What does your job involve?
My job is twofold. One is to coordinate all the facilities work of the church, which includes engineering, housekeeping, security and the maintaining of the buildings. My other area of responsibility is to be a liaison on the construction of new buildings programs on behalf of the church. I also assist the Pastor of Staff Administration, Danny de Armas, in conducting additional business matters of the church.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Washington D.C. and raised in the Maryland suburbs.
How large is the family you grew up in?
Eight children. I am the oldest son, second-oldest child.
When and how did you come to know Christ?
After I left the Navy, I moved down to Daytona Beach. One Sunday night, a friend invited me to First Baptist Daytona. When I walked into the church, I saw and felt something I had never experienced before. Before we got to the pew, I kind of vowed to myself that I would come back and try to find out what it was I saw on these people’s faces. So I came back the next Sunday night and got there an hour early. The associate pastor met me and led me to a new members class. That night, the teacher was talking about eternal security. She had a glass with black coffee and said, “This is your life before Christ comes in.” She then poured some cream in it (the illustration for Christ coming into a person’s life) and swirled it around and said, “Now I want someone to take the cream out of the coffee.” That’s when I realized what I needed and later that night at the altar call, I got saved. That was in September of 1977 and I was 26 years old.
What was the first job you ever had?
When I was in ninth grade I worked for a woman in our neighborhood who had some physical disabilities. She hired me three days a week to work in her garden.
Where did you go to college?
I went to Louisiana College in Pineville. I got a BA in Christian Education. I also have a masters in Religious Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a MBA from the University of New Orleans. I also have a doctorate from New Orleans Seminary.
Have you ever served in the military?
I served four years in the Navy during Vietnam. I was on a destroyer in the Atlantic Fleet, so my tours of duty were either in the Mediterranean, the North Atlantic near the Scandinavian countries or in the Caribbean.
When and to whom did you marry?
Shortly after I got saved, at age 26, I started going to the singles class. That’s where I met Peggy, who had moved down from South Carolina for a teaching job. We started dating in March of 1978, got engaged in August and married in November.
How many children do you have?
Three, a daughter and two sons.
How did you get into ministry?
After we got married, I was an electrician and figured that’s what I would do the rest of my life. But in April of 1979, during a revival, the Lord called me into ministry. That next June, I started going to the seminary in New Orleans. After that, I started serving in churches mostly as an associate pastor in education.
Have you ever done any long- or short-term missionary work?
I have done construction missions in Honduras five times. I’ve done electrical work at Honduran churches and their seminary. I also preached in the evenings.
Where did you serve before coming to First Orlando?
My first church out of seminary was Goodwood Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I was the Minister of Education, Youth and Outreach. Next, I went to Longview Baptist Church in Deville, Louisiana, where I was the Minister of Youth. I then went back to seminary to get my masters. After that came Remount Road Baptist Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where I was Minister of Education and Administration. In 1993, the seminary called and asked me to come work for them in facilities, and I’ve been in facilities ever since.
What was the turning point of your life?
Without exception, my salvation. Up until then, I had been trying all the world’s ways to find satisfaction, success, fulfillment and contentment. I was destroying myself. In fact, a few years after I got saved at age 26, the Lord impressed upon me that if I had not gotten saved at that time, I’d be dead.
What do you like most about your job?
I love the wonderful people I have the privilege of working with. This is the best “people place” I’ve ever worked at. I also love the fact that every day is so different. It’s like getting on a roller coaster early in the morning and not getting off until late in the afternoon. Every day is a thrill ride.
You were greatly affected by Hurricane Katrina, including losing just about everything you owned. How has the experience changed your life?
For one thing, the Lord helped me to detach from “things.” We lost our house, and I lost my office and all of my library, most of which I’ll never get back. With the exception of one or two memorabilia-type things, it’s amazing how much I realized that stuff really didn’t matter in the scheme of things. All I regret getting destroyed was a scrapbook I had made of my Navy adventure. Katrina really served as a reminder of those things in life that are really important. It’s all about the people you love and those who love you. Another lesson I learned was that it was OK to be afraid. Those were very frightening days for me. There was no law enforcement and a lot of looting and shooting going on around us and there were many people I needed to watch over. Another thing I learned was how incredibly true it is that God is with us at all times. Even though I was afraid, there was not one minute when I didn’t know that He was there with me.
What’s your favorite Bible verse?
Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” From being in the military, I know that once your home base has been compromised, you’re dead. As a believer, once your heart is compromised, Satan’s got you. Because Satan is out to get me, I know that the most single important thing I can do on a day-to-day basis is guard my heart.
What do you like to do with your free time?
Number one is to spend time with my wife. We have recently entered the empty-nest years and are thoroughly enjoying them. I also love reading and cooking.
Is there something about you people would be surprised to learn?
I’m a “blue nose” — which means I’ve crossed the Arctic Circle with the Navy.
What brought you to First Orlando?
Peggy and I had been displaced to the seminary’s Atlanta campus by Hurricane Katrina for five months. While there I bumped into an old seminary friend who was service a church in Florida and he wanted me to send him a resumé. I did not feel led to it at that time because of the major rebuilding effort facing the seminary. Almost two years later, the same friend, who had relocated to First Orlando, called me again and asked if I would at least pray about the possibility of serving at the church. We prayed and came for a visit and the Lord showed us with many signs and wonders that He wanted us to be a part of the spectacular team here at First Orlando.