Joined Gateway Staff: August 2005

Areas of Ministry: Oversees weekend services (programming & planning), NxtGen Ministries, Media Ministries, Technical Arts and Satellite Campuses

Family: Linda and I have been married for 32 years. We have five children: Candace, Matthew, Delores Sidler (married to Scott), Rachel Turner (married to Nathan) and Andrew (married to Juline) and two grandsons, David and Ethan.

Saved: I have an unchurched background and am from a broken family. I was never really taught about the Christian life or about the incredible love God bestowed when He sent His only Son to sacrifice His life for me. When I was in high school, I was a musician in a rock band and lived on the wild side. A few of my closest friends shared with me how I could find happiness and fulfillment in knowing God through Jesus. Because I was desperately trying to find the “meaning of life,” they invited me to go with them to a summer camp in Oklahoma called Falls Creek. It was there that for the first time in my life I heard the true message of Christ. When the opportunity came to pray and receive Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord, I knew that is what I needed. The decision to become a follower of Jesus was the greatest decision I have ever made! That was in August 1967.

Education: Central State University in Edmond Oklahoma

Previous Lines of Work: Carpenter/Home Builder, Musician, Fulltime ministry for 40 years, Executive Senior Pastor at MetroChurch in Edmond Oklahoma (now called LifeChurch).

FAVORITE
Book: Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels
Food: Steak
Snack Food: Popcorn
Movie: Saving Private Ryan
TV Shows: 24 and LOST
Actors: Sean Connery, Jimmy Stewart
Time of Day: Early Morning and Late Evening
Season: Fall
Place in the World: Jamaica
Place to Pray: Backyard at my house
Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Golf, Skiing, Landscaping, Music
Scriptures: Romans 1:16, Ephesians 4:16
Bible Story: David and Goliath
Sports Team: Oklahoma Sooners
Sport: Football

LEAST FAVORITE
Food: Sushi
Time of Day: No bad time of the day
Season: I enjoy them all
Sports Team: Southern Cal

Best Thing Someone Said to You: I love, appreciate and trust you.

Life Motto: Love God, Love Family, Love People, Love Life

Two People I’d Like to Meet: Billy Graham and Paul McCartney

My Hero: Paul the Apostle

One of My Greatest Experiences with God: When I was filled with the Spirit in Farmington, New Mexico, in 1970.

Most People Don’t Know This About Me: I was a member of one of the first Contemporary Christian Bands in America. We were the first group to record with Myrrh Records. The group was called DOVE.