I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior during middle school. After convicting me of my sins, God graciously called me to repentance and belief through a Sunday school teacher presenting the gospel. I began to attend Baptist churches shortly thereafter and was later baptized as a believer at the end of my sophomore year of college.
While attending college, God graciously grew me spiritually through personal study of the Bible and prayer, learning and singing gospel-rich songs, listening to sermons at church and online, and studying the Bible with friends through the ministry of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ). I also grew through serving others and sharing the gospel with unbelievers.
When I went to seminary, I grew especially in my appreciation of the church through my studies and membership at Clifton Baptist Church, in Louisville, Kentucky. Then during my internship in Chicago and marriage, God grew me in loving others deeply through discipling relationships with others and my relationship with my wife and children.
I champion making disciples who make disciples. I also champion leadership development, especially for the next generation. Theologically, I champion the gospel and proclaiming Christ from the entire Bible. I champion God’s sovereignty and grace. I’m very passionate about multi-ethnic, multi-generational churches and racial reconciliation. I’m passionate about healthy families and for parents and grandparents to be the primary disciple-makers of their children or grandchildren (whenever possible). I also feel strongly about developing all people (especially those in poverty) to become all that God has designed them to be as His image-bearers. And I passionately want to see every Christian involved to serve as God has uniquely designed and gifted them.