I met this girl named Michele in 7th grade who I began dating in 10th grade and married immediately after graduation. This girl was and is a true example of what it means to be a Christian. She introduced me to having a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. As my own relationship with the Lord began to develop I realized that God was calling me to reach out to people with this same message of His love and willingness to forgive sins and to bring meaning and purpose into life.
I was involved back in 1973 in starting a small group bible study, a church softball league, a church basketball league and a weekly outreach into this community. God was calling me into full time ministry but I need to be equipped and prepared to do what I was being called to do.
After being married for three years my wife and I left Charlotte to attend Bible College and later Seminary to become better equipped for this calling that God had put on my heart. There were many trips home to visit family and friends but back in 1990 the Lord opened the door for my wife and three children to come back to this community where God first called me to minister to the lost and hurting people.
In June of 1995 I had the privilege of becoming the pastor of a small group of believers that are now called New Hope Community Church. The Lord has blessed me with being able to pursue the calling of reaching this community that He placed in my heart over 40 years ago. For the last 19 years I have now been in the position of preaching, teaching and equipping the people of this community so that they might continue the task of reaching others with the message of hope and forgiveness that comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
So to answer the question, I became a pastor because that is what God asked me to do. I love what I do and I love the people of this community. It is my prayer that all my come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.