I am 40(2007) years old and grew up in rural east Tennessee. From 1985-1989 I attended the University of Memphis where I received a BBA in Management. After college I lived and worked in Chattanooga, TN in the metal service center industry. In 1992 my work brought me to the Greenville, SC area. In 1995, I began full-time church work as Director of Youth & Evangelism at Memorial UMC in Greer, SC. In 1998, I was appointed as pastor of Harmony UMC in Ware Shoals. The Lord (and the Bishop) brought us to Columbia and Wesley Memorial in 2002. Our shared ministry, as pastor and parish, is going very well. The Lord is richly blessing us. I love being here. My hobbies include reading, camping, hiking, movies, computers, homemade barbecue (and sauces/rub), Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and all things firefighting.

I am a Chaplain with the Columbia Fire & Rescue Services. This is a volunteer position that is a wonderful outreach ministry. It is also very re-creational for me. God has enabled me to serve both my community and those who put their lives on the line for the community. I enjoy the camaraderie with the fire department personnel and trying to help my neighbors in the midst of tragedy and loss. I occasionally run fire or rescue calls and if I am “in the house” when the call goes out I grab a ride on that big red truck (isn’t that every boy’s dream?). The men and women of the fire department are very committed—the embodiment of courage, sacrifice, duty, and honor. It is a privilege to be associated with them. For the fire department personnel a chaplain represents both God’s presence and the community’s appreciation. For persons in the community a chaplain can provide an ear to listen with empathy, a shoulder on which to cry, an arm for a loving embrace, a voice of care and compassion, a hand to reach out in friendship, and a knee for faithful prayer.

Theologically I am a Methodist in the tradition of John Wesley. I am steeped in the heritage of pietism, and I have been strongly influenced—as Wesley was—by the breadth and depth of the Christian Tradition. I am not a pastor who is blown to-and-fro by the winds of fad—the latest trend in modern theology. Due to educational background and personal interest, my personal systematic theology is well developed. This influences every aspect of my daily living, teaching, preaching, and ministry. I believe that evangelism—reaching the lost, making disciples—is the central mission of the Church. There are two primary themes or images that direct me in ministry—pastor and pastor-teacher. The former reminds us of the example of our Savior and Lord. It shows that ministry is about the life we live and share with those in our parish. The latter directs us toward methodology, serving as a guide for carrying out ministry.

 Thank you for taking the time to find out more about our church (and me). Please join us for worship or another activity. I hope that you will share in the Life with us soon.- Michael