About Us

 I am a third career pastor, having spent nineteen years in management with the Kmart Corporation and eight years in residential real estate with HER Realtors before entering the ministry. I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN in 1982 and my Masters of Divinity Degree with a specialization in Church Leadership from the Methodist Theological School in Delaware, OH in 2009. I am an avid reader and enjoy playing golf, doing yard work, traveling, and spending time with my wife, kids, and grandkids. One of the things I most love about ministry is the opportunity to help people see, hear, and think about the Gospel of Jesus Christ in new and inclusive ways, and I do that primarily through preaching and teaching. My wife, Lynn, and I live in Westerville, OH, and have four daughters and six grandchildren.

I have called Church of the Master my home since relocating to Westerville with my family in 1980. I have two grown children and 4 fabulous grandchildren who unfortunately (for me!) live in North Carolina and Oregon. Music has always been an important part of my life. I love listening to music, playing music, and singing music. I have fond memories of participating in both Jr. and Chancel Choir in the church I grew up in, and I still remember many of the songs. These days, I do most of my singing with the children in Cherub and Jr. Choir at Church of the Master. I love getting to know the children and watching them grow into the beautiful beings they were created to be. I have always thought that I have the best job in the whole church! My hope is that the music I choose will plant seeds of faith, hope, and love in their hearts, and that in their young lives now or down the road, when they are particularly joyful or sad, angry or confused, a song will come to mind that will encourage them on their way.

As a graduate of Marshall University, where I studied vocal music, and Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, where I studied congregational ministry, I have spent most of my life in some form of church music. I grew up in Flatwoods, KY, where my family still resides and I visit regularly. I have served United Methodist churches in both the Kentucky and West Virginia Annual conferences, before moving to Columbus, OH, to attend seminary. I find joy in many forms of music outside church music, but I have a special place for musical theatre having music directed many community theatre productions over the years. 

At Church of the Master my time is shared between worship planning with Pastor Jay, the organ console, and our Praise Team and Chancel Choir, all the while looking for ways to expand our music ministry for our congregation and our community. My philosophy of church music has always been that there is a place for everyone in the music ministry of our church, and that I am happy to help you find that place. 

I went to Capital University for Keyboard Pedagogy and graduated in 2014. I have been the staff accompanist at both Olentangy High School and Worthington Kilbourne High School for 5 years and I consider myself to be a huge musical theatre nerd. In my role at Church of the Master, I assist the music director by accompanying the choir for various rehearsal and worship services.

I come to the Church of the Master as a retiree from the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks System. I worked for Metro Parks for twenty years as their finance director.  Prior to joining Metro Parks, I was a partner in the accounting firm Nipps Andreas Brown & Ruff.  My earlier years were spent in a variety of accounting positions in private and public accounting. I am a native of Baltimore Md., but have spent most of the last 49 years in Ohio attending college and raising a family.  I am a graduate of Wittenberg University, where I met my wife and we have two grown children.

I have been the custodian at Church of the Master since 1981. I enjoy being outdoors and love being a husband to Elsie and father to Chris and Danielle. My favorite part of working in this position is that I get to serve God and serve the people of Church of the Master to make everyone feel welcome. I like to be helpful and show kindness to all people to give Glory to God.