Lead Pastor
Debbie and I are thrilled to pastor this dynamic church, Joliet First Assembly. We love our church family, they are full of love, vision, and a desire to really touch God. We also love the Joliet area. People are friendly, and there is so much to do and see in the Chicagoland area. We’re also closer to family, which means we’ll be traveling a little on our days off!
1. If you could have any super power, what would it be? To be able to fly (and avoid the cost of airline tickets!).
2. Favorite TV show? Cleveland Indians baseball games.
3. What do you do when you’re not working? I love to take walks, do yard work, and spend time with my best friend, my wife Debbie.
4. Favorite Food? Lots of things at Carrabba’s.
5. What was your first job? Working in the shipping department of Morse Controls in Hudson, Ohio.
6. What’s on your ipod right now? “Be Glad” (Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir) and “Chicago’s Greatest Hits”
7. Favorite sports team? No surprise, the Cleveland Indians
8. What book would you recommend? “An Unstoppable Force” by Irwin McManus. It’s subtitle is “Daring to become the church God had in mind.”
MY CORE VALUES OF MINISTRY
I strive to incorporate these seven core elements into my ministry and into the life of the church I pastor.
PRAYER
Every believer needs to develop a personal prayer life, which gives us the power to live and minister. In addition, the church must be an active center of prayer, calling upon God to receive His blessing and favor. Prayer will change the person, the church, and the community, as it did in the Book of Acts.
WORSHIP
Worshipping God is the highest privilege of the believer. We worship God in our daily lives, through the words we speak and the actions we take. We also worship God through musical expression. The highest priority of worship is exalting God, and goes beyond personal preferences. We should value the traditional songs of the church, but we must also embrace new contemporary songs of praise.
THE PENTECOSTAL EXPERIENCE
We are people of the Word and people of the Spirit. I believe in the New Testament model of the church, as outlined in the Book of Acts. To this end, the church should pray for and regularly experience: (1) The lost coming to Christ, (2) Believers receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit, (3) The manifestation of signs, wonders and miracles, (4) The supernatural presence of God, and (5) Empowerment for ministry.
CONNECTION
Relationships and Christ-like love need to grow and flourish in the church family. People of every generation should be connected to a small group of people that is capable of bringing community through encouragement, prayer, Bible study and relationship. A small group can include a Sunday School class, a Home group, a specialized ministry, or an affinity group.
INVOLVEMENT
Every believer should be involved in the work of the church, giving back to the Lord and to others by serving. Leaders have the responsibility to impart vision and training, and the laity has the responsibility to be faithful and seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit. A church that is unified and working to fulfill a vision can change their community.
EVANGELISM
The mandate of the Church is found in Acts 1:8—“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” To carry out this mandate, every believer should seek and be filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and be involved in personal and global evangelism.
STEWARDSHIP
God’s Word tells us that we have a responsibility to obey the Lord by regularly giving our tithes and offerings. The tithe is 10% of all income, and above that, the offerings include missions giving, building funds, etc. God’s blessing rests upon the people who are generous in giving to His work.
