It is my privilege and joy to be the Senior Pastor of these great people! God planted me at First Baptist in September 2004 where together we began a family relationship studying Pursuing the One Thing! It is my passion to study and teach the Word of God making it plain and easy to understand. When you arrive you may see me in the entryway shaking hands and asking how your week went. Or if you come in after the service is underway, I'm the guy near the front praising and worshiping God. I also shepherd the flock along with our team of Elders. I care what you care about and am here to help you fall in love with Jesus in a way that is real and personal. I feel God's pleasure when I meet with guys on 1:1 basis for mentoring and discipleship. FBC is the third church I have served. Our ministry began in 1979 at Valley Baptist Church Carpinteria CA followed by 16 years with Calvary Baptist Church Wickenburg AZ.

 

Barb (my wife of 35 years) is a part of the Worship Team and can be seen singing, playing, and overall making a joyful noise unto the Lord. Together we are excited to live lives that are authentic and reflect what God can do in an individual life when God's given a chance. In 1971 we met in Santa Maria CA, attended Western Baptist College in Salem OR then graduated from Western Seminary Portland OR in 1979. We have 3 grown children: (son) Joe & Jen living in the East Bay area; (daughter) Jill & Martin living in Phoenix; (daughter) Jan & Neil living in Omaha. What I like most is how they challenge us towards relevance and authenticity.

For fun I enjoy reading (a lot) mysteries especially. Some of my favorite authors are Tony Hillerman, Nevada Barr, John LeCarre, James Lee Burke. I like collecting hard bounds and am known to frequent used book stores always in search of pre-loved first editions. Barb and I enjoy watching Masterpiece Theater and Lost. I'm a sports fan of the Padres, Chargers, and love going to games whenever possible. I'm on Facebook but only because my daughter makes me.