Elder, Boston Church of Christ
My experience in ministry and church leadership began as a student leader in the congregation where I was baptized into Christ, the Crossroads Church of Christ in Gainesville, FL. After being trained there, I went on to serve as a campus minister at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.
Elder, Boston Church of Christ
My experience in ministry and church leadership began as a student leader in the congregation where I was baptized into Christ, the Crossroads Church of Christ in Gainesville, FL. After being trained there, I went on to serve as a campus minister at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.
I later served as an evangelist in Morgantown W V. and in Charlotte NC. I was honored to be appointed an elder of the Boston church in 1991 after having served as an evangelist there since 1987.
My vision for the role of elder was inspired by my relationship with Richard Whitehead who served as an elder in the Crossroads Church . Dick was also my father-in-law, so I had an up close and personal vantage point of the joys and burdens of leadership in this role. As I observed his ministry, I saw the profound difference that an elder’s vision could make in the impact of the church. Jeanie, one of his four daughters, became my bride and the love of my life and now wonderfully fulfills the role of the godly woman of Proverbs 31 in our family!
God has blessed our family with four children -- two girls and two boys. Our oldest daughter, Melissa, and her husband Kevin Miller serve as Campus Minister and Women’s Ministry Leader in the Boston campus ministry. They have two children who bring great joy to “Papa and Nana” when they come to visit us on Friday nights during campus devos. Our second daughter Kristen will be married this spring. She previously served on the Chicago church staff in teen ministry and is currently teaching 8th grade history in the here in Boston. She and her fiancée Justin Gonet serve as volunteer teen leaders with the Boston church. My son Sam and his wife Leigh Ann live here in Boston and serve as volunteers in a regional teen ministry. We adopted our youngest son Jacob as a teenager from Romania. He is now 21, living in Lowell, MA, and working with disciples in a new business.
We now live in Burlington MA, and have served the Boston church in varying ministry roles and assignments for over twenty-one years. We love the Boston church and are very thankful for the love and support we have received in both joyful and challenging years together!
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned over the years is that personal spirituality must always be a combination of Biblical vision, daily commitment and dependency on God’s grace. Proverbs 29:18 says “Where there is no vision the people perish” (KJV). As disciples of Jesus we know our purpose and our boundaries. Whether as a new Christian or a seasoned Elder/Evangelist, I have always tried to define my life by God’s purpose, depending on God’s grace to supply what I lack! This conviction has guided me whether single or married, whether working in the world or in the church, whether living in the Third World or the First, and whether serving as church member or a church leader. God’s vision and grace has never failed to excite, guide and inspire me with passion and energy! God has a vision and purpose for each one of us. Let’s live the abundant life God has promised us, and enjoy it with all our heart!