Elders

Key Scripture

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever. Psalm 111:10

I grew up in a Christian home, and like so many other people I heard all about God, I knew a lot about the Bible, but I didn't know God personally. I had friends who were Christians and I had friends who weren't Christians, and as I grew up I spent more and more time with my non-Christian friends, because we had more "fun".

I moved away after high school and went to college, and after I graduated I went into the service because it was 1960's and there wasn't a choice. When I came back I was consumed with career and more education, and that described my life for the next ten years. But my parents never gave up hope for my salvation, and one day I agreed to go to Church with my father just to hear the new pastor, and I stayed.

I didn't get involved; I just listened, until one day several years later the pastor asked if I would take a team of people from the Church to Haiti. I said no, but he was wiser than me, and eventually wore me down, and I went. It was very hot, very humid, and very much where I didn't want to be. But as the days passed I discovered that the Haitians were wonderful people, and they had become my friends, and it hurt to leave. But more than that, the world back home wasn't very important any more.

My life had changed, and I finally gave my life to the Lord. I got involved, lead mission teams to places all over the world, and I met my wife, Janet. She joined me on the mission trips, we started a family, we moved to Burbank in 1990, and came to Calvary Bible Church in 1999. We have two children, Sarah who is 15, and Johnny, who is 13, and Janet is involved in MOMS, and I am on the Missions Leadership Team.

I look at my past and I'm reminded of two verses that describe how the Lord has worked in my life. In Jeremiah 29:11 it says "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope", and in Philippians 1:6 it says "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will prefect it until the day of Christ Jesus". I am so glad I can say that my life belongs to the Lord today and that I trust Him completely.