My “hometown” is Lake Charles, LA. There I met my wife, Janet, at Trinity Baptist Church where my dad was pastor. I was in the seventh grade, and she was in the eighth, but it was pretty much love at first sight. We’ve been married for fifteen years and have three children, John David, 13, Emily, 11, and Jake, 4. I trusted Christ as my Lord at age nine, and God called me to preach as an 17 year-old senior in high school. I’ve been serving churches on staff since I was 19, seven years as a youth pastor and the past eight as a senior pastor. We moved to Oxford from Dallas, TX, in 2005. The Christian life is a disciple-making process, and a huge part of that process is growing in the knowledge of the things of God. My educational journey has been a tremendous aspect of that spiritual discipline. I received a B.A. in Religion from Louisiana College in 1994, my M.Div. in Biblical Languages from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1997; and a Ph.D. in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007. As pastor, I feel it is my calling to advance the disciple-making process in the lives of people by proclaiming God’s Word, leading the Body with vision and integrity, and caring for individuals and families, especially in times of difficulty. Hobbies & Interests: Reading, jogging, sports, working in the yard, doing things with my family (coaching, watching Janet shop, hunting with my oldest) I’m interested just about anything having to with theology: historical Jesus studies, the integration of faith and science, the clash of philosophical worldviews in post-Christian America. Musical Interests: I like rock music with a bit of an alternative or folk edge: Swtichfoot, Cold Play, Caedmon’s Call (I grew up with their drummer Todd Bragg), Watermark, Nicole Nordeman; I grew up on 80’s stuff that I still like: the Police, U2, Rush, the Cars; I love the blues: B.B. King, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughn. Books that Changed the Way I Think About Things: Revelation as History - Wolfhart Pannenberg Anglo-American Postmodern Philosophy - Nancey Murphy Jesus and the Victory of God - N.T. Wright Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins - George Nickelsburg The Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster A Passion for Truth - Alister McGrath Religion and American Culture - George Marsden The Scapegoat - Rene Girard Cry, the Beloved Country - Alan Paton Night - Elie Wiesel Go Down, Moses - William Faulkner Leading Change - John Kotter Scripture Focus: Philippians 3:7-21 back to Staff page