I've lived all over the United States (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina) and in parts of Europe (I was born in London, England, and I've lived in Germany, too). When my dad, who served 20+ years in the US Air Force, was at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, we attended Calvary Baptist Church, and it was there at this church, under the leadership of Pastor Thorne, that God saved me.

After my dad retired from the Air Force, we moved to Sumter, South Carolina. Many of my life's most influential moments happened in South Carolina (e.g., I met and married my wife in SC, and all of our children were born in South Carolina), but I've now lived in Indian Head, Maryland, longer than I've lived anywhere else in my life.

I received my bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University (1988) in Ohio. My master's degree in teaching came from the University of South Carolina (1991). My ministry training came from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where I received both my Master of Divinity (2004) and my Doctor of Philosophy in Systematic Theology (2010).

I am the longest-serving senior pastor in the history of Potomac Heights Baptist Church. I've been the senior pastor here since January 1, 2012. In my free time, I also have the privilege to teach online at a large Christian university and seminary, and I also teach in person at a local seminary.

My hobbies include spending time with my wife of 30+ years, playing golf, and taking long walks with our dog.

Here's a fun fact about me. While I do almost all of my current preaching in English, I actually learned how to preach in German. My first dozen (or so) sermons were in German before I ever preached in English.

If you want to know more about my theology, I would ascribe to the following theological statements.

• The Baptist Faith and Message (2000)
• The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy
• The Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
• Together for the Gospel Affirmations and Denials
• The Gospel Coalition Confessional Statement
• The Nashville Statement
• The Abstract and Principles

Please note that members of PHBC are only required to affirm the Baptist Faith and Message (2000). If you have questions about any of these theological statements, I'd love to sit down and discuss them with you.

It is a pleasure to be with PHBC!  I joined PHBC's staff 10+ years ago.

I have been born again for 20+ years, given a new life in Christ after leaving the Jehovah's Witness cult I was born and raised in.  

My husband (also an ex-Jehovah's Witness) and I have two children, and we both enjoy raising them in the knowledge and love of the true Jesus.

I grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York. My Bachelors and Master of Divinity degrees were earned from Cairn University in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. I am married to my sweet wife, Ruth, and we have three daughters, Lucy, Moriah, and Zoe.