I grew up in a religious family, attending church every Sunday.  However, the teachings of the church my family attended was a work-based salvation.  

    After high school I decided to enlist in the army. During these years I heard many different teachings and opinions from all types of religions and denominations of churches.  There was always something in my being that drew me to a church on base or off the base.

     During my three-year enlistment I was sent to Augsburg, West Germany, to an intelligence site known as the “Army Security Field Station Augsburg.” While there I really began to search for truth. I attended services of the chaplain, even attended a synagogue with a Jewish friend. Finally, a roommate talked to me about a Bible study off base led by a missionary by the name of Joe Charles. I attended off and on for a few months and was challenged to consider the teaching of the Word of God on salvation by grace alone. I had never heard that before. I began to spend may hours reading and studying the Bible, especially in the book of Romans. The Holy Spirit worked in my heart and opened my eyes to see my own sinfulness and my desperate need of a Savior. I knelt beside my bunk and asked Jesus Christ to be my Savior in 1977. I was then discipled by Joe and grew in my faith. One day Joe asked me if I would like to attend a missions conference in Bertchesgaden.  I went, and was overwhelmed by the need to share my faith with others and to serve the Lord in gratitude for what He had done for me. I asked Joe what would a man need to do if he felt called to serve as a missionary. He recommended that I study in a Bible college, and had in mind one close to southern Ohio, where I am from.  I decided to leave the army, and applied to Appalachian Bible Institute in Bradley, West Virgina. I was accepted, and in January 1979 I began studying with a major in Bible and a minor in missions. I kept missions as my focus the four years I studied and graduated in 1983.  I also met my wife Cindy at ABI, who was also studying and preparing to be a missionary. 

    We joined a mission organization  Berean Mission, Inc. in 1986, raised support and arrived in Ecuador in March 1990. Apart from two years serving in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 2000-2002, we have served in Ecuador as church planters.