I spent most of my younger childhood in Charlotte (after being born in Salisbury and living briefly in Waynesville). A Baptist church was built only a block from my home and our family began attending soon after it started having service and became active in the life of Shamrock Drive Baptist Church. I was a Royal Ambassador, singer in preschool, children, and youth choirs, a preschool choir director (while I was still in Junior High) and a member of the puppet team.

During high school my family moved to Rich Square in rural eastern North Carolina. There I became the pianist-organist for Lasker Baptist Church and worked closely with the youth program.

I began East Carolina University in 1983 as a Communication major with a minor in English. However, I often said I majored in BSU (Baptist Student Union). The BSU became my college family where I attended Bible studies, fellowships, and served on the Council. During the summers I worked a variety of mission jobs in Miami Beach, Florida; as part of the Apostoloi Team through the Wilimington Baptist Association; and with Resort Area Missions in Boone; and as a Photojournalist for the North Carolina Baptist State Convention.

For two-and-a-half years during my undergraduate years, I served as Youth Minister at Piney Grove Baptist Church in the Farm Life Community near Wiliamston. Piney Grove is the home of The Message
of Easter, an annual outdoor drama portraying the final days of Christ's life. In my 10 years of performances I played everything from a cart merchant, disciple, thief on the cross, and the man Peter denies to just before the rooster crows. This character led to one eventful evening when I was pushed into a wall resulting in breaking a 4x4 supporting the Upper Room and a trip to the Emergency Room for me.

I also had the chance to perform in several productions at ECU and in the Greenville area. My freshman year I was a soldier in Jesus Christ Superstar and two years later I starred as the "Bear" to Sandara Bullock's "Tiger Lilly" in Peter Pan. In the past couple of years I have become very active with area community theatre, performing and directing in Greenville, Farmville, and Ayden.

After graduating in 1987, and a brief stint working in retail at Rose's department store, I returned to Greenville and ECU to earn a Master's of Arts in Technical Communication and created the first computerized writing classroom at ECU. In 1988 I began attending Oakmont, home of Greg Rogers, whom I had met when we were both Youth Ministers. I soon became active in the music program as a Chancel Choir member, Children's Choir leader, and volunteer pianist and organist. I was also a leader with the youth ministry, working with Bible studies and mission trips. In later years I become heavily involved with the Revelation Players, acting in the first Dinner Theater, and sharing the directing, writing, and acting responsibilities with a talented group of folks.

My current position is my fourth paid position at Oakmont. One summer I was Church Secretary filling in for the secretary who was on maternity leave. I was also the Interim Minister of Music (before Michael McKnight arrived), a position that was originally supposed to be for four weeks and lasted 13 months. I also shard the Organist position for several months, along with Karen Meetze.

In 1997, while working as a Lecturer in the English Department at ECU, I felt God calling me into another facet of ministry. I began attending Campbell University Divinity School in 1998 as a member of the third class of that new school. After graduating in 2002, Oakmont had a need for an additional minister with skills in areas I was gifted.

At Oakmont I work with the Technical Ministries team behind the scenes to provide the lighting, sound, multi-media, and television aspects of our church's ministry. I also work with the various drama groups (Revelation Players, the youth's Genesis Players, and children's musicals) in producing dramas for our worship services and special events. In addition, I work with various groups for the visual aspects of our worship spaces such as flowers and sacred spaces.