Ministry Work

Ministry work history: 2003 to Present, Youth Pastor at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.
2000-2002 Elementary Teacher at Santiago Christian School, Santiago Dominican Republic.
Young Life leader in 2000-2001,
Bible teacher at Laurelville Sr., Jr. and Adventure Camps

Interests

Whether in the classroom, large or small group bible study setting, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, Sermon or youth event I thoroughly enjoy studying and teaching. I enjoy discovering what those texts had to say to persons thousands of years ago and trying to bring those images, ideas and teachings forward to us, God's People, today. I also enjoy the social and competitive aspects of sports, whether watching, coaching or playing. I see a lot of connections between our faith and training/playing sports.

Calling

My call to ministry was a life long process of God seeking me out, sometimes I was better at saying yes then others. The most tangible and defining call came while my wife and I were serving as elementary school teachers while living in the Dominican Republic. We were enjoying some time away, we were at the beach sitting in the sun and enjoying some time reading, praying and talking. I had been thinking about pastoral ministry for some time, but that day I heard God clearly ask me to serve Him in ministry. From that point on I set my sights on seminary and continued ministry opportunities from Young Life to Church councils.

Ideal Ministry

-Being part God's work, as pastor you get the joy of seeing God at work from the front row, and for some wonderful reason God allows us to take part in His ministry! I love the pastoral role when we walk with people before weddings, baptism, discipleship, dedications, preaching and teaching.

EMS Comments

Education is a gift; I had the joy of spending half of my credits during full-time study and the other half while working full time in youth ministry. Many of the classes at EMS were readily applicable to my immediate ministry setting. I appreciated being able to test and use my theological education in the very real setting of congregational youth ministry

Favorite Course

I enjoyed Ervin's preaching class so much I added a directed study option my final year. I also enjoyed George Brunk's Biblical Interpretation class, together those two classes focus on seeking the biblical truths in their original context and bringing them forward in a meaningful and understandable fashion. I love the challenge of seeking biblical truths, bringing a current application and being able to communicate that effect to a variety of audiences!

Thoughts for Someone in My Position

I truly believe the words of James that those who seek wisdom will find it. Ministry is a profession, but ministry is much more then that. Ministry is for all of us who call ourselves followers of Christ. We live, move, breath and have our being from the abundance of Christ's work within us and the church. As followers of Christ, those who seek to help bring about the Good News of Jesus Christ, we owe it to Jesus and his church to study, learn, practice and refine the gifts that we have been given. The body of Christ has been blessed with many different gifts and Eastern Mennonite Seminary is a wonderful environment where we can test and explore those gifts with others. When I came to Seminary almost 6 years ago, I was fresh off a 2 year stint at a non-denominational Christian school in the Caribbean. The only thing I really knew was that I felt called to Seminary, and ministry. EMS, alongside my church service, has served to refine and clarify my call, my Anabaptist Mennonite Roots, but also what it means to call myself a follower of Jesus.

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