What do you see as priorities in your new job?
If elected to the office of elder at Grace Community Church I would want to spend time with other elders, pastors and staff listening and learning about the vision and plans already in place. Having served as your treasurer for about a year, I am familiar with some of your financial needs and I have served in that area before but I am open to the needs of Grace and how God may use me in this, my new church home.
What inspired you to take on this responsibility?
Grace Church has been a blessing to my wife and me. Just when we thought we would have a hard time finding a new church in a new community and a new state, God proved Himself faithful to me again. After retiring and moving to North Carolina and finding Grace, I have been delighted to meet such humble servants of Christ and am eager to serve alongside them. It was a privilege to be on the Session in my former church and although there were many hard circumstances during those years (for the church) it was there that I learned how important unity among the Session is and how special is the bond of men who serve in His name.
What is about it that gets your blood flowing?
Grace’s future will be exciting because of the godly servant-leadership already in place and the spiritual maturity of the young men and women who are already serving or are preparing to serve and lead Grace in the future.
What person has had the most influence on your life?
My wife has had the most influence on my life. Her wise counsel and walk with Christ has been an encouragement and joy to me. Her love for me helps me to understand Christ’s love for each of us.
Who are your heroes?
I count among my heroes some former pastors and teachers many of whom are good friends. Foremost was Dianne’s elderly aunt (Boo) who passed away last year. Her daily walk was an amazing testimony to me. She was a teacher who, like Dianne, loved people and loved Jesus. She began a prison ministry at age 65 and continued in it until she died at age 93. Former students of hers including Sunday school students where she taught for 67 years and who loved her dearly because she reflected God’s love for them.
What are your favorite movies?
My favorite movies are: “Chariots of Fire,” “The Red Violin,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “You’ve Got Mail” and Harrison Ford adventure-type movies.
What cartoon character do you most relate to?
I have not read many cartoons since I was a kid, but my wife often brings to me clippings of “Cathy” dealing with mother--daughter issues. They are very relevant to some of our real-life situations with our daughters. I especially can relate to the ones that come out at tax time when Cathy meets with her accountant who usually calls her to task for overspending.
What do you do to unwind and de-stress?
My favorite unwinding activities are to either sit out on the deck with a good book looking at the mountains or to sit under a Tiki hut umbrella on the beach and read while listening to the ocean. I love to read and to be outside. I also like to hike.
How did you find your way to Grace?
A contractor we met while looking for property here told us about Grace. He did not attend Grace but he knew about it. We attended as visitors a few times and received audio tapes so we could become more familiar with Dave and the church. We knew almost immediately that Grace was the place for us even though it was very different from our former church.
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