry sort of life. Thankfully, Christ’s plan for my life started to brightly shine through, and my plans were making less and less sense in comparison to His perfect will. My family and I switched churches, and at our new church, I was presented with countless opportunities to work with the youth group, leading and teaching as the opportunities arose. At first, I had no desire whatsoever to serve in this way, nor did I think I was qualified to do so. But as I quickly learned, God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. He certainly had a plan for me involving youth, and it was very apparent that His hand was stirring in my life.

Now, many years later, I am still following that calling to work with youth. Not only am I convinced that God has called me to youth ministry, but I also believe as though it is something in which God has specifically hand-crafted me to do through the years. The more I examine His specific will for me, holding it against the backdrop of all the experiences he has allowed me to have, the more I hunger and thirst to be a youth pastor and affect kids as He has affected me.


Hobbies: Oh doctor, I enjoy spending time with my wife, reading books about the Christian life and living out the Gospel, drawing cartoons, and dirtbiking when I get the chance. I also enjoy making movies, and making incredibly long and drawn-out to-do lists. (I don’t know why, but for some reason it excites me; go figure!)