Family:
Married to Kristi, two sons Cameron and Nolan and one daughter Rachael
What do you do for a living?
I design and build oil processing equipment for use on electrical transformers.
Favorite Bible verse:
Matthew 6:20
Favorite hobby:
Tinkering with my 1982 Camaro
Favorite restaurant:
Texas Roadhouse for a nice sirloin steak medium rare
Favorite way to spend free time:
Relax with family watch a movie or go fishing
What is your testimony?
I was raised in a Catholic family by a single parent. I attended Catholic grade school for a few years. My mother raised me to be at church every Sunday. Once I was old enough to make the choice for myself, I quit attending church all together.
Throughout my life, God has placed special people in my path. One of my best friends growing up worked weekends for his mother at a Christian book store. On a couple of occasions I helped him. While attending a high school prom with my then girlfriend, I met a young Christian man who we double dated with us at the prom. Once I left school and entered the workforce, I met a Christian man who influenced me through his actions. I could never understand what it was that he had, but I knew that I wanted the peace that he exhibited.
In late 1987, I met my wife Kristi. She had been raised in the Church Of God by her mother and father. She, much like me, had quit attending church. We were married in June of 1988 in a Methodist church. Kristi started attending The Church of God in Coshocton after our son Cameron was born in 1990. She began to ask me to attend with her and invited me many times. Kristi began to praying for me as well as having the other ladies at the church pray. Kristi finally convinced me to attend church with her one Sunday. After Sunday school and an hour and a half church service, she began to stand around and talk with everyone she saw. I did see one somewhat familiar face. Bill, the young Christian man I had met when attend the prom some eight years earlier, remembered me and asked how I was. He also asked about the old car that I had driven to the prom. Once we were outside the church she asked me "so are you coming back with me tonight?” My answer was an emphatic "NO!"
I then began to attend church once again with my mother to appease my wife’s desire that I be in church. My wife continued to ask me to attend with her and my son. Through her persistence and the fact that she wanted me to attend the Labor Day picnic and I knew there would be food, I agreed. The food was good, but the guys at the church also started a game of softball and asked me to participate. I had always loved playing sports. During that day, Bill came up to me and said "you know, we could really use you on our softball team next year. Think about that, but the one requirement to be eligible is you must attend one service a week." The winter of 1990-91, I began to attend Wednesday night services.
Bill continued to be a good friend. He came up to me and talked every chance he was given. There were other guys from the team that began to become friends. Larry continued to talk to me at work and I began asking some questions of him. The church pastor took an interest in me also. He began to visit Kristi and I at home and answer questions I had about the Christian faith.
In March of 1991 the church was to have a revival. That was something totally new to me - church for an entire week. By Wednesday, I had given my heart to the Lord and my life had been changed forever. Our daughter was born in December of 1992.
In 1998 my family began to attend Barrs Mill Church of God. One of the first questions I asked of our pastor at that time was “do you have a softball team?” his reply was “no, but if you would like to start one, I’m sure others would enjoy that”. I still play softball, but have blessed to have other capable hands to grow that ministry.