What does your job involve?
I lead worship for the 10:45 service as well as participate on the team that facilitates worship throughout the church.
Where were you born and raised?
Jonesboro, Arkansas.
How large is the family you grew up in?
I’m the youngest of four. I have two sisters and a brother. My closest sibling is 11 years older than me.
When did you first get involved in music?
I was born into a musical family. My mom plays keyboards. My brother plays bass and my two sisters play guitar. My dad plays just about everything else. By the time I was five, they needed a drummer, so I started playing drums in the family band. I then started picking up on keyboards and my dad taught me the guitar, which is my main instrument now.
When and how did you come to know Christ?
When I was about 9, I went to Vacation Bible School and accepted Christ. But it wasn’t until about 10th grade that our church got a new youth pastor who began encouraging us to make our faith a lifestyle and not just a Sunday-only thing. That’s when my faith took hold and I really began growing.
What was the first job you ever had?
I’m sure it had something to do with mowing the lawn. Also, we had a small farm with chickens and pigs, and also a garden with tomatoes and okra, which I picked and sold.
Where did you go to college?
Arkansas State University, where I majored in history.
Why didn’t you major in music?
When I went to the Music Department, they told me that the course requirements were pretty much seven days a week. But, I was on the road with by band quite a bit already and realized I wouldn’t have the time to do both.
When did you start playing music in front of people?
I was already leading worship for my youth group, then a new youth pastor came (following the one who encouraged us to make our faith a lifestyle). He was very connected with different Baptist circles in Arkansas. He would lead retreats and conferences and take me with him to lead worship. These conferences usually had four or five youth pastors attending, then they would go back to their own churches to lead retreats. These pastors would call me to lead worship. It was a snowball effect that started in high school and grew in college.
Have you ever served in the military?
No, but I wish I had. For quite a while now, I’ve gone to Germany to lead worship at chapel services. I have a lot of respect for those who serve us in the military.
How did you get involved with leading worship overseas?
I did a revival at International Baptist Church in Stuttgart, Germany. While I was there I made contact with several military chaplains and other pastors. After that we started going over about twice a year playing for military bases and other IBC churches.
How do you like playing overseas?
I love it. I think the audiences in Europe are a little hungrier [spiritually]. There aren’t the big crowds like here in the States. But they’re ready. They love God but generally don’t have the opportunity [for live worship music] because of limited resources. And to have had the opportunity to look in the soldiers’ eyes and hear them talk about their love for their country and hear the sacrifice they’ve made is incredibly inspiring.
When and to whom did you marry?
I married Jill Johnson in August of 1996.
How many children do you have?
Two, a girl and a boy.
How did you get into ministry?
When I was 16 or 17, I started leading worship for my youth group. Throughout college I began getting opportunities to play more and more, and by the time I was married, I was on the road and doing it full-time. I started the band in 1999 and traveled with them until 2005 when I accepted a full-time position at Highpoint Church in Memphis.
Besides Germany, have you ever done any long- or short-term mission work?
A few years ago, I went with a group to Brazil. We went into schools, played music and invited them to a big evangelistic event where we went through the crowd and talked to people. They were teenagers who loved American-type music and were very responsive. It was a great experience.
Where else have you served?
In 1997 I traveled for a year leading worship with [First Orlando artist-in-resident] Al Denson. Then, in 2000, we decided to move to Memphis because two of the three members of the band lived near there. I served part-time in Forest Hill Community Church in Memphis. I also served full-time at High Point Church in Memphis as the Worship Pastor.
What brought you to First Orlando?
Around 2002, when [First Orlando Senior Pastor] David Uth and [First Orlando Pastor of Worship/Event Coordination] Jon Marks were at First Baptist Church of West Monroe [Louisiana], they invited me to lead worship at their student camp. I did, and they had me back the next few years. When they came here, they invited me to Camp Orlando. I think we had a great rapport with each other and connected in a cool way. So, when they mentioned the possibility of me coming to work with them on a regular basis, of course I was thrilled.
What was the turning point of your life?
It was the decision I made to go into ministry. It was at a time when I was trying to figure out what I was going to do. I had a strong desire to pursue music and ministry, but wasn’t sure if it was God’s direction or my own selfishness. That whole process of seeking God’s face was a huge point in my life of understanding God’s will.
What is your favorite verse?
1 Timothy 1:12: “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service.” The day I read that, the light came on and I knew the Lord was calling me into ministry. It helped me understand that God didn’t want my ability as a singer or musician or songwriter — he wanted my faithfulness. It’s something I still try to keep in the forefront of my mind.
What do you like most about your job?
I like being part of a team, being able to lock arms and develop relationships with people who have the same goal—leading people to Christ and helping people to connect their hearts with Him.
What do you like to do with your free time?
I dance with my daughter, wrestle with my son and try to find enough time to take my wife out. Other activities I enjoy are snow skiing, racquetball, mountain biking, camping and hiking.
If you weren’t in the ministry, what else would you be doing?
I’d probably be in the military.
Is there something about you people would be surprised to learn?
I can speak German.