I'm very grateful for parents who modeled a deep commitment to Christian faith, spirituality, and service.  Five of my childhood years were spent in the Middle East, where my folks served with Mennonite Central Committee. My reading of Scripture today is deeply enriched by my early memories of biblical geography. I graduated from Goshen College (Goshen, IN) in 1985. It was there that I met my wife, Dennette, and that our interest in China first blossomed. We spent seven years serving in Sichuan and Beijing with Mennonite Partners in China. The highlight of my work was building relationships with brothers and sisters in the rapidly growing Chinese church. It was through their shining witness and costly discipleship that I heard God's call to become a pastor. I graduated from the Associated Mennonite Seminary (Elkhart, IN) in 2000.

My years as lead pastor of Lombard Mennonite Church since then have been very meaningful and rewarding.  I've learned so much about faithful discipleship since coming here.  This church's generosity made it possible for my wife and I to welcome our daughter Jasmine (born in China) into our family in 2003.  It's here that I've been deeply impacted by sisters and brothers seeking to put Christ first in every part of their lives: relationships, time, finances, politics, sexuality, and vocation.  In 2007, our congregation chose "Come follow Jesus with us" as our new mission statement.  More and more, we're feeling God's call to make lifelong discipleship and spiritual formation central to our lives together.  We welcome you to join us in this transforming journey!