When did Jesus first get your attention?
In the summer of 1984 I went to work as a canoe instructor at Camp Squeah in the lower mainland of BC. I was a young adult, who had grown up in the church, but this was the first time that I experienced the love of Jesus through the other staff there who showed a faith that was alive and real in a way I had never experienced before. Through the course of that summer, I experienced the love of the Father, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, and the person of Jesus through the story of God in as revealed in Scripture. It changed my life forever to experience and place my trust in the reality and personal character of God.
What is a faith marker in your life?
Another faith marker in my life, was the year 2000 as I went through a 2 year journey of brokenness and identity formation. Lisa and I were living in Calgary with three small children at the time as I had just resigned my role at Columbia Bible College in BC and moved to Calgary with an unknown future, but trusting that God was leading us. As difficult as that season was, God spoke through many people and unique circumstances that eventually led to a pastoral ministry role here at FGCC. Lisa was a huge source of encouragement, support and discernment through that time.
What’s Jesus doing in your life right now?
Teaching me to trust day to day and embrace his strength and mercies for each day, in community. As I get older, Jesus is also teaching me to live with the end in mind, realizing that I have numbered days (that only God knows) and to embrace and leverage the gifts that I have for kingdom purposes.
What is a favorite Scripture and why?
Philippians 3:10-14 is one of my key ‘life verses’. I remember the day in the summer of 1984 that this verse become my life prayer and I remember praying it and really meaning it. It has continued to shape me and guide me and be my prayer in some form throughout my life. It has helped me to continue to look and move forward and not live in the past, but always longing for and living toward what Jesus has for me in the future.
I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Why do you love our church?
The people of this body of Christ have called me to serve, loved my family, and entrusted me with much, as I figure out what it means to be a pastor. I have experienced so much grace and support here, and seen the evidence of transformation all around me. There is a continuous desire to pursue God’s mission in our city and around the world that continues to inspire and challenge me.