Role within the church
Elder and assistant pastor and a part-time web and graphic designer.
Family
Married my Annie in August 2001. We don’t have any children unless you count the number of church teenagers around our house at various nights in the week!
Testimony
I wasn’t born into a Christian family. My mother became a Christian just after I was born – she too was from a completely un-churched family. From a very young age I accompanied her to church and soon joined the Sunday School programme and mid-week youth work. I absolutely loved it. I fast became a Sunday school swat and knew my bible and the stories within very well for a pre-teen! I was also shown a great deal of love and acceptance by teachers and leaders which made the experience so appealing that it felt like an extension of being with family. Although I had a lot of head knowledge about the bible, I don’t think at that time it had yet reached my heart. Following the death of my grandma (the first death I had ever experienced) I suddenly became absolutely fearful of death and the grave. For weeks I remember nights lying in bed, crying, in absolute fear for me and all I loved. A few months later I went to listen to Billy Graham preach at an event headed ‘Mission England’. It was there where suddenly the simple preaching of the gospel reached my heart. I realised that it was because of my sin that death was in this world. I realised that Jesus came to take the ultimate punishment for sin when he died on the cross and rose again on the third day. At that moment, Jesus became my real-life super-hero. I fled to him for forgiveness of my sins and eternal life.
Interests
I am not really into team sports but I am an avid follower of NFL American Football which allows me to enjoy a team sport in the company of the minority! When I get the time I really love to surf and to skate. I am a big fan of retro TV: Dukes of Hazzard is one of my favourites. When I get time I like to catch the occasional episode of King of Queens and The Gadget Show. Love anything to do with music and am currently listening to a lot of Sufjan Stevens.
Favourite scripture
That just depends! The Word of God is so versatile, that my favourite verse depends on what I am facing in life. At the moment, I am finding blessing through Jesus’ words in John 14:3: “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Favourite place on this planet
I really love big, built up, urban cities. New York and London are two of my favourites. Then again, the Swiss Mountains in Isenfluh this year with our Young Peoples’ Camp France Retreat gave me a great sense of closeness to the majesty and mighty of my creator God.
