Leadership

Sinner, saved by grace. Indre’s Husband. Anele, Asta, Mia’s dad. Grampy for 5 kids. Believer for 38 years. 63 years old. Hoping to retire in 18 months (not that I'm counting).

I got saved in Xenos. I am a Home church leader currently and maybe 6-10 other times over the years. I've probably lead with maybe 20 other people in this fellowship at one point or another. If you ask around you can find somebody that I've lead with that knows me fairly well. I was an elder years ago for about 7 years.

I help lead Burden with Rich Hunter for the past 3 years. I am typically "glass is half full" guy. I absolutely believe God has His hand on our church. I want to help this body of Christ which I love.

I was raised in a non-religious home which prided itself on intellect and professional success, and where I learned to happily disdain Christians. Nevertheless, my worldview was full of holes and didn't satisfy. When I was 18, after a pick-up basketball game with some friends, I was invited to a Bible Study. For the first time, I heard the good news that Jesus offered to save me. And shortly before I left for college, I asked him to do just that. I am so glad I did. The "success" that he offers – significance, character change, knowing Him, loving relationships – continues to be better than I could have ever imagined. Today my wife, Heidi, and I help to lead a home Fellowship Group, I oversee the CT experience for Freedom Fellowships, and serve on the board of India Gospel League. I am a brand marketer by profession and have a B.A. in History from Wesleyan University and an M.B.A. from the Ohio State University. Heidi and I are the grateful parents of five children. I love to read and still make time to play pick-up basketball.

I grew up in a Catholic family but became agnostic after struggling with religious doctrine. In 1973, my perspective changed as I studied physics and saw the order in the universe. Watching The Exorcist also convinced me of a spiritual realm, leading me to seek God. In 1974, I gave my life to Christ. After marrying Connie in 1978, we moved to Columbus and joined the “Fish House” Bible study, later known as Xenos. In 1986, we moved to Cleveland to help plant a church, where I became an elder. We later served at Christ Community Chapel. Reconnecting with old friends led us back to Freedom Fellowships, where we are eager to serve and help the church. My faith remains strong, and I look forward to seeing how God moves in our lives and community.

I received Christ in 2010 as a freshman at Kent State University. I have been married to my wife Becca for six years, and we just welcomed our first child, Isaac, into the world this July.

Since 2021, my wife and I have led a homechurch alongside the Wemhoffs. I have been involved with youth ministry since 2012, and help lead Freedom Fellowships’ high school ministry. I work for India Gospel League North America, an indigenous-led ministry focused on planting churches and bringing the holistic transformation of the gospel to rural South Asia. Through my work I have also had the opportunity to connect with and learn from many believers, leaders, and pastors from other churches and denominations.

In my time as a Christian, the Lord has taught me more and more about His grace, mercy, and kindness towards me despite my failings and fallings.

I grew up in a traditional Lutheran Church, but it wasn’t until high school that I came to know Christ personally and began my relationship with him. My love for reaching people for Jesus and teaching the Bible started during my college years at Kent State University, where I was involved in Identity Project, our college Bible study. I graduated with a degree in Computer Science and later went on to earn my Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS).

In May 2022, I started as an Associate Pastor at Freedom Fellowships. I love getting to teach the Bible, mentor college students, and work on our church’s technology and website projects. It’s been an incredible blessing to work in a role that aligns with my passions. I do all of this with the support of my wife, Anele, and our two daughters, Joy and Noel. In my spare time, I enjoy lifting weights, playing chess, and keeping up with Christian books, apologetics, and web development.

Growing up, I was apathetic towards God and confused on what to believe. It took until my senior year of high school near Columbus, Ohio to be introduced to the idea of grace and to hear about the potential of full and permanent forgiveness through Jesus. Once I accepted him as my savior, my life transformed for the better. I am still amazed by the free and wonderful gift of salvation that Jesus offers to sinners like me. I graduated from Kent State University in 2013 and have since taught high school English. I also have a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) and am happily married to my wife, Elli. We are parents of two young sons and together we help lead the college ministry. I have a passion for reading, writing, sports (especially basketball), and helping others learn.

I grew up having a great foundation knowing that God exists. I just did not have a personal relationship with Him. The gospel message that Jesus' death on the cross covers all my sins past, present, and future was appealing to me. I wanted a real relationship with God, my sins to be forgiven, and have the assurance of knowing where I would go after death. I came to Christ in 2006 through the high school ministry at Freedom Fellowships. Since then, I have co-led various middle school, high school, college, and post-college sphere fellowship groups. I currently oversee the service ministries in Freedom Fellowships and co-lead a family sphere fellowship group. I graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in Interpersonal Communication in 2012 and now work for a financial institution. I sit on the advisory board for Joni and Friends Ohio and serve as a volunteer coordinator for their yearly family retreats where we serve families affected by disability. In my spare time I enjoy watching movies, playing video games, kayaking, and collecting Marvel Comics merchandise. My wife, Laura, and I live in the Kent area and are eagerly awaiting news from our adoption agency to have an opportunity to be parents.