Hello

My Story

I have been blessed to be in the Christian ministry for more than 40 years and Senior Pastor of The Village Church since 2013. 

My parents were missionaries, and our family served in Brazil in the 1960s. I felt called to the ministry from an early age and pursued my education, attaining the B.S. in Missions and Religion from Trevecca College in 1978, and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1984. I have enjoyed doing missionary work in Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Haiti and Jamaica. I also got involved in worship music ministry while in college and have continued in it until the present. I began the pastoral ministry in 1979 at the age of 23, and was ordained an elder in the Methodist Church in 1986. I completed additional studies in Clinical Pastoral Education at Carraway Medical Center in 1986.

I am blessed with a great family! I am married to Christina, and we have four children. Chris is married to Jenna and they have Levi and Olive. Austin is married to Talia and they have Hunter and Summer. Amy is married to Nick. And David is our Marine. Our family has always enjoyed making music, studying, the outdoors, water-sports and working out at the gym. My gym is out on the water in my kayak, especially Alamitos Bay and San Pedro Bay.

I find my greatest joy and fulfillment in life, whether at home, or at church, or in the community - to teach and demonstrate the love of God to people in ways they can understand. My philosophy of ministry is to enable and encourage:

The Presence of Christ

The Knowledge of Christ

The Fellowship of Christ

The Imitation of Christ