Born and raised in Live Oak, Florida, I have been in a United Methodist my whole life.  That means I grew up with potlucks, mission trips, and hearing “May the Lord bless you and keep you…” every Sunday.  I first heard God calling me into ministry during those summer mission trips on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico, when I was in high school.  Ever since then, God has kept right on calling me in new and surprising ways.

I earned a degree in English from Florida Southern College and my Master of Divinity from the Divinity School at Duke University.  I have been serving in pastoral ministry since 2013 — in Hickory, and now here in Murphy.

I love dreaming about ministry with the church, hearing people’s stories, and seeing people come fully alive in Jesus.   I serve in leadership in various capacities for our Western NC Conference of The UMC, and I am the Vice President of the Board for the John C. Campbell Folk School. 

I’m a woodworker, and I also love being outdoors. I am married to my high school sweetheart, Lea, and we have two children and one dog.