born upstate New Jersey, Christian Reformed Church; father nominal Unitarian Universalist, Mother CR
moved to Orlando when 8, to space coast when 14;
committed to ministry when 11, changed to medicine when 13;
member of Youth For Christ 13-14 y/o;
attended Univ of Florida: 1st year pre-med, 2nd yr general with emphasis in comparative religions, history
attended Calvin College, major psychology, minors in language, history, graduated 1971
pursued ministry ’til 1975, served summer 72 Akron CRC; Fellowship CRC Big Rapids half year in campus ministry; wrote technical youth scouting type materials one year; began work as US Immigration Officer, Miami Intl Airport 1978-1981; church planting ministry as lay pastor Marshalltown CRC Iowa, tentmaking as adult probation officer; 1985 closed that ministry, became Presbyterian, worked as child protection social worker; enrolled Univ of DBQ Theo. Seminary 1988-1992 full/parttime, while working as Family Therapist in child protection, served 1st Pres, Galena IL, Andrew Pres, Andrew IA, East Iron Hill (Community) Church, ordained 1992 as pastor Olivet Pres., Cedar Rapids, IA; 1997 pastor 1st Pres, Carroll; 2002 pastor 1st Pres, Greene; 2008 pastor Immanuel Pres, Waterloo; took time off from small church ministry, worked US Census 2010, school bus driver, para-professional teacher, now (since 2011) substitute teaching middle/high school.