When did Jesus change your life?
If I had to pinpoint it I would say regeneration occurred during my junior year of college. My roommate and I started a Bible study to get to the bottom of this Christianity thing. We read Job and by the end my life was given to Jesus.

How has your life changed since meeting Jesus?
The change was immediate and dramatic. Before Christ I was angry, selfish and had little direction or passion. The entire course of my life changed when I stopped living to please and glorify myself. I am still a work in progress as far as sanctification, but I love Jesus and want see other people changed by Him.

How long have you been a member of Mars Hill?
My wife and I became members when Mars Hill moved into the Earl Building in 2001. We started serving by stacking chairs after service and taking out the trash.

When were you called to serve Jesus at Mars Hill?
We started serving in various ways when we started coming to Mars Hill, but I was quickly drawn to the community group ministry. I began leading groups and helping lay the foundation for the ministry we have today. I became an elder in 2005 while working as a structural engineer and then in 2006 I came on staff full-time.

What ministry are you currently serving in?
I oversee the Community Department at Ballard which includes Community Groups, College Mission, Membership and Connect.

What is your biggest challenge in this ministry?
The biggest challenge for me is getting people to understand the community of God, the body of Christ, is a gift of His grace. C.S. Lewis remarked that we are far to easily pleased and I would say that rings true for most of us in our Christian life. So many are content with living in isolation, hiding from the light, as if it was to be feared instead of darkness. My biggest challenge is calling our people to a way of life that allows the gospel to penetrate beyond conviction to the transformation of our soul. We cannot settle for less.

What is your greatest joy while serving in this ministry?
Some of my greatest joys are seeing communities of people begin to truly live out of their identity in Christ together. It’s that moment when they begin to own their faith and the mission of the church rather than just agree with it. When I hear that someone has been saved through the witness of our people living life in community, it brings me to tears.

What are you looking forward to seeing God do in this ministry?
I look forward to seeing God change this city through thousands of believers in community living for His glory.

What books have fueled your thinking or challenged you in the last few years?
The Bible – God
Soul Winner – CH Spurgeon
Total Church – Timmis and Chester
Breaking the Missional Code – Stetzer and Putman

What’s playing in your iPod right now?

Right know?  Rebel by Lacrea

What’s your favorite Scripture? Why?

I never really like answering this question… it’s like asking who is your favorite kid. So one scripture that I have been drawn to lately is 2 Tim 2:8-10.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

It reminds me that the purpose of ministry is to see people obtain salvation, that the power of word is not bound, and that our motivation for endurance can be found in the truth of the resurrection.