First Free Methodist Church of Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783
906 632-9341

• Education: B.A. from Crown College in Missiology (study of missions)/ Bible and Theology. M.A.R. from Asbury Theological Seminary in Christian Education (Curriculum Theory and Development) with a minor in "Evangelism" (a.k.a. "Church Growth" not personal evangelism). Ph.D from Trinity Theological Seminary in Pulpit Communications (Expository Preaching).
• Experience: I have been an Assistant/Youth pastor, a solo pastor, a senior pastor, and superintendent of a Christian school (A.C.E.) (while pastor) since 1987.
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: I will try to publish sermons in the format proposed in my dissertation. These will be a four point sermon. Please contact me if you would like more information about this format.
• Sermon or series that made a difference: 1 Peter 2:21 "Follow in His Steps" Series: "Defining Bitterness," "Dealing with bitterness," "Healing from bitterness."
• One of my favorite illustrations: "Morphy and the Devil" -- An agnostic/athiest painted a picture of two chess combatants. Playing on dark (black) side was the devil with his forces of darkness around him. On the light (white) side was a young innocent looking man (representing Christ) surrounded by angels with worried looks on their faces. The chess board is set up to what seems to be an impossible position for white. Some Christian were offened by this artistic attack so they called Morphy, arguably the best chess player in the world of that time. He studied the painting for a couple of minutes and delared that White has a forced win. He then proceeded to demonstrate the win. It involves the sacrifice of White’s most powerful and important piece... The devil was sure of his win but the sacrifice completely crushes him.
• Family: Married with one son who is a senior. We homeschool.
• What my parents think of my sermons: If God could use a donkey... (grin)
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: ahem... God is using one... (grin) Actually, she really likes my sermons.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: Preaching a sermon is like doing 8 hours of hard physical labor. (My Dad said this... He was a missionary and pastor.)
• Books that have had an impact: Chronicals of Narnia (C.S. Lewis) Transforming Leadership: Jesus’ Way of Creating Vision, Shaping Values & Empowering Change (Leighton Ford) Preaching with Integrity (Kenton Anderson) Preaching with Conviction (Kenton Anderson) Choosing to Preach (Kenton Anderson) Simple Church (Rainer and Geiger)
• Hobbies: Chess and teaching chess to kids. Making fudge. People from my church want to go into business with me, so I guess they like it.
• If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: Acknowledge you are a sinner, completely helpless on your own spiritually (repent). Believe that Jesus made the only way for your salvation. Choose to follow Him with all your heart, no matter what!
• Something funny that happened while preaching: I was preaching one Sunday when we were having a heavy wind storm. It was distracting so I stoped and used it as an illustration. Just after I said, "even the howling wind..." a gust howled through our otherwise air tight church!