I was born on July 11, 1961 in Marysville, California and grew up in the Sierra Nevada foothills.  I was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth and had several surgeries performed throughout my childhood.  Toward the end of high school I began to hike.  I kept hiking until I attempted to walk 1,700 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail through California in 1982.  I walked for 1,200 miles before my body gave out. 
     After that I worked in Yosemite National Park.  While I was there, I became a Christian and decided that I wanted to be a pastor.  I met Rebecca Decker and we fell in love.  We were married on July 14, 1984. 
     We moved to Illinois where I attended college and seminary.
     After seminary, we remained in Illinois to start a new church in Evanston.  We stayed at this church for twelve years.  Along the way, we adopted three sons: Maxwell, Andrew and Grant. 
     Due to the progressive effects of Charcot-Marie-Tooth, I moved my family to Dixon, California in 2001.  I am starting another church in this city called The Living Hope Church of Dixon.  On September 18, 2003, I completed my hike through the state of California.