Role at The Avenue?
Director of Spiritual Formation. I help find ways for people to use their gifts.

Where are you from?
I spent the first 7 years of my life around Nicoma Park, Oklahoma. We moved to KC when I was 7 and I have lived all around the Metro, but mostly in Blue Springs and Independence.

Family info?
I've been married to Amy for 9 years. We met at church and pretty much got engaged on our first date. We have two kids - Riley (4 yrs) and Luke (almost 2).

What did you do before this?
I've worked in construction, as a PE Coach, served in ministry as a youth pastor. I recently worked in the corporate world in telecommunications. God richly blessed me and I found success in applying God's word and what I learned in ministry to the business environment. About the time the vision for a church plant was cast at LSCC, God led me out of my stable job and through different circumstances into a more scary arena in Real Estate. I currently manage Real Estate investments (flip houses.)

Passions?
I love music and reading, I love spicy ethnic foods. The Kansas City Chiefs, The Los Angeles Lakers  love playing golf and hunting. I love to “be the monster” as Riley says and play with my kids. I love to grill out and cook and spend time with loved ones.
 
Favorite movies?
Goodfellows, Tombstone, Pulp Fiction, Gladiator. I love old westerns and pretty much anything with a sword or gangster in it. A medieval gangster movie would be really great.

What are you "all about?"
I'm about my heart authentically loving God and people around me more. I want to have a more deeply transformed life! I think there is an intrinsic danger in churchianity today that we are going wide with information and programs and not deep enough and close enough to Christ.

How about music?
As far as Christian music I have long been a Waterdeep fan. However there is really no such thing as christian music since music is not a person and cannot accept Christ. I sometimes work out to Rap. I have a deep affection for the classic/southern rock and outlaw country I grew up listening to.In junior High it was Montley Crue and Guns–n-Roses but that gave way to the grunge scene to which I loved Pearl Jam ("Ten" maybe the greatest album of all time), Alice in Chains, Sublime and Nirvana .Today my music library is diverse and all I can say is I love me some music.

Journey to The Avenue?
When LSCC began to share the vision for a church plant and simulcast service I felt God tug at me
about it. I went to the informational meeting and started helping with the simulcast service. For the next two years I was a part of that core team. At first Amy and I thought we would be staying at LSCC. In time we recognized that God was calling us to go. Church planting and a multi generational approach are things I have a heart for, and when the Lord began to form in The Avenue the vision to do both I knew for sure we were in the right place.

What excites you about using your role at The Avenue to impact God's kingdom?
I am excited that God would use me in his vision for the Avenue. I am excited to be used in Spiritual formation because its the process of which true Christlikness is established in the very depths of our being. I am excited to see people go from being simply "Christian like" to disciples that are "like Christ".