My first real taste of the love and mercy of God came when I was in high school. Immediately I wanted to others to experience the same love and value as a person. Shortly after I started college at the University of Cincinnati, but moved back to Columbus to learn to do non-professional ministry. Carolyn and I met and married in Columbus, joined a church-plant team, and moved back to Cincinnati in 1987, where we still live. We have raised three children in Cincinnati- Lauren, David, and Jenny. Now we are also blessed with 4 grandchildren.

At Ohio State two of my roommates were refugees from SE Asia, and they were my first international friends. In Cincinnati, I participated in a Chinese-English Bible study, and eventually volunteered for IFI in different capacities before joining IFI staff in 2016.

I started a business in 2002 to allow more flexibility in my schedule to be involved in ministry, which eventually led me to devote the majority of my time doing International Student ministry.