I am originally from northwest Iowa and attended West Lyon Community Schools.  After attending Central College in Pella, IA I taught in the public school system in the Des Moines area for five years.  I then followed the call to seminary and was the worship/education director at Westview Church in Waukee, IA while obtaining my Master of Divinity through Bethel Seminary's In-Ministry Program.  I accepted a call to serve as an associate pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City, IA in 2004, and recently joined the MDRC staff in January 2010.

My wife, Shelly, and I have been married for 13 years and have four children:  Mary, 8; Josie, 7; David, 5, and Hannah, 3.  I love spending time with my family, having authentic/meaningful conversations with others, and watching NFL football.  Go Colts!

God has given me a passion to reach out in word and deed to those in our community and world who do not know Jesus as their Savior, Friend and Leader of their life.  I also desire to be an advocate for those in our world that are often "voiceless."  I believe Jesus' mission described in Luke 4:18-19 is to be carried out by each of us using our own unique gifts and personalities granted to us by God for His Glory:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."