A 20-year USAF veteran, I was stationed in France, Germany, Taiwan and Thailand and in Texas and California. After retiring from the Air Force, I attended college and graduated with a Bachelor of Theology. My military career was then followed by 30 years as an evangelist, pastor and missionary.

While no longer active as a minister, I devote a lot of time to volunteering at my church wherever needed. I serve as a greeter, make coffee, provide security and help with special events. Recently I, along with my wife who is also a minister, helped our pastor put together a study guide for our summer teaching series on the book of Exodus. I also have written a study guide on the miracles of Jesus.

One of my greatest blessings is my wife and our family. We have 19 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and our second great, great grandchild is due in January.

For a few years while in the Air Force I did some oil painting. However, when I became a pastor there did not seem enough time for painting. Finally retiring from my second career as a minister, I began painting once again.

I painted two sets of a series on the creation – one painting for each of the seven days of creation. It was a great sense of joy to have these two sets displayed in two different churches. One in a church in Illinois graces the walls of the church’s dining facilities. A second one is on display in the children’s section of a church in Texas.

One of my paintings was of a rainbow. I called it “Hope in the Storm.” To me the rainbow is a symbol of how God keeps his promises. After several commented on how this painting encouraged them, I began making smaller paintings of the rainbow. I send these paintings to those who are facing a difficult situation – like death, divorce, cancer etc. It is one way I can still be a blessing although I am not longer in a pastoral position.