I grew up right here in Sunbury, Pennsylvania - well, the outskirts. I was raised in a very loving, church-going family. The church my family attended did not really preach the Gospel, so I grew up very good works oriented and I was rather self-righteous. Our youth group adviser became a “born again” Christian and shared we should place our faith in Jesus alone for salvation, and not in what good works we can do. I trusted Jesus in eighth grade at a youth retreat.
My faith grew in college at Bloomsburg University, as I became a small group Bible study leader in a campus fellowship group. I was able to mentor younger students individually and lead a larger group study each week. I also met my wife, Rebekah, at Bloomsburg my senior year. We married the following year and now have two wonderful kids, Megan and Micah. We attended Winfield Baptist Church for most of our married life.
Pastor Mitchel preached a sermon on church planting and his vision for Sunbury. We knew we were in as we were a bit restless to serve more. Not only did we leave our church family to start Sunbury City Church, but also, after a year, we felt led to sell our custom-built home on three acres in the country and move into town. We never looked back and love having neighbors to share with and minister too. We now host a missional community at our home and desire to reach our neighbors with Jesus.
My hope for the future can be found in part in Romans 12: 1-2:
2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
My desire is to pour out myself in service to God in view of the tremendous work He did for me on the cross. My desire is that many in Sunbury would learn the hope that Jesus offers, accept his unconditional love, repent of their sins and accept His salvation, and then turn and share their hope with others, thus repeating the cycle. All of this to the Glory of God.
