I was five years old when I first experienced the movie Star Wars. The saga has been an integral aspect of my life ever since.  Growing up my family moved around quite a bit, following my dad who worked for Lowe’s Hardware:  Boone, Asheboro, Seagrove, Greensboro, Troy, Norwood, Mt. Airy, and Seagrove again.  My first day of high school at Southwestern Randolph High School I did not know a soul.  In high school I learned it is okay to be inquisitive, fell in love with literature, and found a niche in drama.  

I applied to North Carolina State University with hopes of being an Architect.  I graduated in 1995 with a degree in Religious Studies.  I found a love of the Hebrew language, and the blessing of second and third chances. 

I graduated from Duke Divinity School in 1998 pursuing ordained ministry in the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. Over two decades, I have served a variety of appointments:  High Point, Concord, Gastonia, Charlotte, Monroe, Weddington, Southern Union County, and Pineville.

In May of 2021, I fulfilled the lifelong dream of pursuing a doctoral degree graduating from Candler School of Theology at Emory University with a Doctor in Ministry in Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation.

In November 2024, I married the love of my life, Andrea, a United Methodist pastor currently serving Myers Memorial UMC in Gastonia.

Andrea and I have six amazing children, (Andrea two from a previous marriage and, Mark four).  Emma graduated Providence HS ’21 in Charlotte and works as Events Coordinator at Providence CC in Charlotte as well as serving as Music Director at St. Francis UMC. EC is a graduate of Charlotte Latin ‘20, and as a Theatre Major at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington concentrating in Performance and Technical Theatre ‘24. James is a graduate of Central Academy of Technology and Arts ’21 in Monroe and is in his third year at UNCW as a Film Studies Major. Trey is a graduate of Providence HS ’22 and is pursuing a degree in Adolescent Physical Therapy at BYU in Utah. Bridget will be attending Appalachian State University Fall 2025. William is a sophomore at Charlotte Latin and active in the Civil Air Patrol.

Andrea and I are kept on our toes by the ever-affectionate and mischievous four-year-old Airedoodle, Cokie. (Named after the late Cokie Roberts, Journalist and Political Commentator).