PASSIONS
Discipleship
To me, discipleship means the process of becoming more like Jesus for the glory of God. As a Pastor, this is my highest priority. Discipleship is the purpose of everything the Church is called to believe and do. It grows out of genuine worship, prayer, and the proclamation of the Gospel. It shapes our pursuit of Christian community and fuels our commitment to embody God’s hope, mercy, peace, and love in the world. It compels us to share the Gospel and invite others to trust in Christ. Every believer is called to this lifelong journey, and no one is meant to walk it alone. It is personal, relational, biblical, cross-centered, and all-encompassing. Discipleship isn’t aimed at behavior modification. It is about the Holy Spirit forming a new identity in us, one marked by Christlike values and desires. As a Pastor, I believe I must first model this life and then equip those I shepherd to do the same, because discipleship is reproductive - it multiplies by the Spirit’s power. As Paul told Timothy, “What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well” (2 Timothy 2:2).
Preaching
and
Teaching
My first love in ministry has always been preaching and teaching. I preached my first sermon at the age of fifteen in my childhood church, and since then, I’ve had the privilege of preaching in a variety of settings, across different Christian traditions, and using diverse styles. Whether in the pulpit or the classroom, I find great joy in exploring the wisdom of Scripture, inviting people into its truth, helping them encounter God’s love, and awakening in them a deeper desire to grow in faith. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). I believe that all preaching and teaching in the Church must be both cross-centered and Christ-centered. This means consistently proclaiming to new and mature believers alike the necessity of the cross for our salvation and the power of Christ to transform us. As Paul also said, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:19–20).
Outreach
Followers of Jesus are called to bear witness to the Gospel through both words (evangelism) and actions (love and mercy). Jesus taught that Christians are to be the salt in a tasteless world and the light in life’s darkest places. This is the heart of outreach - all the ways in which congregations are sent beyond their walls to proclaim the Gospel to the world. Francis of Assisi is often quoted as saying, “Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.” While this phrase is sometimes misused to suggest that evangelism is less important than simply doing good works in the name of Christ, I believe a more biblical understanding is this: our efforts to share the Gospel will ring hollow if they aren’t accompanied by genuine love for our neighbors. C.S. Lewis once wrote in Mere Christianity, “Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.” As a Pastor, I believe one of my key responsibilities is to raise the rallying cry of the Church to respond to its mission: to love our neighbors (the Great Commandment) and to make disciples (the Great Commission).
Leadership
Development
The growth of leaders within the Church is essential to its overall health. That’s why, in my pastoral leadership, I place a high priority on creating a culture that values and encourages leadership development. As a Pastor, I believe it's important for me to model a commitment to growing as a leader - not just in words, but through ongoing effort and example. Christian leadership is distinct in that it reflects the character of Jesus Christ, marked by humility, selflessness, love, and deeply committed to truth. With this in mind, I’ve worked to cultivate a culture of leadership growth in both formal settings (such as in Session meetings, staff supervision, and leadership development groups) and informal ways (including one-on-one conversations, words of affirmation and encouragement, and by striving to lead in a way that visibly models these values).