I grew up in a Christian home in Rome, Georgia, regularly attending a church affiliated with a mainline denomination. I trusted in Christ as my Savior at the age of 12, largely through the preaching of Billy Graham and by watching a movie about Christ that really touched my heart. Yet I was not grounded in God’s Word and as a teenager I drifted from the faith. A liberal minister even led me to doubt God’s Word. Yet though the influence of other youth at school who had a passion for Christ and His Word, and through the preaching ministry of Dr. Jerry Vines, I regained my faith commitment to Christ and began to read and study God’s Word daily. At my first youth camp, God began to make it clear to me that He was calling me into the ministry. I struggled with that call because I was shy and I stuttered. Then through a sermon tape by Dr. Adrian Rogers, I realized from 1 Cor. 1:26-27 that God delights in taking someone who is weak, and enabling him or her to serve by His power. By His Holy Spirit stuttering has no longer hindered me since I announced my call to preach at the age of 18.

At Criswell College and Graduate School I completed B.A. & M.A. degrees with an emphasis in Greek and New Testament. In 2005 I graduated with a D.Min. degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forrest. My major field of study was expository preaching. I have been trained to teach and preach God’s Word, explaining, illustrating, and applying its wonderful truths to everyday life. Helping people come to know Lord Jesus, and assisting their spiritual growth to become disciples of Jesus who are equipped to serve, these are some of my greatest passions in ministry. I am seeking to lead our church to fulfill our Vision Statement (see home page).

I am also passionate about serving as a faithful shepherd of God’s flock. I have served here at Swift Creek since 1987, and I previously served two other churches as lead pastor. My primary focus is on spiritual ministry through prayer and ministry of God’s Word (Acts 6:4), but I am also mindful of other needs. I minister knowing from personal experience what it is to face hurts and struggles. I have gone through the valley of trials, but I personally have experienced God’s comfort and sustaining grace.

I met my wife Cheryl at our home church. She has been a faithful wife and supporter of my ministry since we married in 1978. She sings in the choir, serves as a Sunday School teacher and serves part-time as one of our secretaries. We have two grown sons and two granddaughters. In my free time I enjoy date nights with my wife, playing with my granddaughters, and occasionally I play golf on my day off.