Following are portions of an autobiographical statement I wrote in January, 1995 to fulfill a requirement for Deacons Orders.  

Formative Christian Experiences

     Some of my earliest memories are of the church I grew up in, Faith United Methodist Church in Oregon, Ohio. I came to know every nook and cranny of the building, but my fondest memories are of the people. People like the Sunday School teachers who made the effort to prepare each week and share the Bible and their lives with me. I took them for granted then but now have a fuller understanding of how much they gave me. They were a blessing to me and the lessons I learned through them are still a blessing to me. I continue to find joy in returning to visit that first church family of mine.

     The most important experience of my life is that of my own salvation. Receiving Jesus Christ as my Savior has enabled me to take the incredible journey in which I now find myself. As nearly as I can recall I was a fourth grader when I experienced the grace of justification. I do not recall what prompted me to rely upon Jesus to forgive me my sins and come into my heart. I do recall understanding that this was necessary in order for me to be right with God. I didn't tell anyone of my experience at that time. I remember going to church camp as a sixth grader and, after hearing again the gospel message, being invited to receive Christ as my Savior. I realized that this was a gift that I had already received. I was baptized and received into membership at Faith UMC at age 12. During my junior high and high school years I was sometimes serious about my life in Christ, sometimes not. I see now that God was always faithful to me, even when I was faithless.

     I left home after high school to attend college in Pittsburgh. I remember how lonely it felt to be a five hour drive away from the places I knew and the people I loved. Early on, the Resident Assistant of my floor in the dorm got to know me. He invited me to join with the local Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship chapter. Though I attended church while in college, Inter-Varsity played the greatest role in my spiritual development during those four years. The teaching there was solid, I built friendships with other Christians, and I was challenged to explore my beliefs. I also came to know the joy and discipline of regular small group Bible study.

      Upon earning my degree in 1982 I moved from Pittsburgh to Florida where I began working as a software engineer. I knew I needed to find a church home quickly. Again, the Lord was faithful in providing for me. I found Palm Bay United Methodist Church and transferred my membership there. I immediately became active, even leading a Sr. High Sunday School class soon after joining. Over the years I sometimes found attending the meetings of the various committees on which I served to be tedious. But I sensed the work and my place in it to be important and I stayed with the church.

     I recall a nudge (by what I am now certain was the Holy Spirit) to begin a Bible study in my apartment. This was during the first two or three years of my being in Palm Bay. Though I'd not led a study while in college I knew that I knew enough to get started. Unfortunately, I successfully put off that nudge. I thought to myself, Well, after I get into a house I'll get started. Time went on and I got that house. I got into my career. I started working on a Master's in Computer Science through an extension program of the University of Florida. I stayed active in the church, too. In the spring of 1989 I finished the course work for the Master's and was "all but thesis". Before making the final push on the thesis I knew I needed a break. FINALLY, I began that small group Bible study. The Lord provided me something of a spiritual watershed through that group; my life since that time has not been the same.

     I invited a dozen or so people to participate in the small group. Four of us came to our first meeting. Over the three and a half years that we met we truly witnessed the Lord at work: changing us, growing us, and touching our church through us. My own walk was strengthened immeasurably. I learned to focus on time alone in prayer and time alone in Bible study. I began to memorize portions of Scripture. I experienced in new ways God's love for me. I saw myself becoming a much more open person, especially when it came to receiving; I now let the Lord do for me. I saw destructive habits in my life overcome. I saw the good results of channeling my will into obedience to the Lord. I began to take a different view of my work within the church, seeking opportunities to see God at work, even in committee meetings. How wonderful it has been to be changed from within by the very Presence of the God! I found the Lord using me for his own good purposes and was greatly encouraged.

Following is a description of my call to the ordained ministry.  It is taken from the autobiographical statement I wrote in January, 1995 to fulfill a requirement for Deacons Orders.  

Call to the Ordained Ministry

     During the spring of 1990 I had determined to become totally obedient in all things, including my finances. Earning an income that had grown much faster than my needs, I determined to set a budget and return the balance to the Lord. After it became apparent that I was living on much less than I was making, I decided I ought to make myself available for different work, whatever the Lord desired. I was content with my career as an engineer and rejoiced in the level of financial giving it afforded me but was determined to give my whole self over to the Lord. During some months of prayer the word "minister" consistently came to mind, which I understood to mean the pastor of a local congregation. I sensed that I was being called to this work but also believed it was not yet time for me to begin the formal process. I set a date about a year into the future to begin that process. The Lord worked wonderfully during that year, disengaging me from the identity I'd taken as an engineer and continuing to prepare me for this work. All along he would confirm his call through Scripture reading, through the comments of church friends, and in the growing realization that God was indeed developing within me gifts for pastoral ministry. I was pleased to find myself filled with anticipation as November 1991, the time I'd set, drew near. On November 4 I shared my heart with my pastor. He encouraged me in my call.

     Since then I have at times questioned whether God is truly calling me to the difficult tasks of ordained ministry. Even the work of preparation has sometimes seemed more than I am capable of. But each time I review where I am and the path on which God has led me, I come again to the conclusion that there is nothing else for me to do. If I am to continue to be obedient to the Lord, I must pursue him in the task that he has set before me. And so I press on in answering my call to the ordained ministry.

(I was ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist Church on June of 1995 and an Elder in May of 1998.)