A well-known theologian was once asked what he had learned in all his years of theological study. He replied, “Jesus loves me, this I know.” It has been my thrill to know this love my whole life. My mom taught me about Jesus’ love when I was a little boy.  Our lives were full of uncertainty after my father died when I was 22 months old, but one thing we never doubted was the love of God we experienced over and over again.  In fact, one of the songs my mom and I sang often was “Isn’t the Love of Jesus Something Wonderful.”

It was because I knew Jesus loved me I went to Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri to prepare for the ministry. After graduating with a BA in Bible, I accepted the call to be youth pastor at Fairfax Assembly of God (now Centrepointe Church). For 7 years I was blessed with one of the most fun jobs imaginable, sharing God’s love in creative, crazy ways and experiencing the passionate way students responded to Jesus’ love.

It was during these youth pastoring days I was invited by friends to dinner in their home to meet a girl named Kimberly. I will never forget that night. The lasagna was great and I ate lasagna like I had never eaten it before. And my friends say I talked to this girl like I had never talked to a girl before. Before long, the love God had already placed in my heart developed in a new way - the way of a man toward a young woman. The writer of Proverbs said this kind of love was too amazing for him to understand. And I have been enjoying the love of this amazing woman of God for more than 30 years now.

After serving as youth pastor for 7 years at Fairfax AG, Kimberly and I felt God leading me back to school to work on a Master’s in Theological Studies.  After completing my degree we accepted a call to pastor a church in Columbia, Maryland where we shared God’s love for another 7 years. It was in Columbia the Lord again poured out his love by giving us two beautiful daughters, Lauren and Jocelyn, who are both now in their 20s and married. It has been one of the best things in my life to watch my two daughters discover God’s love and grow in it. In 2021, our family welcomed our first grandson! Some people say you won't be around me long without hearing about baby Dawson!

Since 1999, Kimberly and I have been blessed to be able to share God’s love here in Alexandria, Virginia, not too far from where I was born, with the people of Faith Fellowship and the surrounding community. When I was a boy Jesus’ love grew in my heart as I sang songs of his love. As a man, I keep experiencing what St. Augustine must have experienced when he said, “O Lord, thou didst strike my heart with thy Word and I loved thee.” Over and over again as I read, study and preach God’s word he strikes my heart and I know Jesus loves me again. My mission is to share the wonderful love of Jesus with as many people as I can. It would be my great joy to share that love with you.