After graduating from high school in Siloam Springs, AR,
I attended Washington University in St.
Louis for five semesters.
Allison and I married on December 20, 1986, during our junior year of
college. We moved at that time from St. Louis to Tulsa. I completed my
bachelor's degree at the University of Tulsa and received a commission
as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Field Artillery on the
same day.
After a short period
of service with the Army, I received an "early out" to attend seminary
(due to the “draw downs” in the military in the late 1980’s).
I received my Master's of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University in
Evanston, Illinois (north Chicago). While in the Chicago area I worked
with the children's ministries at North Northfield United Methodist Church, and then as an
assistant minister at Grace United Methodist Church in Naperville, Illinois. At Grace, I worked with Junior High youth, young adults, and prayer
ministries. I was ordained as a deacon in the North Arkansas Conference
in 1991 and received my elder's orders in 1994.
Since 1992, I have
served Pea Ridge and Oakley Chapel (Rogers) United Methodist Churches as
senior pastor and Central United Methodist in Fayetteville as Pastor of
Discipleship. We came to Heritage in June of 2001. I have also served
since 1993 as chaplain for the Arkansas Army National Guard. I am
currently chaplain for the 142d Field Artillery Brigade. During 2002 and
2003, the Army called me to active duty. I spent 11 months serving as
the chaplain for Cluster 5, Task Force Guardian.
I enjoy playing
guitar, working out, reading, going to movies, and canoeing. I am also
an avid cyclist, although you won't catch me on the Tour de France. I try to
spend most of my free time with my family.
