my highlights:

I am a traveler at heart, I suppose because of my father’s military service.  I was born in 1971, in California, and I have trekked across the country several times since.  I’m more settled now being a husband of twelve years, a father for 6 years, a senior pastor for 3 years, an Alabamian for 16 years, and a lifetime Auburn Tigers fan.  My wife, Angela, and my children, Bethany and Jonathan, are my greatest blessings and testimonies on this earth.  Jesus is my best friend, even when I am not His good friend, since He found and saved me in 1979.  I’m a traveler at heart, and I love the journey God has me on!

my calling:

To live in community with Christ through shepherding the sheep of Christ, communicating the good news of Christ, and worshipping the living Christ as Senior Pastor.

my experience:

speaker

Cultivating a renewed atmosphere of God-focused worship by expounding the Word creatively, interactively, and exegetically. 

Creatively by periodically changing the order of worship, and by use of music, drama, and media clips.  Interactively by encouraging the congregation to be engaged in the worship through impromptu testimonies, special prayer times, and personal feedback.  Exegetically by preaching through books and extended sections of scripture.

Led renewal retreats across the Southeast covering such topics as:  Grace and the Freedom You’ve Always Dreamed Of, Back to Basics in a Complex World, Creating Community, and Dreams Do Come True.

spiritual formation

Emphasizing the importance and sacredness of every life event; life is to be lived in the present with the single aim to love and glorify God.

Developed original resources for small group spiritual formation.

Personally sharing the Gospel on a regular basis, giving spiritual direction to new believers, counseling families regarding marriage, finances, baptism, and grief, and visiting the sick and shut-ins.

Generated new emphasis on prayer by teaching various forms of prayer, refocusing Wednesday Night Services to include more prayer, and by leading the church community through several seasons of 40 days of prayer.

Introduced lifestyle and service evangelism as a means of community outreach.  Twelve events have resulted in 500 bottles of water given away, two concerts performed, over 950 meals served, and 9 people received Jesus as Lord.

Developed new outreach ministry which represents four teams responsible for care and evangelistic visits on a monthly basis.

college & young adults

Encountering young people with the passion and power of the Cross of Christ in real, relevant, and relational ways; laboring to assist them in uncovering a life in Christ.

Launched a college ministry from a local church with no previous outreach to college students.  Starting with a small core, The House ministries swelled to include 150 students who were integrated into the larger community of the church, engaged in biweekly small groups, prepared for later discipleship, and resulted in 60 participating in retreats and mission projects.

Guided and recruited a team of collegians to reach out to troubled youth within the state Youth Services Department.  The focus of our time was used in play, Bible study, and counseling.  A number of youth came to faith in Christ.

Served as a summer Youth Pastor, leading them in camps, local missions, choir tours, and weekly Bible studies.  Saw group expand from 12 to 40 in 4 months.  By summer’s end several students and one parent prayed to receive Christ as Savior.

Established Taylor’s Titans, a ministry for 6^th – 12^th graders meeting weekly to discuss Sunday sermons, learn new worship songs, plan mission projects and socials.  Taylor’s Titans helped triple the Discipleship Training Ministry.

leader & administrator

Encouraging an environment of ownership by inviting all to partner in the life and ministry of the Body.

Participated in a vision building trip to the West Coast to meet with church planters and small group leaders which included meetings with:  Dr. Tom Wolf (Oikos Groups), Dr. Ralph Neighbour, Jr. (Touch Outreach Ministries, Cell Groups), and Rick Warren (Saddleback Community Church).

Shepherded staff, team leaders, and volunteers through monthly meetings, training and leadership retreats, moderated business meetings, planned for annual budget, and oversaw $50,000 renovation of church facilities.

Renewed interest in missions by hosting special Mission Emphasis Sundays, participating in an On Mission Celebration, and by highlighting mission trip opportunities and giving opportunities.  This resulted in an increased involvement in mission trips and a 100% increase given to the annual International Missions Offering.

Created, edited, and published all media content for both in-house and external church publications.

marketing & media

Engaging individuals and communities in ways which inspire, intrigue, and stir their spirits.

Developed training, advertising, promotional videos and print materials for 2 Fortune 1000 companies, the golf industry, a university, and multiple churches.

Facilitated joint market advertising with like minded companies to broaden our customers appeal and reach.

Created original artwork for various projects.

Designed and implemented a $75,000 renovation to sound, video, and lighting in a university preaching lab and in its audio/video editing suite over a 2 year span.

Served as an events videographer, editor and sound engineer for a university, musicians, and churches for such events as seminars, lectures, convocations, music CD’s, church media presentations, and summer camps.

Recruited and managed sales and instructor staff of 8 for a national golf school.

bits & pieces

Enjoying God in all things that life brings my way.

Spending time with my family…Golfing…Snow Skiing…Script Writing…and Reading a good book while sitting on the beach

places i’ve been:

Senior Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church, Lafayette, Alabama

Community Group Pastor, South Perimeter Church, Birmingham, Alabama

Collegiate Minister, Fellowship Bible Church, Auburn, Alabama

Student Pastor, Evergreen Baptist Church, Evergreen, Alabama

Videographer, Editor, & Owner, Eagle Soar Ministry Productions, Lafayette, Alabama

Media Advisor, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama

Marketing Coordinator, Chuck Hogan Golf School, Birmingham, Alabama