I grew up on a dairy farm in northern Wisconsin. I was drawn to Christ through a Bible study in Romans when I was 17.
Brenda grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota. We met in college at the UW-Eau Claire. We were both in IVCF and members of Salem Baptist Church. We got closer through a Bible study I lead. We were wed in 1979.
God has blessed us with two children, daughter, Kate and son, Kyle. In 2012, Kyle and Vanessa married. As of 2020, they have three sons and one on the way. Brenda and I are thrilled to have all of them as part of Franklin Street. We are delighted with how God has worked and is working in them and through them.
I have a BS in Elementary Education from the UW-Eau Claire, an MDiv from Bethel Theological Seminary, and a ThM in Old Testament from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Dr. John Sailhamer had a massive influence on my understanding of the Bible and how to interpret the Bible.
I was blessed to be part of an apprenticeship program through Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN from 1986 through 1988. Pastor John Piper also had a huge effect on my theology, Bible interpretation, and pastoral ministry.
Beginning in 1988, I have served in four churches; as senior pastor in a rural church, as associate pastor in Clifton Baptist here in Louisville, then as pastor of Grace Church, a daughter church sent out by Clifton. In 2010, Grace merged with Franklin Street Baptist to form our current congregation.