46 years ago my parents welcomed me into this world.
37 years ago I figured out I needed Jesus. I didn’t understand everything (or even most things), but I did know my sins needed forgiving. I really believed. God really saved me. That was a really good day.
33 years ago my family moved from Wichita, Kansas, to Jakarta, Indonesia (it was a missionary thing). Over the next 5 1/2 years (age 12 -18) I traveled places, ate food, and did things that most people never dream of. I also saw God at work like I had never before seen. During those years God forged my life in ways that would ripple their effect clear to this day.
30 years ago God “called” me into ministry. A 17-year-old doesn’t debate the details of what a “call into ministry” means; he just accepts it and waits for the journey to play itself out.
28 years ago I traveled back to Kansas (Hillsboro — Tabor College).
24 years ago I graduated, got married to Joan (I truly married “up;” she’s a wonderful/beautiful/godly lady), and moved to western Kansas to be a youth pastor (Garden City; Garden Valley Church).
22 years ago we moved to California (Fresno) to attend the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (I was also a part-time Jr. High pastor at Reedley MB Church).
19 years ago Joan and I welcomed a beautiful girl (Janet) into our family. I also graduated from seminary and our family of 3 moved back to Kansas (Buhler) where we experienced 15 wonderful years at the Buhler Mennonite Brethren Church.
17 years ago we welcomed a 2nd beautiful daughter (Stacey) to our family. We are so proud of Janet and Stacey. Both are growing into godly women.
4 years ago we moved to Wichita (Kansas) to pastor the First MB Church. Ironically, this is the same church I grew up in — and the same church my father pastored when I was in grade school. We love First MB and are grateful God has brought us here.
1:21 (Philippians) is my life verse: For me to live is Christ and die is gain.
