Like Bill Cosby, I started out as a child when I was born in Burwell, Nebraska, on December 27, 1950. When I was five years old, my parents moved to Caldwell, Idaho. They joined First Christian Church and it was there, on my 14^th birthday, that I was immersed into Christ. I graduated from Vallivue High School in 1969.
      In the fall of 1969 I began my college career at Puget Sound Christian College. I graduated from PSCC in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Upon graduation I returned to Caldwell to serve my home church as an interim youth minister for the summer. In the fall of 1973 I took a job with a gas station and worked there until March of 1974. By that time I had earned enough money to travel to Jerusalem and to enroll for classes at The Institute of Holy Land Studies (now Jerusalem University).
      My term of study lasted for 3 months, and I participated in six field trips that included travel throughout Israel. While there, a friend and I attempted to retrace the steps of Christ from the Last Supper to the crucifixion. Our plan was to schedule this journey during the same time frame as described in scripture. This seemed appropriate since we did this on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. I must say that the old city of Jerusalem is rather spooky in the Palace at 3:30 a.m. Armed Israeli police approached us, but fortunately we were able to communicate to them what we were doing, and they went on their way.
      The other significant event that occurred while in Jerusalem is that I met Lindi there. She was also attending classes. We had our first date in the new city of Jerusalem. Two weeks later I asked her to marry me and she said, "yes". It was after my proposal that we had our second date. We have never regretted our decision, but we are not recommending this as a model to our children.
      In June of 1974, we returned to the states; I went back to Idaho and Lindi returned to her home in Bellingham, Washington. I resumed my job at the gas station and became the assistant Manager. On June 14, 1975, Lindi and I were married in Bellingham. After a honeymoon in Vancouver and Victoria, Canada, we went back to Caldwell and lived there for about three months.
      In September 1975 I accepted the call to become the minister of the Christian Church in Grandview, Washington. We ministered there until July 1978. At that time we moved to Lincoln, Illinois, where I enrolled at Lincoln Christian Seminary. On the weekend of this move, I was ordained into the ministry by the church in Caldwell, Idaho.
        During my first year in seminary, we lived in Lincoln. There were several familiar faces at Lincoln, among them, Chuck Sackett. Chuck and I were acquainted with each other, having lived about 15 miles apart in Idaho. However, it was in seminary where we became friends. During that first year, Chuck invited Lindi and me to their home in Granite City. Even though Lindi and Gail had never met before that evening, our conversation continued until 5 a.m.
      In July 1979 I accepted a call from the Christian Church in Witt, Illinois, to be their preacher. I served there through my graduation with a master of Divinity degree from Lincoln Christian Seminary in May 1984. While in Witt, our first child, Dane, was born on October 25, 1983. In January 1985 accepted a call from First Christian Church in Dodge City, Kansas, to be the Minister of Counseling. We lived in Dodge City for over 15 years, and during that time our daughter Kelsey was born on December 25, 1986.
     Professionally, I was able to attain some credentials as a counselor while in Dodge City. I reached fellow level of membership in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and have clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. I also was granted a license by the State of Kansas to practice marriage and family therapy. In 1996 I began doctoral studies in marriage and family counseling with Denver Seminary. I completed my work after moving to Quincy and graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2002.
     I have two sisters, one residing in Eugene, Oregon, and the other living in Abilene, Texas. Both of my parents have passed away, my father in 1975 and my mother in 1993. Both died of cancer. My son, Dane, is currently living in Phoenix and is involved in the media ministry at Christ’s Church of the Valley. My daughter, Kelsey, is currently attending Western Illinois University and intends to graduate in December of 2008.
     My ministry at Madison Park Christian Church began in July of 2000. It is a ministry of counseling and pastoral care. We look forward to a long and productive ministry with this congregation.