I was born-and-raised in the rust belt, right outside of Youngstown, Ohio. After a few years in coastal North Carolina, I came back home to northeast Ohio. I’m married to my best friend, Ashley. We have two crazy boys, Braylon and Carter, and two beautiful little girls, Ellie and Grace. I love the outdoors, a good cup of coffee, working in my wood shop, Chipotle burritos, and all things Cleveland sports.

Since 2013 I’ve been a part of the staff team at First Christian Church in the Pro Football Hall of Fame city of Canton, Ohio, first as the student pastor and then as the executive pastor. As the lead pastor, I get to serve alongside some of the most talented leaders I’ve ever known, who have incredible hearts for Jesus and for the people of our city. I get to teach people about Jesus and help them learn how to connect the Word of God with everyday life. I also coach and invest in leaders, and cast vision and create strategies to move our church forward toward our goal of showing our community that Jesus is for all people.

In addition, I serve on the Board of Directors for a non-profit organization called The Solomon Foundation, which helps churches grow by acquiring property, building and renovating facilities, and expanding existing facilities. I also serve on the Advisory Team for The Unstuck Group, which helps churches identify roadblocks to sustained health and strategically plan to get unstuck so they can reach people with the gospel of Jesus.

This blog is where I write about what I’m learning about leadership, following Jesus, being a husband and a dad, and how Jesus speaks to all of it. I hope something you read here challenges, inspires, or blesses you.