Meridian Christian Church
Okemos, Michigan 48805-0655
517-332-8044

• Education: After High School in Escanaba, MI I graduated with a bachelors in Religious Education from Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing, MI in 1973. I have since then obtained a Masters in Practical Ministries from Kentucky Christian College.
• Experience: While in Great Lakes Christian College I helped to establish a new church (Youth) and then served for two years as the Youth Minister in Bangor, MI. I served as the minister of the Lakeshore Church of Christ in St. Joseph, MI from 1973-1977. In 1977 my wife, Donna, and I helped start the Lake Superior Christian Church in Marquette, MI. In 1986 I was called to start the Beavercreek Christian Church in Beavercreek, OH. I have served as Senior Pastor of the Meridian Christian Church in Okemos, MI since 1998.
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: I hope that they help you preach in season and out. Take what is good, cull out what is not, add it to your own experience and knowledge, soak it in God’s word and heart - then preach it!
• Sermon or series that made a difference: A tape on 1 Corinthians 4:1-4 by D. Stewart Briscoe changed my attitude toward preaching, ministry, and the church radically. It freed me from being a "people pleasing preacher" to working at becoming a "God fearing servant".
• One of my favorite illustrations: It’s really a cartoon of a preacher sitting behind a dest with a huge pile of money from the Sunday’s offering sitting n it. Two deacons are counting the money and the preacher says in the caption, "Let’s go over the sermon again. It’s gotta be something I said!"
• Family: I have three daughters. Shannon and Sandi are both well grounded believers and are married to good Christian men and have children of their own. My third daughter Susan is both adopted and deeply loved by everyone in our family. She is developmentally disabled and also has schizophrenia. Susan lives in a Christian Adult Foster Care home is in school learning to become as self sufficient as she can.
• What my parents think of my sermons: My dad is a preacher. Both my grandfather’s were preachers. My mom and dad are pleased and proud that I have followed in their path.
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: You really must ask her. I’ve learned to never, never, never speak for her. (We’ve been married since 1971.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: I’m not sure who told me this but it stuck. "You don’t have to hit a home run every time you are at bat. But you had better have a good solid hit!"
• Books that have had an impact: "Disciple" by Juan Carlos Ortiz "Where do we go from here?" by Ralph Neighbor "Secrets of the Vine" by Bruce H. Wilkinson "Becoming a Contageous Christian" by Bill Hybells and Mark Mittleberg "The Connecting Church" by Randy Frazee
• Hobbies: I enjoy working on computers - both rebuilding them and working on software applications. I enjoy reading and golf (although I’m a much better reader than golfer!)
• If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: We win. I read the last chapter.
• Something funny that happened while preaching: In my first church the rail road ran next to the building. Every Sunday at 11:30 AM the train went through and the whole congregation amd I would simply stop and wait for the train to rumble by. It became so customary that I could not remember if the train went through or not on any given Sunday. Strange how we can adapt when we have to.
• What I want on my tombstone: I am His and I am Home

• Meridian Christian Church Web Page
• The Pastor’s Preview