I grew up in Decatur, Alabama dreaming of playing college football for the Bear. A broken elbow in my throwing arm ended that dream or was that divine intervention? I gave my life to Christ at 16. Almost immediately I sensed the calling to ministry. The call was “confirmed” when I was named Youth Pastor for Youth Sunday. My first sermon was the Sunday after my High School senior prom. Yes I went to prom and discovered that dancing is not great sermon preparation. I still admire that minister who trusted us with the whole worship service. The church of my baptism licensed me for ministry in 1976 and Ordained me in 1978.
I graduated from Samford University in Birmingham in 1980 and attended the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (back when it was approved.) M.Div in 1982. I was a Ph.D. candidate in Historical Theology until 1985. The United Methodist Church trusted me with ministry to people. I began this pilgrimage as a Youth Minister at the Algiers United Methodist Church. I was then hired by the Methodist Home Hospital in New Orleans as a Night Supervisor before being appointed to the Aurora United Methodist Church as the Associate Pastor, all this while still attending the Baptist Seminary.
I’m too old for vices but I have hobbies. I am a weather nerd. I have backyard weather stations in Natchitoches and Gibsland and I have subscriptions to professional weather services. Right now the jonquils are blooming in Gibsland. I also remodeled a house and when my in-laws moved in I remodeled the remodeled house to make it handicapped accessible.
I have been married to Tamara for 30 years. Tamara is the Vice President in charge of HR for Gibsland Bank and Trust. We have two children, Allison and Andrew. We have two grandsons, Emerson and Solo. I also have two rescue dogs, Dora and Katie.