I was born and raised in the small town of Middletown, Indiana. My faith journey began in my very early years, as I was blessed to be part of a faith-filled home growing up. I met my wife, Kara, carpooling to kindergarten! She eventually became my high school sweetheart, best friend, and (way) better half. We live in Harrison and are blessed to have four young children—Abram, Lucy, Daniel, and Ada.
The defining moment in my walk with Christ was when I attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. Coming from a small rural community, being on campus at a large public college was quite a cultural shock. I saw many young people drift away from God during this time. Still, my wife and I found a great church there where we grew in our faith and built upon the strong foundation already laid in our lives. This experience made me passionate about ensuring that the next generation has the same foundation that I had been given so that they can be equipped to overcome the world through Jesus.
Kara and I became a part of Whitewater when we moved to the area in 2012. I have loved being involved in many ministry areas at Whitewater, but I've felt most passionate about serving in our Next Gen ministries, both with high-schoolers and the younger children in Harbortown Kids. I love the story in Matthew 19, where people are bringing children to Jesus. The disciples tried to prevent this, believing Jesus should use his time on more seemingly important things. But Jesus stops his disciples, saying, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." This is a powerful reminder of how valuable and important each child is to God. Children are our future, and we have a responsibility to help lead them toward Christ.
I am thankful that God led me to Whitewater over 10 years ago. We have experienced life transformation, continued spiritual growth, and a faith family here. Being on the Elder team for the past few years has been an honor, serving with incredible, godly men who deeply care for Christ's bride - the Church. Jesus is the head of this church, and I know that through Him, Whitewater will continue to transform lives in His name and impact the communities around us in which we work and live.