My wife Anna and I celebrated our 27th anniversary in September (08). Anna is a Vice-President of the Bank of Tampa, and the manager of the Bay Shore branch. We have four children: three boys: Ian, Shaun & Timmy and a daughter Hansie. In addition to the adventures of parenthood, and being married to an Irish girl, my life has been filled with interesting experiences and opportunities that have included travels to 32 countries, a tour of duty in the U.S. Marines, a number of boxing matches as an amateur, and a job as a Private Investigator in Hong Kong. Before accepting my call into ministry I held a variety of different jobs to pay for college education including: bartender, waiter, factory worker, security guard, credit agency administration, night club doorman, carpenter's assistant, house painter and book store manager. I see all these different experiences and employments as wonderful preparation for the many sided nature of pastoral ministry.

In addition to my love of theology (the study of God) my interests include, church revitalization, personal fitness, volleyball, scuba diving, wind surfing and writing. I am currently enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore Kentucky and will be getting a Doctor of Ministry in Christian Leadership. I graduated from Duke University Divinity School, Durham NC in May 1987 with a Master of Divinity and from State University of New York at Stony Brook, where I received the Bachelor of Arts degree Cum Laude. I also have an Associate of Arts with Honors from Suffolk County Community College, Seldon NY, awarded January 1981.

I am a member of the Florida Annual Conference Committee on Congregational Transformation, and the Gulf Central Committee on Congregational Transformation. In addition to being an ex-officio member of every committee in the church, I am also currently on the board of Faith Charity Flights USA charity air ambulance/disaster relief/missionary support ministry. I also serve on the board of Water Wheeled Wings Investment Group. W3ig is an investment group working to help reverse global warming through the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Before coming to Oakhurst I served as Associate Pastor of St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in Brandon from June 1998-June 2005; as Pastor of the Gouldsboro and Thornhurst United Methodist Churches, in the Scranton District of the Wyoming Annual Conference (in Eastern Pennsylvania) July 1, 1993-June 15 1998; as Pastor of the Sherburne and Smyrna United Methodist Churches in the Oneonta District of the Wyoming Annual Conference July 1989 to June 1993; and as Pastor of the Olivebridge and Samsonville United Methodist Churches (in Upstate New York, July 1, 1987- June 1989). I also served as Student Associate Pastor of Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church, Durham NC, from August 1994 to July 1996, while attending Duke University Divinity School.

I believe that because a Minister holds and wields a portion of the authority and responsibility of the Lord Jesus Christ, a minister is charged with a sacred responsibility to surrender every aspect of his or her life: both public and private, both in actions and in thoughts, to God, so that he or she may worthily reflect the Lord Jesus Christ in all things. I am dedicated to achieving this surrender in every part of my life, with all humility, so that I may be of the greatest service to the Lord. I see myself as a traveler on Jesus' path trying together with all who are seeking to walk more and more in the light and perfection of God.

My favorite biblical passage is:

1 John 4:16 ( NLT) We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.