I was brought up in  Bedford , Indiana and raised in the First Christian Church there from birth to 18. I was blessed to be able to attend weekly Sunday School. Youth groups reinforced my love of the scripture with Bible Bowl quiz show types of activities. Around 7 years old, I made my confession of faith and was baptized by immersion.

Throughout my Junior High Years, I was able to attend Bible Study club as an extracurricular activity along with speech. This was a valuable education as I was exposed not only to Bible stories that I had not yet discovered, but we were asked to memorize and recite famous poetry and speeches. I was also beginning my musical training. I was in both band and choir, a trend that continued through High School.

Another part of my faith journey at this time was Camp Bedford. This is a church camp located about 3 miles from my home. I attended week long camp from 5th grade to 12th grade. I continued as a counselor and camp employee in my college years.

At college, I drifted away from church and Jesus. Eventually, Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as CRU) brought me back to my spiritual base. I continued  with them until I had completed 4 years of college with no degree.  Financial matters lead me to enlist in the US Army as a saxophone player. Spiritually, I continued to pray and study the Bible, but on my own for the next 21 years while in the military.

When I retired from the military and made my home in the Indianapolis, Indiana area, I began attending and worshiping in the local church that was a part of the denomination I grew up in. I began teaching Sunday School, accepting leadership roles in the Church and being fully committed in the programs of that church. As I continued my walk with Christ, I began not only having problems with the liberation theology of the larger church, I became dissatisfied with the lack of depth and commitment of the pastor of the Church. In spite of attempts to address these areas of concern, it did not appear that there was going to be any change of heart or re-commitment to the mission of focusing on Jesus message and bringing the message to all, but rather focusing on social justice issues (which I’m sure Jesus was concerned with). I left this church and moved on to my current church.

I believe in Jesus, the Christ, Son of the Living God. I believe he became the incarnate word, lived an died fully human and fully God. Through His sacrifice, he has placed Himself as the Lamb of God as a sacrificial substitute for our sins past, present, and future. The scripture describing God’s plan has been divinely inspired and is complete and without error. I believe that it is our mission on earth to bring those who have not heard or have misunderstood God’s message through Jesus so that they will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and  be saved form their sins.