Our Spiritual Journey: Jane and I came to the conviction of our sins in August 1970 through a local church in Asheville NC. We received forgiveness by Grace and Faith in. Christ alone. My need was a sense if being alone in a meaningless universe. Jane's felt need was a fear of death with unanswered questions. After coming to Christ, I shared with a lot of people who were interested in what had happened to us. I really didn't know how to clearly explain the Gospel. I went to my pastor who told me Bill Band right with Campus Crusade was coming to an area Baptist Retreat Center with training in evangelism, follow up, and basic discipleship. I attended along with 700 other people for a week. We learned to pray for divine appointments, share the Four Spiritual Laws and take surveys. All this was done by going out knocking on doors and meeting people on the streets and in shopping areas, introducing ourselves and listening to their comments and questions . In the evening, the sharing was electrifying by what The Holy Spirit had accomplished. And we always tried to point people to the local churches in the area.

Our local church began to grow and we were baptizing new believers and church members who were now becoming born again, thinking that church attendance was enough to get them into Heaven. I began to sense that Jane and I would be called to a new adventure. In January 1972, we went through new staff training at Arrowhead Spring in California with Campus Crusade. We spent three months raising our financial and prayer support. At that time our salary was 500 monthly which included medical and ministry expenses and in June 1972, we reported to our first campus assignment at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. (the Fighting Gobblers). The students were very open and our goal was to give every student an opportunity to discuss Who This Jesus Christ was, as revealed in the Bible. The cell groups were focused on the Great Commission and vision of training and equipping for reproducing disciples. A real treat every Spring was taking two buses of students to Daytona Beach for a week for ministry on the beach. The weekly gatherings on campus could be as many as 300 to 400, and there would be 75 student intercessors each week who prayed in the Chapel. One April we packed out the main campus auditorium with two talks by Josh McDowell on Evidence for Christ and Maximum Sex.

In the Spring of 1973 after a week's visit to Ireland, God began leading us to move there along with two other couples and an Irish couple to start ministries in the universities. We moved to Galway in January 1975 and helped start campus ministries in Galway, Dublin, and Cork. Another couple came to join us in Belfast. The Gospel was shared to hundreds of students with many coming to know Christ and being equipped in basic discipleship. Over the years the ministry began to mature and Irish disciples were on fire to reach others. The ministry was then turned over to them and they raised their finances from Christians in Ireland and we left to pursue other paths in ministry.

We moved to Portland, Oregon, and attended Western Seminary, I finished an M.Div. in

Pastoral and Mission and an M.A. in Biblical Counseling and Jane did M.A. in New Testament. We went with a new ministry in Crusade that was involved in partnering with local churches with emphasis on intercessory prayer, evangelism, and discipleship. From there we moved to Manila, Philippines to partner with churches and taught some classes in local seminary. We had a great time supporting churches as they raised up their leadership. From there we returned to the U.S. and moved to Lawrenceville, Ga., partnering with some local churches who had a desire to focus on evangelism and discipleship. From Atlanta, we were able to travel to different places worldwide. We then joined Dynamic Churches, International with Al & Mary Middleton who live in Calgary, Canada. Al and Mary have been very supportive and encouraging and have given us opportunity to serve Christ both in the U.S. and worldwide.

They closed the ministry in the U.S. and suggested that we apply to Harvest Alliance International.

We are partnering and developing networks with other ministries and groups who desire to restore the vision of why God left us on this earth. That is the Great Commission implemented in small groups of 3 or 4 with a strong covenant to mature over a period of 8 to 12 months and be able to start new groups. One writer defines discipling as the intentional training of disciples with an accountability of loving relationships. Another, said it is a process that takes place within accountable relationships over a period of time for the purpose of bringing believers to spiritual maturity, following God. He is leading us on a new adventure.

Also, we are a hands on people. I have been on building projects and helping people with their physical needs in the midst of poverty. A great help has been the Chalmer Center at Covenant College in Chattanooga, TN., on helping without hurting in short-term missions. Also book by Bryant L. Meyers, WALKING WITH THE POOR, and book by Mary Lederleitner, CROSS, CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS, Navigating the complexities of money and mission. My desire is to support people and help with their needs by pointing them to available resources and other people in ministry with talents and skills.

Jane's strengths and gifts are in the area of hospitality and relationships. A primary strength of mine is adventure, and this is why I have always loved mission work, serving around the world. Our basic prayer request is that we would create strong partnerships with pastors and ministries whose desire is to fulfill the Great Commission and build disciples in a relational model. Wherever we go, we're always looking for intercessors. For 53 years, God has faithfully provided for our financial and prayer needs. We always ask people to seek God's wisdom and direction in their investment. He is the One Who works in our hearts in the area of giving. We thank Him.

One of my sons works for a major airline and we are able to fly on his benefits. My favorite Bible character is Caleb. Joshua 14:11 "l am still as strong today as I was in the day of Moses who sent me, as my strength was then, so my strength is now for war and for going out and coming in. Now then give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day the Anakim were there with great fortified cities, perhaps the Lord will be with me and I shall drive them out as the Lord has spoken." Jeremiah 3:33, "Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Another exhortation of the Lord is Ezekiel 22:30 "And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found no one." May all of us stand before God as intercessors for His Glory and Great Commission.

Thank you for your investment in prayer and in the Great Commission  

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