Praise Temple Assembly of God
Alcoa, Tennessee 37701
865-983-1765

• Education: 3 1/2 years toward a BA in Theology and currently attending school full time to get a degree in Social Work.
• Experience: I am a retired Army veteran (21 years) and I came into the ministry as soon as I left the military in 1993. I have served as as Associate Pastor for a large rural church I pastored a small country church in Louisiana.
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: Please look at the heart of the message not just the words. Sometimes I use too many words but I always try to make a specific point.
• Sermon or series that made a difference: I don’t have a special sermon that made a difference but everytime I hear a sermon about the crucifixtion or the blood my faith is reaffirmed.
• One of my favorite illustrations: I like the illustraion about the pastor’s son who was told to wash his hands before dinner. The little boy replied "Jesus and germs, Jesus and germs. That is all I hear around this house and I haven’t seen either one of them Yet!"
• Family: I’ve been married 25 years to a beautiful Korean who loves God more than anyone I ever seen. I have one daughter (17) who is an accomplished pianist and loves any type of Christian music. I also have one son (22) in the Air Force and married.
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: Sometimes she, in her desire to see the best, can really be critical but without her honesty I could never improve.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: Effective preaching comes from three places: The Bible - The heart - Life Experiences. Always preach the Word not opinions. Never preach againist your convictions and if you can relate your life’s experiences then you have an effective sermon people can realte to.
• Books that have had an impact: Jesus Among other gods by Ravi Zacharias. Any Brother Ravi writes is well worth the reading.
• Hobbies: Fishing & any type of running/jogging.
• If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: Jeus loves you more than you could ever know
• Something funny that happened while preaching: I was at my first pastorate and while preaching one of my first messages I kept hearing this very high pitched ringing in my ears. I couldn’t figure it out and it bothered me through the entire service. After the service I asked my wife, "Did you hear that?" She said yes but we couldn’t figure it out and one of those attending overheard our conversation and laughed and said, "That was Bro ___ hearing aid. He turns it up to high sometimes when he really wants to hear whats going on!"
• What I want on my tombstone: He’s now singing that song the angels could not sing! Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb!