First Baptist Church of Saint Jo

     Jeff serves as pastor at First Baptist Church of Saint Jo and is a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity – Advanced Track degree and is expecting to graduate in May, 2012. Jeff and his wife JacQueline have been married since April 2003, and they have 3 children: Katie (July 2004), Sydney (Nov. 2006), and Caleb (May 2010).

      Jeff’s passion in ministry is discipleship, believing that the Great Commission does not call Christians to make converts, but rather disciples. He has used that passion in each of his ministry callings, which vocationally have been as a children’s intern, an associate pastor, and now as a senior pastor. This particular calling led him to Saint Jo, where he has been since March 2007.

      Jeff’s approach to ministry and life has been significantly shaped by his time in the United States Marine Corps, his early undergraduate studies in engineering and prior work in the civil engineering field, and his growth in understanding of the gospel differing somewhat from that of his childhood. His military experience continually influences his mindset that there are certain things worth fighting for, and sometimes we fight so that others will not need to. His engineering background consistently reminds him that there is a precision required for accuracy, and as such words must be chosen carefully. His understanding of the gospel has grown since his childhood, where the focus was on God’s wrath. Today, Jeff insists that we must not under-emphasize the justice of God, but at the same time it is impossible to talk too much of God’s grace.