I grew up in several small towns around Roseburg, Oregon and eventually graduated in 1992 from Sutherlin High School. After taking two years of Electrical Engineering courses at Oregon State University, I switched to a music degree and graduated in 1997 with a B.S. in Music, emphasis: teaching, principal instrument: trombone. The summer of 1997 was particularly eventful, as I graduated from college, got commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force, got married, took a 2-week honeymoon to Hawaii, moved to Anchorage, began my first job, and bought my first house!

I met Elise, my wife-to-be, in my first, and her last music theory class. We didn’t begin dating for more than a year, but really enjoyed music, ministry and other activities together throughout our last 2 years of college. We now have four kids: Azure (Nov 2000), Gideon (Feb 2002), Charis [káhr • is] (Aug 2004), and Judah (Jul 2006).

Job & Ministry Experience:

- Summer of 1992 – Youth Intern, Sutherlin Family Church; Sutherlin, OR

- 1992-1997 – College Ministry volunteer worship leader, Northwest Hills Baptist Church; Corvallis, OR

- Summer of 1996 – Musical Mission Trip with Carpenter’s Tools, Int’l.; Brisbane, Australia

- 1997-2001 – Supply Officer, United States Air Force; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, AK

- 1998-2000 – started and led Young Couples ministry; Faith Christian Community, Anchorage, AK

- 2000-2001 – volunteer worship leader for Faith Christian Community, Anchorage, AK

- 2001-present – Pastor of Music & Worship; Faith Christian Community, Anchorage, AK