Born in Harbor Beach, Michigan and raised in and around Flint. Local to HB, moved my wife Dana, and duaghters Haley and rachel to the IE in 2006. Typical days growing up included large family gatherings, singing around the piano, spending time in the family tavern and neighborhood games at dusk. Most of my religious upbringing came through Lutheran, Episcopal and Greek orthodoxy.
As a youth I found Christmas to be a favored time of the year. Harmonicas and guitars under the tree, and family gatherings singing “Hark the Herald”. Growing up in the in the Lutheran school allowed me to study the Gospels and as an acolyte and vocalist serve in the Episcopal Church. Later, I found my own path in music, and grew in artistry, composition, and performance.
Moving to California 1981, I developed many new relationships, shared in cultural diversities, excelled in education and competed in athletics. Though active in many diverse groups, my interest in darker life content and alone to finish high school began to spin me into a series of personal events that veered toward prodigal living. After several years of decline and blame shifting I left California and in 1990 and headed back to Michigan. The journey would inevitably lead me to Christ.
Passion for music gave me many experiences in different industry scenes and allowed me to expand my abilities freelance writing, producing and engineering, and venue development. By the age of 20 I worked on several music events purposed for inner city youth and unity between cultural diversities.
After Michigan for a year I later moved to Canada where I toured with the Grateful Dead. At the end of 1990, I again began to feel a strong burden of bad life decisions, people hurt, and my own pain. Still running I headed back to Huntington Beach, California where I began developing and promoting music events around Orange County. The significance of a particular event in 1992 resulted in a powerful experience with God.
In the midst of one of my largest Grateful Dead events an overwhelming moment of heaviness, sorrow & grief flooded me. So intense I thought I was going die; so quick, God’s presence overwhelmed me and revealed the truth of my soul state. This resulted in an unbridled cry for help. I had no other alternative then to finally face it. My sin, the condition of my heart and my eternal soul. With sincere contrition and dispirited tears I cried out to God for forgiveness. After pouring out I came to a lull moment where I heard a still small voice say, “Cry out to my Son, Jesus”. For the first time, I used the name of ‘Jesus Christ’ in real repentance. The presence of God came suddenly again, and in overwhelming Love. Like rushing water and striking lighting. I knew that the Lord had quickened my soul and gave me a new heart. In a single moment, I was changed.
In the first year of salvation I connected with a local HB church where I received healing, love and the first steps toward purpose (evangelism). God’s grace continued to flood my life and my gifting’s began to emerge. Over several years of learning and serving my path converged into calling. I enjoyed accountability through discipleship, mentoring and was encouraged toward the Pastors call of worship, caring for people and reaching out by means of artistry.
Daily I hope to honor those who have poured into my life by growing and leading in love. By means of practice, my heart is to love people where their at, seeing love in the moment from Gods perspective. In doing this I’m confident Christ will meet people.
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