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I grew up in Ontario, Canada. I have always enjoyed sports, the outdoors and all things musical. I began playing the violin at age 6 which began a strong love for all things stringed. Seeming to be more of a ‘creative type’ I always felt just a little out of place in my church... until my Jr. year of High School when I accepted an opportunity to lead worship for the church youth group. Within weeks of picking up the guitar I was on my path to becoming a solid rhythm player and an excellent vocalist.
After High School I completed the Word of Life Bible Institute’s one year program, then traveled for a second year with the school’s touring musical ministry performing over 100 times in over 30 states in front of thousands of people.
I began my studies at the Moody Bible Institute in 1991 and graduated in 1994 with a B.A. in Communications. While there I sang in the Men’s Choir, and quartet. In Spring, 1993 along with much prayer and planning, 11 dorm mates and I went on a 3 month mission trip to Romania. It was a life changing experience which forever instilled my vision and world view reaching far beyond the walls of North America.
I began working as a department manager for the Moody Broadcasting Network while in school and stayed there for several years after graduation. While a student and employee I had the pleasure of recording one studio and one live album with my band, ‘Thomas’ Wanderings’. The band played several label showcases in Nashville but mutually decided that the “music scene” was the not the road for us.
During this time I also was privileged to become acquainted with and closely collaborate with the (former) president of Moody, Joseph Stowell, by writing and recording custom songs for Dr. Stowell’s daily radio program, Proclaim!
In 1994 Jerren and I married and created our first home in Homewood, IL where Thomas’ Wanderings’ keyboard player was a music minister at a local church. He asked for help in this thing called ’leading worship’ – which also was the beginning of my finding my Calling. I led worship at Homewood Church from 1995 to 1998 as a volunteer while I worked at Moody.
In 1998 I became the full-time Worship Arts Pastor of the Homewood church and continued there until 2001 when Charles Anderson and I planted a church in Frankfort, IL. Our new church, Reunion, was the culmination of a dream for a church that would embrace the arts and cultivate the idea that, as created ones, we are born to create and express ourselves in unceasing worship.
Jerren and I and our growing family were there until October of 2006. With much prayer and the support of our extended families, we moved to the Cincinnati area in December believing this to be the place where God wanted us to be. Jerren is a Certified Professional Midwife and finds great satisfaction in ministering to, educating and assisting women from all walks of life in the birth process. We also have 4 most excellent kids: Colin (10) Maggie (7) Denim (4) and Ewan (2).
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