The Mission Phoenix

Originally from Dearborn, Michigan, I have been a Christian and a member of LCMS congregations my whole life.  I attended public school through high school, then attended Concordia College (Ann Arbor), receiving an AA (1982) and BA (1984).  Upon graduation from Concordia College, I married my wife Liisa (nee Mattson), and enrolled at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne.  I graduated from CTS in 1988 (M.Div.) and was placed by the Board of Assignments into my first call: evangelistic missionary to Venezuela.

The Tinos as new missionaries - Maturin, Venezuela

I served in Venezuela from 1988 - 2001.  Along the way, our four children were born - the first in the US, and the other three in Venezuela.  I worked as a member of missionary teams, first in the city of Maturin and surrounding rural areas, and then in the city of Barquisimeto.  My primary responsibilities were church planting and leadership formation.  I eventually became a regional missionary supervisor in Venezuela, and also served for three years as a consultant to the Lutheran Church of Argentina for urban church planting.

In July 2000, LCMS World Mission called me to serve as Area Director for Venezuela and the Caribbean.  From September 2000 - July 2001, I served a dual role as both missionary and Area Director, living in Venezuela.  In July 2001, LCMS WM relocated me to Miami to better serve the region.  I continued as Area Director until LCMS WM terminated the position in December 2003. (Read related story, Why I Am No Longer A Missionary).

After my position with LCMS WM was terminated, I found myself in the Miami area with my children, who were in the midst of a difficult adjustment to the USA, and without a call.  God graciously provided me with a call to a mission church, New Life Lutheran Church in Miramar, FL.  I have served New Life as pastor / mission developer since April 2004.

While serving overseas and also stateside, I enrolled in the PhD in missiology program at CTS - Ft. Wayne.  I was awarded a PhD. in Missiology in August 2009.  In order to help make ends meet, I teach part-time as an adjunct faculty member of Trinity International University, South Florida campus.