Email: goplantnow@gmail.com
The Journey
Life change and the ends of the earth
I was born and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I grew up in a Christian home and was active in church. However, it wasn’t until I was a sophomore in college that I got involved with a college ministry, Student Mobilization, and everything changed! God had fully captured my heart and my life has not been the same since.
I went on to graduate from the University of Arkansas (GO HOGS!) with a degree in Communication and married a beautiful and godly woman, Ashley. I eventually earned a Master’s of Divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Ashley and I then accepted a church planting assignment in Indonesia and God eventually added three beautiful daughters, Natalie, Jaina, and Lexi.
During our nine years in Indonesia, God performed an incredible work in our lives. With friends and family thousands of miles away, and all the comforts of America stripped away (we didn’t even have a KFC the first three years!), we learned deep a dependence upon God and surrender to His will in all things. God accomplished a thousand times more in us than we ever accomplished for Him!
As God led us to return to the U.S., we returned with an enduring love for large urban areas. On a vision tour through Atlanta in the spring of 2010, Ashley and I learned about the decline of Gospel-centered churches inside the I-285 Perimeter. There were literally dozens of churches that were thriving at one time but found themselves in steep decline. In particular, God burdened us with Clairmont Baptist, a once vibrant and growing church that was struggling to stay alive.
Since becoming the Pastor of Clairmont Baptist, God has been developing in me a heart for shepherding declining churches that need transformation through Gospel-centered expository preaching, revitalization, community engagement, and robust faith in God’s gracious plans. I’m continually learning that I must stay out of the boat if I want to walk on water.
Hope for our church
My greatest hope is that Clairmont Church will be passionate for God’s glory (“Your name and renown are the desire of our soul” Isaiah 26:8), gospel life change, sharing and investing their lives in others, and seeing our city and the world changed by the gospel. I also hope that I will continue to grow in depth and understanding of the glorious gospel of Christ.
Passions
Expository preaching, discipling/investing in men, taking the gospel to the nations, Arkansas Razorback sports, golf, and good coffee!