I grew up in a Christian home, regularly attending church. In this local church the young people were encouraged to participate in the work of the church, and I was teaching VBS by the time I was 12. Pioneer Girls, 4-H, and Christian Youth Group were a part of my formation. Our ecumenical Youth Group owned their own building, were active in the community, attended state wide Christian events and sponsored area wide Crusades where the High School youth planned and carried out the events. I responded to God's call upon my life in 1966.

During my children's early years, most of my non-child care time was spent in Seminary and volunteering in the areas of Christian education and administration for the local church and region. In 1988 I was elected as a young adult Representative to the General Board of ABCUSA. My focus included mission after being assigned to the Board of International Ministries. I was asked to be a member of the Southern Africa Monitoring Task Force, including a trip to South Africa to determine how we would partner with the Baptist Convention of Southern Africa.

Having just graduated from seminary, the trip to South Africa was a changing point in my life. Deeper involvement with International Ministries Board activities led to the opportunity to observe the 1994 elections in South Africa, a mission trip to Hong Kong and Thailand and to serve as President of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society.

Then God gave me the chance for service on the Board of Managers for the American Baptist Historical Society where I served as Vice President and was promoted to President in 2002. God seems to have gently guided me from one focus to another, always using gifts from the Holy Spirit.

It is through this gentle guidance that I have known and rejoiced in the presence of God. God's grace is so wonderful! When open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, there is no end to the wonders that God bestows. As the eyes of our hearts are opened, we start to understand the hope and the power that we have in Jesus Christ our Lord.

I have found that key ingredients for a vital church include individuals in growing relationship with God, recognizing their spiritual gifts, volunteering to help one another/using spiritual gifts, working together as one body and recognizing Christ as the head. God created each one as a unique individual with different ways of understanding, communicating and acting. God calls us in our diversity to complement one another that we may work together in unity for the benefit of God's kingdom.

I have found that this works for me by discovering where God is working and then joining Him (Henry Blackaby), using preaching, Bible Study, prayer and relationships as a way of listening together for God's guidance so that we build relationships within the congregation, between congregation and community, and with God.

I help build teams by identifying gifts and skills in order to develop leaders.

I accepted Christ as my personal Savior while attending a Christian summer camp in northern Maine. I was a young teenager and had been involved in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Youth Fellowship programs most of my life. I had always accepted the Biblical truths and knew about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but this was somehow different. The Spirit pulled at my heart convincing me that I needed to publicly acknowledge what I already knew.

The camp preacher that year had come from Rhode Island and told me about a Christian College there. That was the college where I later applied and attended. I enrolled as a pre-med major and was awarded College Work Study aid in the business office. It was there that I was introduced to computers as the school transitioned from old office equipment into the world of computer technology. That is also where I met my future wife, Esther. I never finished my degree.

We became active in a local baptist church, getting involved in the Sunday School program, the community Youth Group program and other church business. I began teaching Sunday School and soon learned that I was not gifted to teach children! I took over as Church Treasurer and served in that capacity for over 10 years. I also became a deacon and received a local lay preaching license.

We became active in association and regional events. I served a term as moderator of our local association and was involved in the area summer Christian camp program as a counselor and as an assistant director.

I believe that God led me to this online bookstore home business opportunity. I believe that God has great things planned for this ministry and I want to join Him by being part of it!