About Me
I am 37 years old and have been married to my beautiful wife, Elise, for fifteen years. Elise wholly supports God’s calling for my life and my ministry. She also serves alongside me in shepherding the youth, especially the young women, of Westside Church where I currently serve as Youth Pastor. We have a twelve-year-old son named Jude, and he is a constant reminder of God’s love and provision in our lives. Originally from Brentwood, CA, in the east bay area, I moved to Redding, CA in 2005 to attend Simpson University where I met my wife and obtained my bachelor’s degree in Music Liberal Arts. I am an outgoing individual who loves being in the beauty of God's creation where I also enjoy activities like fishing, hiking, swimming, and archery. I am also very responsible, and I try to live my life as unto the Lord in all circumstances. I respect the time and opportunities given to me, and I also respect the wisdom of those who have gone before me. Finally, I also have extensive sound and web development experience as well as some IT experience as well.
My Calling
During my early high school years I constantly struggled with God’s role in my life as well as His future plans for me. It was not until I surrendered my life completely to God at a youth camp, with all of my unknowns, that He laid a passion for worship upon my heart. Within the past several years, I have realized that my passion for worship extends further than the stage and into aspects of everyday life. I believe worship includes many facets, but most importantly involves scripture, prayer, service, praise, fellowship, and obedience. Through this revelation I have found that my calling and my passion have extended into discipleship opportunities as well, especially among youth and young adults. I have also found the joy and benefit of a life lived in accordance with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:16-26, in order that I may disciple and lead the church with a posture always focused toward Christ. It has become my prayer that God will continue to use my passion for worship to help shepherd the church, including the youth, in an attitude of obedience, praise, and adoration.
My Core Values
There is one God, who is infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings. It is the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of all people, for those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross, and the Divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.
Jesus Christ is the true God and the true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died upon the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of Majesty on high as our great High Priest. He will come again to establish His kingdom, righteousness and peace.
Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ and is available for all people; and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God.
It is the will of God that each believer should be in the process of sanctification leading to the fulfillment of our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer following conversion.
The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations. The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
