I grew up in the St. Louis area. I became a part of the Hazelwood Baptist Church family at around 10 years old. My first exposure to serving in youth ministry came at a sister church in Illinois serving as a part-time youth minister for one year. I was then hired part time as the Student Minister at HBC in February of 2013 and was brought on staff full time in June of 2016. I am a graduate of Missouri Baptist University where I earned a degree in Elementary Education. I taught in the Ferguson-Florissant School District as a Teacher Assistant and then as a classroom teacher for 7 years. I taught 5th and 6th grade students. I also served multiple summers as a missionary with Sports Crusaders. It was during my first year in Sports Crusaders that I met my wife, Hope, who was serving with me.
My wife and I were married in 2009. Hope works for Aetna Healthcare where she’s been working since 2008. She serves with me in student ministry. She also loves to sing, help others in whatever way she can, play sports, and spend time with family.
God has also blessed my wife and I with two children. Elijah is our oldest. He loves cars, Monster Jam, and legos. Adelyn (Addie) is our youngest. She enjoys playing with barbies and baby dolls. As I have the amazing privilege of being a husband and father it has really helped me to grow in my walk with Christ. It has also been eye- opening as it has helped me to gain a greater appreciation for how God is our Father and the church is His Bride.
When I’m not at church or hanging out with our students, I love to play sports (baseball, softball, basketball, and volleyball). I am a lifelong Cardinals fan and consider baseball my favorite sport. I have even had the opportunity to coach baseball and basketball at the junior high and high school levels.
I have the great privilege of working with our Youth and our Young Adults at HBC. It is my belief that my ministry exists as a training ground. It is my desire to help our young people build their foundation on Christ, help them see how to live like Christ in a secular world, and how to lead within the church. I love living our young people opportunities to lead and serve, because I believe you learn by doing. I try my best to be transparent with our students and young adults about life’s struggles and even some of my own. Over the years I always come back to one verse where I find comfort and peace in times of struggles.
Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Amen!