Joined Gateway Staff: May 2003

Areas of Ministry: I have the privilege of working with pastors and churches all over America that relate to Gateway through our various Connect events (quaterly seminars and our annual conference). I also travel and do consulting with pastors and their ministry teams by helping to shape their ministries and by developing the necessary structures to assist in implementing their stated goals and visions. I equip these pastors and ministry teams in the areas of church health, church government, administration, assimilation, leadership development and small groups. At Gateway, I have helped put in place many structures and processes to accommodate our dynamic growth. I’ve worked with a variety of ministries including assimilation, adult ministries, the church calendar process, event administration, facilities, leadership development, office management, security, small groups and volunteers.

Family: My wife, Bethani, and I were married in 1989. We have two very cool sons, Josiah and Levi.

Saved: I was wonderfully born again in August 1982 at the age of 21 following my junior year in college while overseeing recreation at a youth camp with 700 teenagers.

Education: I graduated from East Texas Baptist University in 1984. I also attended Southwestern Seminary and New Orleans Seminary.

Previous Lines of Work: Vocational ministry is all I’ve done since 1983. Prior to coming to Gateway, I pastored at a church in Houston for 14 years. I have served in a total of five churches in various pastoral positions including youth pastor, worship pastor, single adult pastor, adult education pastor and ministry staff pastor.

One of the Things I Find Most Fascinating: That I could actually marry someone as funny, witty and beautiful as Bethani.

Best Thing Someone Said to You: I love you, Dad.

Life Motto: Life is Good

One of My Greatest Experiences with God: Experiencing "inner healing" (2004)

Most People Don’t Know This About Me: I’m much shorter than I sound on the phone.

FAVORITE
Books: Anything on church health, church growth or trends in ministry; The Mitford Series by Jan Karon; The Harmony Series by Philip Gulley
Food: Chicken Fajitas (every day, if possible)
Snack Food: M&M’s
Movie: Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire (1942)
TV Show: The Andy Griffith Show, Psych
Musical Artists: Gateway Worship, New Life Worship, Hillsong, Paul Baloche, Kari Jobe, David Phelps and above all ... The Oak Ridge Boys
Time of Day: Morning
Season: Baseball (Spring)
Place in the World: Home
Place to Pray: In the bleachers at a baseball field with no one present
Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Golf, Tennis, Baseball with my boys
Scriptures: “Teach us, O Lord, to number our days and recognize how few they are. Help us to use the time we have wisely.” (Psalm 90:12) and “Words kill and words give life. They are either poison or fruit … you choose.” (Proverbs 18:21)
Sports Team: Green Bay Packers
Sports: Baseball and Football (whatever is in season)

LEAST FAVORITE
Sports Team: Dallas Cowboys (sorry)