I was blessed to be born into a family with two Bible-believing, church-attending parents. At the very young age of three, I made a decision to place God as number one in my life. Since that decision, God keeps calling me to a deeper relationship with him. My preteen years were rough on my family, but I had good spiritual leaders that God placed in my life, who continually called me to God and his word. They taught me that only a couple of things matter in life: God, his word, and people. I found God calling me to a deeper relationship with him, and that he is the only thing in life that can satisfy. God has always proven himself faithful and true. That does not mean an easy life, but he will use everything that happens to change me for the better, and for his purposes. I want to be exactly in the middle of his plans, exactly in his timing.
At a young age I was taught to serve, and spent most of my high school years serving at Trout Creek Bible Camp. God used that time in Christian community to shape me greatly (just ask my wife). In 1997, I started dating Janci during my last summer working at Trout Creek Bible Camp. We were married at Foothills in 1998. After high school, I attended and graduated from Multnomah Bible College.
Janci had attended Foothills with her parents, starting in 1979. But we lived in other parts of Oregon for the first seven years of our marriage. We spent three years in Applegate, serving as a youth and associate pastor. As our time working at the church came to an end, I returned to working in the heating and cooling trade in Redmond. I learned that sometimes working alongside people outside the church gave me more opportunity to share truth than when I carried the title of “pastor”. Our family continued to grow and Janci was blessed to serve in Redmond as a paid youth assistant. In 2005, God called us back to Stayton to be near Janci’s family. As we discussed what church we would attend, we did not assume that we would land at Foothills, even though it felt like home to Janci. After visiting several other churches, we decided that Foothills was our home. We felt then, and still believe today, that Foothills is a great instrument to share the gospel with the local community. It is a place where people can be real, connect to a vibrant community, be challenged and grow in their faith.
We have four kids (Grant, Lydia, Riley, Tessa), whom many of you know. Although they are not around as much now that they are starting their own lives, we are so grateful that they have a family at Foothills, with adults who care for them and call them to community in Christ! We are also thankful that our extended family calls Foothills home as well.
I believe the church is a God-designed organization, essential to maturing our faith. I also believe the gospel and spiritual truth are best communicated in close relationships with others. Just like Jesus came to earth to share truth and live life with 12 disciples, so I am called to do the same.