God is very good and He is very gracious in my life, allowing me to not only become His servant, one of His hired hands, but in allowing me to be the pastor and minister of this wonderful and historic church.  “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7).  Not only have my feet been blessed but He has blessed, and continues to bless, the feet of those I serve.  For over a century, Sparr United Methodist Church has been serving God and serving the spiritual, social, and physical needs of North Central Florida.

            My path into ministry was neither straight nor smooth.  In fact, my life strongly resembles the story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-32.  I was raised in the Methodist Church (later to become the United Methodist Church) but, like so many, I turned my back on God and on the Church when I got old enough to leave home and make my own decisions.  And so, like the father in Jesus’ story, God, out of His mercy and love, let me go and make all the mistakes that the Prodigal Son did – and then some.  Unlike the young man in Jesus’ parable, I didn’t end up on my knees feeding pigs but I did end up spiritually and emotionally hungry – the “pea pods” of the world no longer satisfied.  (In truth, they never satisfied.)

            Divorced, living alone in a tiny trailer with only a bed, a bean bag, my clothes, and some kitchen utensils, I was confused, afraid, lonely, and desperate.  My journey had taken me down some dark, friendless streets, and now I found myself at a complete dead end.  I couldn’t go on the way I was.  There was no where to go back to.  And it was at this point, the lowest point of my life, that God saw me from a long ways off and offered me what seemed like an unlikely choice at that time:  COME HOME!

            And so I did.  Like the Prodigal Son, I was content to know that God did, in fact, love me and welcomed me back with open arms. He did that and so much more.  In gratitude, I prayed to the Lord to use me in whatever capacity He chose.  Because of what He did for me, I was entirely and utterly His.  And, to my utter surprise, He touched my heart and told me to go into ministry.  He has guided my way ever since.  I went back to the University of Florida and completed my bachelor’s degree in English Literature.  I then went on to get my Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.  I was given the opportunity to serve as a student pastor at Anthony United Methodist Church while in seminary.  Upon graduating from seminary, I remained as a part-time pastor at Anthony United Methodist Church and a part-time pastor for Sparr United Methodist Church.  As I said, God is very good and He is very gracious in my life.

            My wife, Donna, and I have been married for 10 years (my second marriage, her first).  She is a genuine native Floridian – fourth generation.  (Proof that there really are such people – true Floridians born and raised.)  She was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida.  She graduated from high school there and then attended St. Pete Junior College, later earning her bachelors degree in business management from Nova University.  For 15 years she worked as a computer programmer and technical support person for GTE-Data Services (in Tampa).  In 1991 she made a major decision in her life.  She quit GTE-D and attended the University of Florida School of Law where she received her JD degree.  When we married, she had her own private practice in Gainesville, Florida.  While I attended seminary, she worked for a private law firm and then became an Assistant Public Defender for Orange County.  When we moved to Anthony, she worked for the Public Defender’s Office for Marion County and then transferred over to the Department of Children and Family Services, where she currently works as an attorney.  Besides a great love for God, He also put a song in her heart and that song has lead to her growing love and involvement in the ministry of church music – including writing some music on her own.

            Last, but certainly not least, God has graced us with a wonderful daughter, Emily Anne, who is currently 8 years old (going on 40).  She is filled with a light and love of the Lord that has brought much joy and happiness into our lives.  She is very bright and intelligent and attends Montessori – which she loves because they “have no desks.”  God has also given her a heart, and eye, and a passion for art (especially drawing).  Even at the tender age of eight her path in life is clear – she wants to own her own art studio where she can live, draw, and sell her works of art.

            I and my family have been blessed and we hope that He is blessing you.  Donna and I are living proof that you can never get too far away or become so lost that God won’t come, put His great big arms around you, replace your heart of stone with one of flesh, wash you clean, and set you back down on the path He intended for you in the first place.  We would love to hear from you or meet you sometime and invite you to attend our “little church with a big message.”  Whether you come to our church or attend some other church, we hope and pray that you are blessed by whatever church family you belong to and if you don’t belong to any specific church, God can and will come to you wherever you are.  Even though we don’t know you, know that you are in our prayers.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).  Shalom – the “peace” of God that passes all understanding be with you.