Who am I...

As I look back on my life, it is humbling for me to see how God has used someone as flawed as I to serve Him. My life brings credence to Paul's phrase in I Corinthians 4:7 "treasure in earthen vessels," with a heavy emphasis on "earthen."

 

I was brought up in a less than model home environment in a small town in Western New York. It created some challenges for me as I tried to negotiate the turbulent years of adolescence and high school. Interestingly, during one high school class, I discovered I had an ability to write. A quick explanation may help. One of my teachers presented the class with three ways to write essays. One method included all facts; the second, facts plus elaboration; and the third, the least preferred, he called the “Halo Affect.” It included few facts but a lot of fluff.  I used it with great results. Through this I learned I had a writing ability, though my early usage of the skill was a bit soiled and reflected a lack of studiousness.

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But a profound new life experience with the Savior at eighteen, and an even more profound call to ministry at nineteen, offered me opportunity to learn of and seek for wholeness. And in the process of my discoveries, God has allowed me to use my writing ability to help others do the same. It has been a life-long adventure and honor.

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Before attending college; and prior to my conversion to Christ, I married Shirley, my high school sweetheart, who has also been my life-long companion and support in ministry. Together we had two sons Jeffrey, his wife Cathryn and their son Jack and my youngest son,  Joel. They all make up make up the pride and joy of my life.

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Pastoring five churches in four different states was also very eye-opening to say the least. It offered me the opportunity to learn from many cultures and ministry environments; from the heartland of our country, to the inner city ministry of Los Angeles, to the affluent in Boulder, Colorado, and the small town in Western PA and New York. And through it all, God has done some wonderful difference-making things in my life and the lives of the many friends we made that will last for eternity.

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Today, I marvel at the lengths God will go in order to develop one of His own. He stuck with me when I was ready to give up on myself. He could see the value in me even when there was none. And I’ve learned that He is poised to have the same stick-to-it-ness and developmental persistence with anyone who will stick with Him.

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What I did about it...

It started with a book. It was the first book I wrote and was titled "Touch One". It described an individual that came by my office one day for help. The encounter changed my life as it helped me to see the heart of God toward the "one".  That book  became the inspiration for the launching of the nonprofit organization that we now call Touch One Ministries.

 

The “we” I referred to above is made up of my wife, Shirley and I. She was an integral part of the starting of our new adventure. She had a vision to begin a counseling ministry through which she could use the encouragement gifts God had given her; and what better name to call it than Touch One Ministries. It is more than the name of my first book. It is what we desire to do as pastors, teachers, counselors and life coaches...touch one life at a time.

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How it's changed my life...

God has always opened one door after another; doors of provision, doors of opportunity,

and doors of ministry and as a result,  books have been written, lives have been transformed,

marriages have been restored, suicides have been averted and souls have been won to

Christ. It has been an incredible journey marked by God’s blessing at every turn. With the opening

of each new door, it became clearer to us that God had a great plan for Touch One Ministries.

 

So this has been my journey. It has changed my life and it has become a beacon of hope

for people across our country who have benefited from its resources.

 

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I would love to help you on your journey...come along with me,
I'LL SHOW YOU HOW. Contact me now!

 

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