ABOUT ME

I’m a life development specialist helping people answer the question, “What was in the mind of the Maker when He made me?" My passion is to help people understand who they are, why they're here and what they are supposed to do about it! This passion for purpose began as an outflow of my work in the community through a ministry I founded in 1992 called Refuge Ministries. Through this Christian non-profit ministry I worked to unite the efforts of local churches in my city. I soon realized however, that true Biblical unity was more than “doing the same thing, at the same place, at the same time.” I began to understand that true unity is modeled by the human body, each part fulfilling its unique calling in harmony with other parts doing the same. Through this understanding I found that there can be no unity unless each part is efficiently and effectively fulfilling its own unique purpose. This became the pursuit of my life and ministry. Refuge Ministries was eventually renamed The Place of Purpose. Through it I started the School of Purpose and created numerous assessments, trainings and resources designed to help individuals and churches to find their unique place in God’s plan. With the help of many faithful people I facilitated the gathering of like-groups of people such as pastors, youth leaders and emergency assistance workers. As pioneers in our city we encouraged cooperative networks. We also began other initiatives including a printed church directory, a website designed to network believers, community concerts of prayer and more. A local team of musicians and dramatists from various churches toured with me across the boundaries of denomination and race, doing a program called, “One City under God.”I have been in full time Christian ministry for over twenty years. I served as youth pastor from 1983-1992 at Trinity Gospel Temple in Canton, Ohio. I raised a team of young leaders, and together we grew the youth group from its original fourteen members to a group several hundred strong. In addition I taught Bible at Trinity’s Christian School, served as guidance counselor and wrestling coach, directed emergency assistance ministries and junior and senior high summer camps. I also performed other pastoral responsibilities such as counseling, weddings, funerals, hospital visitation and more. I left Trinity in 1992 to begin Refuge Ministries (The Place of Purpose).In 1996 I began serving as director of singles at Canton First Friends Church while continuing to build The Place of Purpose. I left there in 1999 to start my own church called The Body of Christ, where I still pastor to this day. In 2006 the church merged with The Place of Purpose, and took on this name. I also began my business “Life Development Services” to take my message outside the boundaries of the local church and to generate the kingdom finances needed to fully build my vision for the local community. This year I also began to answer the call to travel, speak and minister internationally. My wife Pam and I have been happily married for 25 years. We have a grown son named Joshua and reside in Canton, Ohio. I love weight lifting, carpentry, writing and problem solving. Most of all, I have an entrepreneurial spirit that loves to create ways to help people and churches to reach their God-given potential!