QUICK FACTS
Birthday: July, 16, 1950

EDUCATION
1963-1967 Henry County High School, New Castle, Ky.
1967-1971 Asbury College, Wilmore, Ky. (BA in English/French Secondary)
1971-1975 Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Ky. (M. Div.)

PASTORAL EXPERIENCE
1968-1970 Penny's Chapel, Anderson Co. (student)
1970-1975 Salem, Scott Co. (student)
1975-1979 Somerset First UMC Associate, Pulaski Co.
1979-1982 Irvine UMC, Estill Co.
1982-1983 Frankfort First UMC, Franklin Co.
1984-1991 Carrollton UMC, Carroll Co.
1991-1994 Russell UMC, Greenup Co.
1994-1998 Cynthiana First UMC, Harrison Co.
1998-2000 Cadiz UMC, Trigg Co.
2000-Present Marion UMC, Marion, Ky.

PERSONAL TESTIMONY
I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior when I was 7 years old. When I was 9, we had a missionary speaker, and I sensed the Lord's call -- I assumed to the mission field. I prayed over it for a week before I even mentioned it to anyone ... just to check that I was hearing properly. (As the years unfolded, doors to the mission field closed, doors opened to pastoral ministry). The spring of my freshman year of college, my district superintendent enlisted me to serve in a little country church 2 miles from Nowhere's Edge, and the Lord had me off and running. Serving a student appointment through the remainder of college and seminary served as an antidote to a week in the classroom, and I'm so thankful the balance that gave to my spiritual growth ... the academic and the practical. I still haven't figured out how the Lord got me through college and seminary without debt. Mom was a single parent, with a factory job. I got what summer jobs I could. I honestly can't point to how the Lord did it ... I just know I didn't owe when I graduated! That is a rather mundane matter, I suppose ... but it stands out as one of His confirmations that I was on the right course!

Serving as an associate pastor at Somerset and later, Frankfort, gave me opportunity to experiment with creative ministry ideas. Developing those ideas in an associate position made it easier to incorporate those same ideas when I was the senior pastor in other places. The Lord has given me great joy in those things, especially as I was able to incorporate those into leadership at Aldersgate Camp with Senior High students. I have used Clown Ministry and Dramatic Monologues across the years to tell His Story in a creative way.

Another blessing came when I was appointed mid-year from Frankfort to Carrollton.(Carrollton is only 15 miles from my hometown.) The mid-winter move is out of the ordinary for my denomination ... but after moving in January, my step-dad died on Memorial Day, my mom developed cancer in August, and I was there just 15 miles away through her illness and death. Some might see that as an odd blessing ... but it was a TRUE ONE to me. I pray that my ministry in Carrollton touched many lives there ... but the Lord gave me a rich gift by allowing me to be there to "honor my mother" in those years. I'll never forget that!

Although I've had similar experiences, I'll never forget one Sunday in Carrollton when we were sharing communion ... as I moved down the altar rail, sharing His supper with His people, I felt such an overwhelming sense of being in His place, in His time ... there as preacher, and priest, and servant. Those times have held me firm at other times when there was discouragement, etc. When I'm tired and disappointed, and tempted to question my call, I look back to those moments and affirm, "If it was right then, it's right now, until God shows me differently." Yeah, I'm saying there, "I don't dare walk by feeling ... but only by faith!"