How did God bring you to Idaville?
I had served for almost twelve years as the Director of Youth Ministries and Church Secretary at a church in Hanover when God brought me out of that ministry. I worked for a temp agency while waiting for where God wanted me to be next. I saw the ad for an Associate/Youth Pastor at Idaville Church and applied. I really had no experience in being an Associate Pastor, but Pastor Stuart said he would train me in preaching, etc. I was hired in September 2014 and have learned more in the past 9 ½ years about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the workings of the Church than the previous 33 years of working in churches. My wife Judy and I love serving at Idaville Church and the people are amazing.
Where did you meet your wife?
I was introduced to my wife, Judy, by her sister. Her sister moved to Southern Maryland, worked in Northern Maryland and went to church with her landlords which just happened to be my home church. I missed going to church the better part of that year because of a night-time weekend job I was working. After changing jobs, I went back to church regularly and met my wife’s sister in the Young Adult class. That year my parents went to Europe for Easter, and I was invited to Easter lunch at my wife’s sister’s home where I met my wife and her mother. Over the next six months, every time she came down to Maryland to see her sister, me and my friend happened to be there. Toward the end of that six months, her sister asked me to entertain my future wife for the evening. We went to a movie for our first date and three months later we were engaged. She had a date in mind, over a year away, that she wanted to get married on, and that is exactly what happened. I have always been in awe of how God orchestrated our meeting in the first place and am beyond blessed by the woman he chose for me.
Favorite Sunday afternoon activity.
On Sunday afternoons, Judy and I spend the afternoon watching TV together. It may be the only time during the week that we are in the same room just being together, for any length of time, because of our differing schedules.
Favorite church event of the year.
My favorite church event is Vacation Bible School. It is awesome to see all the children from the church and community singing, learning the Bible and having fun together. I also enjoy teaching adult VBS during the same week.
Most amazing thing that Jesus has done for you?
The most amazing thing that Jesus has done for me was to save me from my sins so that I could be reconciled to Him. Now I can do his will and work in this world, fall deeper in love with Him and spend eternity with Him. He has since protected me, guided me and corrected me through His Holy Spirit. My relationship with Jesus is the number 1 relationship in my life with the relationship with my wife is second.
How many states have you lived in?
I have lived in three states: Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.