Personal Call to the Ministry Narrative

This 'Call' to Ministry is difficult in one sense because it is not directly tied to an event or an area of study. It is an inseparable part of who I am in Christ. It is an extension of Paul's lament: "For if I preach the gospel that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!" There are confirmations of this 'Call' throughout my life. It was recognized as a 'given' by my High School classmates and one of my unsaved High School Teachers. Everyone around me, from close friends and acquaintances, recognized this 'Call.' While in the Air Force, I remember just having Crew-Chief 'd a component change on one of several Nuclear Weapon Systems, realizing that this was a work of futility, knowing that this task would have to be done again in 7 years. It struck me hard; I needed to be on the task of the Gospel the Good News of Jesus Christ ministers to People with Eternity in mind. Then, through the Encouragement of Bill and Bonnie Jackson, I went to Calvary Bible College to begin the process of Ordination. This 'Call' was ultimately confirmed by Ordination by the Elders of Valley Bible Fellowship on 30 June 1985.

 

Personal Ministry Experience Narrative:

During my Junior and Senior years in High School, I served as first grade Sunday school teacher. It was at that time I first became involved with Child Evangelism Fellowship. At this time, I was also active in our Church Convalescent Home Ministry. This is where I was given my first opportunity to preach. While in the USAF, I was part of 'The Navigators' (founded by Dawson Trotman) at Castle Air Force Base - Atwater, California. I served as the Sunday School Superintendent and Teacher for a small Free Will Baptist Church in Cressy, California. When stationed in Germany, I served in several areas of ministry at the Eifel Bible Church. This community of believers worshipped off-base in a converted German Tavern.

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My first area of Ministry was leading congregational singing and teaching the Adult Sunday School Class. In 1977, I served as an Elder. 1979, I served as Pastor until my rotation back to the States in 1980. Upon discharge, Cathy and I moved to Kansas City, Missouri, to attend Calvary Bible College. It was shortly after our move that we joined Blue Ridge Bible Church. While there, I served as the Senior High Youth Group Director, Senior High Sunday School teacher, and then, the College Age Sunday School teacher. My wife and I also served on the local committee of Child Evangelism Fellowship, where I served as Treasurer. I graduated in 1984 with a Major in Pastoral Studies and a Minor in Biblical Greek. Upon graduation from College, my family and I moved to Idaho. We served under Pastor David Hazen at Valley Bible Fellowship in Meridian, Idaho, as an intern for two years. As an intern, I was involved in Visitation Evangelism, Teaching the Young Adult Sunday School Class, and Preaching. Under Pastor Hazen, I learned to bring cohesiveness to the ministry and learned, by his example, what it meant to have a Pastor's heart. With Pastor Hazen's encouragement, I accepted the Pastorate at the Donnelly Bible Church in Donnelly, Idaho.

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I had the privilege of serving the Donnelly Congregation and Community for 19 years. I also served at Shilo Bible Camp in the Donnelly area as a camp Counselor, Camp Nurse, Self-Defense Instructor, lifeguard, Bible Teacher, and Camp Speaker. Also, during my time at Donnelly, I served as the American Legion Department Chaplain for the State of Idaho for Three years.