My journey is too long to write about in this page but I will start by saying that I was a layman in the early 1950's in a church called the Little Brown Church of the Valley in North Hollywood, CA. It was there that I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and there I became involved in the life of the church. I was also the part time custodian while I worked at my regular job as an auto mechanic. Later, I became interested in teaching Sunday School and eventually became a youth leader. By this time, I realized that I needed to begin some special training in Christian Education since I was a high school dropout though I had completed a GED while in the military. In short, I began my education in a Bible College in Los Angeles not to become a pastor but simply to receive some training. It turned out that I felt a call and continued in school. Later, I transferred to Phillips University in Enid, OK and completed my M.Div in 1963.

I served two churches in the Oklahoma City area and in 1967 joined the Army where I stayed for five years. I was released in 1972 while at Fort Benning, GA at which time I came to Savannah to Pastor the Southside Christian Church. Meanwhile, I remained in the military with the Reserve Components and ministered to local troops except for the last five years when I served as a hospital chaplain. In 1976, I resigned and took a job with a local alcohol treatment clinic as a part time chaplain. Later, this became a full time counseling job and within two years, I became the clinical director. In our Disciple structure, I was recognized as a Minister of Counseling by the Office of the Chaplaincy in Indianapolis. The work was deeply satisfying though at times very difficult.

Early in 1991, I retired both from the military and from Clinical work. I gave the military 28 years of service and the clinic credited me with 20 years. And though I thought I was done with a career and that I would now take it easy, I found that the Lord had something else in mind.

Late in 1991, I went with Dr. Carstensen to Siberia to visit churches that were asking for help. Since I spoke the Russian language, I found myself very comfortable in that country. I also found a new calling to provide Biblical literature and curriculum to needy churches, and also to share the expertise that I had in clinical practice treating alcoholics and drug addicts. In short, I found myself providing pastoral care training to Pastors, lay people, and any who were interested in helping those church members who had family or friends who affected by chemical dependency. Over the past 8 years, my team has been into more than 9 cities to conduct our work in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our latest work is with children in the St. Petersburg area in northwestern Russia.

As I write this narrative, I am getting ready to depart from Savannah to Irkutsk, Siberia and to Erevan, Armenia to conduct another mission. Keep in mind I am not a paid missionary but the rewards are fantastic! Praise the Lord for His Goodness!