What is your role at MHC?

As Biblical Families Director I oversee various ministries for everyone under the age of 18 years old, which includes working hand in hand with their families as well.

Tell us about your family:

I met my gorgeous wife as a junior in high school at younglife. We were good friends for about four years before actually dating, two and a half I of which I obviously thought we should be dating! God finally told Sarah that she had to marry me and I promptly proposed to Sarah in March of 2005 and we were married on November 18th of ’05. Sarah and I were living in Olympia and at that time God started giving us a burning love for the city of Seattle. God led us to Mars Hill Church in Seattle, we attended MHC for the entire year of 2006 to see if we indeed were in agreement on the mission and vision of MHC. After confirming that Jesus Christ is truly the senior pastor, we moved to Seattle to become members. Next to Jesus Christ, Sarah is hands down the best thing that God has blessed my undeserving soul with. We are praying for God’s right timing in adding little ones to our family (hopefully sooner than later)!

When did Jesus change your life?

Jesus changed my life at the age of five years old, in which I am still able to recall vividly. My family was living on the east coast at the time, my mother was at churches building working and my father, sister and I were having dinner at the dining room table. My father and were talking about the gospel, of which I was familiar with. The main point that I recall my father discussing with me was that I could not be a Christian simply because my parents were. That I had to have a personal relationship with Christ and that entailed me surrendering my entire being, spirit, soul and body to Jesus, asking him to be my savior. At that moment I recall being drawn to my room, I knelt at my bedside and humbly asked Jesus to lead my heart and life. Later that evening, when mom came home, I remember my dad explaining that I had received Christ as my own during supper, I remember mom being excited, but bummed that she had not been present.

How has your life changed since meeting Jesus?

From my opinion, Jesus has been overly gracious to me. Being raised in a Christian home, I found myself not participating in under aged drinking, using illegal narcotics and not dating girl simply to date or probably more so to ‘fool around’. Thus, this past year particularly the Holy Spirit has helped me begin up rooting a deep seeded pride in self. I found myself having a false sense of humility, sense of self-entitlement and a real tendency to lean on my own understanding. God has used my brothers to call out my sin and point me to the cross of Christ. It is apparent that Jesus’ unrelenting pursuit of my soul has been a continual process, of which Jesus has extended only grace and mercy to me.

Tell us how you came to be at Mars Hill, as a visitor, member, and elder:

About a year or so after Sarah and I met, I was an intern youth pastor with a church in Olympia. As Sarah and I became closer and closer friends, we began talking through the various theologies, methodologies and even church movements of which I had no real clue about at all. Although I was raised in a home that was focused on Jesus, we weren’t necessarily set on a specific theological conviction. Sarah had also been raised in a Christ focused home, yet with more of a reformed theological compass. The closer we moved toward marriage the more aware of what true Biblical church leadership looked like. Upon flying back to Seattle from Mexico for our honeymoon, Sarah and I decided to stay in Seattle for an extended weekend. This is when we first discovered, by God’s grace Mars Hill Church. After being blown away by the sound Biblical teaching and the contextual methodology, we decided to financially support and periodically attend MHC, in addition to the church where we were currently serving. In January ’06 I took a weekend to fast and pray, asking God to give us clarity as to what He was calling us to; moving to Seattle to join the church body of MHC or stay in Olympia. After a couple of days, God clearly showed me that we were to move to Seattle and become members of MHC. Once finding a place in Seattle, we took the Gospel Class (the then Membership Class) and I approached Pastor Adam, who at the time was the youth pastor inquiring about serving with youth, which was my passion. After a short time, Sarah and I were asked to consider moving to West Seattle to take on an internship heading up the youth department. We prayerfully considered it and were overjoyed when the Holy Spirit gave us the green light. And in March of ’08 MHC offered me full time position and I am still very grateful for the opportunity for work as a full time vocational missionary.

What is your biggest challenge in this ministry?

Since recently transitioning into the Biblical Families Director role at MHC|WS, I am finding that there is a bit of a lull in regards to parental participation. I am diligently praying for the parents of West Seattle to step up and take a bit more ownership in giving of their time, talent and treasure for our future missionaries to Seattle.

What is your greatest joy while serving in this ministry?

I absolutely love working with the families of youth and children. It is engaging and motivating in a way that I am unable to explain. God simply has given my heart a capacity to love the young people (6 mo’s to 18 years old) of West Seattle and my hope is that by God’s grace, I adequately love and reflect Jesus Christ to all I come in contact with.

Please share a favorite quotation:

I have two equally favorite quotes:

“There are only two things in life; winning and winning.” -Alan Andersen

“One of the most important discoveries I have ever made is this truth: God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in him. This is the motor that drives my ministry as a pastor. It affects everything I do.” -John Piper

What books have fueled your thinking or challenged you in the last few years?

• Desiring God by Piper
• Cost of Discipleship by Bonehoeffer
• Enemy Within by Lungaard
• Practicing His Presence by Lawrence & Laubach
• Radical Reformission by Driscoll
• Jews for Jesus by Rosen
• Redemptive History by Goldsworthy

What’s your favorite/preferred genre of music?

I definitely dig most music, with the exception of most country. I’m really digging the Moondoggies, Modest Mouse, E-pop, Red Letter, Northern Conspiracy, Lecrae, Johnny Cash, Living Sacrifice, As I Lay Dying

What’s your favorite Seattle-area eatery?

Easy Street Record, especially when ordering the Johnny Cash special or Easy Street meet breakfast burrito

What’s your favorite scripture?

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”