Background: I was raised in the rural farming community of Mingo, Kansas. I learned to love rural America and the work ethic of farm life. But more importantly, my parents and church family helped me learn of my need for a Savior. Even good, hard-working individuals like myself who grow up in church lack God's righteousness. We all have a sin-debt that must be paid. I placed my trust in Jesus to pay the penalty for my sin and give me His free gift of eternal life at the age of five. As I grew up, I continued to grow in my understanding of God and His Word, the Bible. I was also challenged to live out my faith on a daily basis in the public school I attended.
CALLING: After finishing high school, I was burdened with the decision of how to best use my gifts, abilities, and talents for the Lord. With a strong interest in the math and sciences, I desired to pursue agricultural engineering. I also wanted to further my understanding of the Bible so I could be an effective servant of the Lord in whatever career I entered. So I began my college education at Grace University majoring in Bible with an undecided career goal. It was at the beginning of my freshman year that I was challenged by Christ's call to his disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save His life will loose it. But whoever looses His life for My sake, he is the one who will save it." It was during this year that I began to re-examine my goals and reconsider my career choices. I was deeply impressed by the fact that only two things in this world will last forever: the Word of God and the souls of men. I wanted to invest my life in these things. I felt that I could most effectively serve the Lord in full time ministry. After serving as a youth sponsor through college and going on a short-term missions trip to Africa, I realized the Lord had given me a heart for reaching out in my own nation and building up the church in America.
Family: It was at Grace University that I met Megan Tschetter, a farm gal from Carpenter, S.D. We were married in June 1999 after she graduated. I graduated in May 2000 with a B.A. in Pastoral Ministries. We moved to Winona Lake, IN where I continued my education at Grace Theological Seminary. In May of 2002 we moved to Mountain Lake, MN to pastor the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church (now Cornerstone Bible), and I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in May 2003. Our family has the blessing of three wonderful girls, Summer (11/15/01), Kate (10/8/03), and Jessah (10/2/08). Megan's ministry is currently focused on our home and family, but she also enjoys working with children and our youth group.
The Present: Serving in Cornerstone Bible Church has been exciting and challenging ministry. It is my desire to faithfully proclaim God's Word with passion and honesty. It is only as we grow in an authentic relationship with Jesus that He can mold our hearts into the likeness of His. I am committed to helping our church become even more effective in fulfilling each of God's purposes for us as individuals and as a church. I look forward to growing together with you in our journey of faith.