about

leader

Senior Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran. Led church in Transforming Churches Network including transition to policy-based governance, Developed and implemented a re-vitalized Mission-Vision-Values.

Campus Pastor, Concordia Irvine. Developed first comprehensive campus ministry including community and global outreach, Launched Abbey West.

Founding Lead Missionary, Central Europe Outreach. Developed and taught workshops for Christian educators in post-communist Hungary, Developed and led summer outreach camps for youth ages 12-18

Active Community Leader. Involved in TURN (Today’s Urban Renewal Network), Faith-in-Motion (a government/non-profit partnership serving foster children), Riverside Chambers of Commerce

author

“Modern Reformation.” Lutheran Witness, October 2010.

“Hack the Shack?” Lutheran Witness, May 2009. Article reviewing Paul Young’s The Shack. Awarded FIRST PLACE by the Evangelical Press Association for a Critical Review.

Heroes of Faith: Quiet Opportunities. St. Louis: CPH, 2001. A six-part Bible study on characters in the Bible who found quiet opportunities to serve their Lord.

Life of Jesus: Teachings. St. Louis: CPH, 2000. A twelve-part Bible Study on the Sermon on the Mount.

Forward in Faith. St. Louis: CPH, 1998. 20 Bible studies written for 20-Somethings, focusing on such life issues as Materialism, Politics, Faith and Reason.

Men in Relationship. St. Louis: CPH, 1997. A six-part Bible Study for men, focusing on building Christ-centered relationships.

“Something Missing.” Orange County Register, April 1999. Article on the role of evil in the Columbine shootings.

speaker

National Educators Conference: The Shepherding Teacher

National Youth Workers Conference: Trustworthy Sayings

WALI National Conference: Worship as Discipleship

PSW Youth Gathering: Gotchya Covered

PSW Administrators Conference: Chosen!

professor

Homiletics: The Art of Speaking God’s Word (Masters Course)

A Theology of Worship (Masters Course)

Foundations of Christianity

Witness and Evangelism: Sharing and Showing the Gospel

Models of Ministry: Effective Means of Being the Church

i am passionate about communicating Christ, whether as a preacher, teacher, speaker, or writer. my beautiful wife kim and i have five sons (and one precious daughter-in-law!). i have been in full-time ministry for 25 years and created this website on my sabbatical in 2016.

i enjoy (in no particular order):

following football (as in soccer -- la galaxy and fc bayern münchen)
sipping red wine (especially zinfandel and brunello)
playing tennis, riding trail bikes, working out
reading for faith (bible/journals) and for fun (historical fiction)
dressing smart (you'll hardly ever see me in sweats & a t-shirt)
listening to great music (anything from indie to classical)
being creative

info

senior pastor

immanuel lutheran church and school

5455 alessandro blvd, riverside, ca 92506