Describe your testimony
I was saved through the ministry of Campus Crusade as a freshman at the U of Md on May 7, 1970, three daysafter the Kent State killings of students by the National Guard. I was a small time narcotics dealer at the time,getting deeper into narcotics use and trafficking. When Christ forgave my sin and entered my life, the resultswere immediate and dramatic. I got rid of all my drugs, began to read the Bible, and became involved withCrusade for the next three years. Upon graduation I went to Dallas Seminary and then pastored two churches,one in Flint, MI, for ten years and one in Toronto, Canada for thirteen. I have been a Professor at Capital BibleSeminary since 2000.
Family history and make up
I grew up in Prince Georges County, Maryland the youngest of three. My dad was a general contractor/homebuilder and my mom a secretary for the Naval Research Lab. My dad died when I was a senior in High Schooland this was a crucial event in my turn to drugs, trying to fill the emptiness I felt.I married Diane in 1973 after being instrumental in her coming to Christ in 1970 (a story all to itself). We haveone son, Paul, who was born in 1978. He is a lawyer living in Canada, is married and we have one granddaughternamed Hazel.
Current life plan- Job-roles you play – hats you wear, etc.
I am the chair of the Pastoral Theology Department at Capital Bible Seminary and head up their MinistryLeadership program. I also work as a consultant with highly dysfunctional churches to help them hear whatJesus is saying to them through Blessing Point Ministries, a small mission organization which developed out oftwo books I have written. I co-lead a guys Life Group at FCC with Pastor Tim.
Personal Strengths and or gifts
My spiritual gifts are primarily pastoral—both pastor/teacher and exhortation/encouragement.
What is your ministry/Church timeline and what roles have you played?
I have been involved with FCC since it began, though I was not a part of Fusion while it was at Grace (thoughI spoke their once).
What brought you to FFC?
I got to know TJ when I had a chance to meet with him regularly after Grace hired me to tutor him in sermonpreparation and preaching. I grew to greatly respect his heart for the Lord and his passion to reach lost peopleand disciple believers.
What do you dream of for FFC?
To experience all that Jesus created a church to be and experience in the world. I have strong feelings aboutwhat a church should be, about what makes us unique. We come from a broken and sinful world and brokenand sinful families into a community/family which has Jesus as its operating and present Lord, whose agendais to repair all the damage which sin has caused us. He allows us to be partners with Him in this repairing task,both through sharing the gospel with the unsaved and having them come to know Him, and in communitythrough the use of all of our spiritual gifts in both the large and small group. There should also be no cultural orethnic barriers, for the church breaks all such walls down (Eph. 2:11-16). At its best, when the church gathers,we should experience Jesus supernaturally dwelling in our midst (Eph. 2:19-21) and be able to explore thedimensions of His love together (Eph. 3:16-19).
In your eyes, what are the primary job responsibilities of an elder?
Elders are shepherds, watching over and protecting the flock from predators, leading them and feeding them inall ways to help them grow individually and corporately, caring for the hurting sheep, disciplining the unrulysheep, and working to restore them when if they sin, struggle or fall. They work to facilitate the growth of eachone as a disciple of Christ and help them to become everything Christ created them to be. Spiritual authority isalways to serve those under their authority and never to lord such authority over them.
How do you feel you add the Elder team?
I have been around the block a time or two and add some ministry/pastoral experience to the group.Having pastoral gifts allows me to serve TJ as someone who has been in his role and knows thepressures he and Lisa uniquely face in their ministry roles, which is always a help.