I was born into a hardworking family where values of integrity, diligence, and perseverance were instilled in me from an early age. Growing up, I believed that success in life came from working hard and accumulating things. That was my pre-Christ mindset: work hard, make a living, and everything will be fine. But I later learned that this wasn’t true. Life is more than just working hard and gaining possessions. It is about relationships, faith, and purpose.
In 1966, my life took another turn when I met Cynthia. Her father had been transferred to the Presque Isle Electric Office, and she started attending school in Presque Isle. At that time, we had a great basketball team, and I was one of the few people who had a car—a hard-earned $150 vehicle. When we decided to go to a game, I was the driver. My friend Andy Moores introduced me to Cynthia’s sister, Marjorie, which led me to Cynthia. One thing led to another, and by 1968, we were married. I still remember the date: September 5, 1968. The next day, September 6, I was back in school. Cynthia never lets me forget those dates; she reminds me every year, one in February and the other in March. It’s a running joke between us.
Looking back, I realize that our marriage has been strong because we have kept God at the center. Early on, I didn’t fully grasp the importance of faith in marriage, but Cynthia did. Eventually, I came around, and now I firmly believe that a strong marriage needs that third person—God. Life together isn’t always easy. We don’t agree on everything, but we’ve learned not to go to bed angry. As the Bible says, “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Marriage is about learning, growing, and supporting each other, even in the tough times.
The better part of my life centered around family and work. I managed several local gas stations, a job that required my attention most of the time. I was raised in the Catholic Church and remained a member until about 1972. After that, for a time, I went nowhere. My firstborn child arrived in 1970, and from then on, I took my family to MSBC, where we ultimately joined the congregation.
Even with my job and church, I felt something was missing. It wasn’t until I attended “A Weekend to Remember” in Madawaska, Maine, in February 1975 that I began to see what life could truly be like. My first thoughts were, "What in the world am I doing here?" The couples there were talking about faith, using biblical terms I barely understood. I felt out of place. On Saturday, various outdoor activities were planned, but at -20 degrees, I opted to stay inside and listen. That night, during a conference, the speaker asked questions that felt directed straight at me. He spoke about what it meant to truly follow Christ. I had played around the edges of religion my whole life, never truly accepting anything deeper. But that night, I realized I had a choice: be all in or all out. I chose all in.
That decision changed everything. I had struggles, of course. I had never read the Bible, and much of what I heard in church still didn’t make sense to me. But I committed to learning, so I read the Bible from front to back. It took time, but slowly, my understanding and faith deepened.
Life brought its challenges. One of the hardest moments was losing my mother. When the doctor told me she was going to die, I rushed to see her. She sat up, looked right at me, and said, "Don’t worry about me. I’m going home to see your father." Then, she laid back down and passed away. That moment has never left me. We also lost three children, and while I grieve, I trust that I will see them again in heaven.
Music has always been a source of comfort to me. Certain hymns have meant a lot to me over the years. Recently, Chris Tomlin’s “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” has been a favorite. Other songs I often sing to myself are “Find Us Faithful” and “Family of God.” As for books, Rick Warren’s has greatly impacted me. It helped me understand that our purpose isThe Purpose Driven Life to worship God and live in a way that honors Him. I’ve read it multiple times. I also enjoy legal thrillers and historical books.
Life before Christ and life after Christ were two very different things for me. Before, I thought my hard work and efforts alone were enough. But after Christ, I learned to trust Him, to allow Him to guide my decisions. I don’t need Him to tell me what to eat for supper, but I do need Him in the major and minor choices of life. Faith isn’t just about believing in God—it’s about allowing Him to shape my life, to guide my actions, and to redefine my priorities. It’s about surrendering my plans for His. And though that isn’t always easy, I have found that His plans are far better than mine ever were.
My first mission trip was to Haiti during the revolution. There, I saw true devotion to God. The people had nothing, yet their faith was unshakable. I realized then that I needed that same unwavering faith. Since then, I have strived to follow God’s leading. The journey hasn’t been without its challenges, but I know I’m on the right path.
One of the moments I’m most grateful for was in 1995, when massive Phish concerts were held at the air base. Nearly 60,000 young people attended. My mentor, Garth Gooding, and I saw an opportunity. We gathered Bibles and handed them out, sharing God’s word with those who would listen. Some young people asked me, “Why are you doing this?” My answer was simple: “Because I feel God has led me to do this.” That’s how I’ve tried to live my life—doing what I believe God has called me to do, whether it’s handing out Bibles or simply offering kindness where it’s needed.
I’ve never believed that mission work has to take place across the world. You don’t have to go to Haiti or Tanzania unless you feel called to do so. God calls each of us to serve in different ways, and sometimes, the greatest mission field is right where we are. My oldest son took this lesson to heart. He set up a medical clinic in Paraguay, using his profession as a doctor to serve others and share God’s love. Though he can’t go there anymore due to government corruption, the work continues. That, to me, is a legacy worth leaving behind.
At the end of the day, I want to be remembered as someone who followed where God led, who did his best to serve, and who left behind a legacy of faith for his family and community. That’s what matters. And that’s the journey I’m still walking, one step at a time. Even now, I continue to grow in faith, to seek God’s will, and to trust in His goodness. And that, I believe, is the greatest journey of all.
In 1966, my life took another turn when I met Cynthia. Her father had been transferred to the Presque Isle Electric Office, and she started attending school in Presque Isle. At that time, we had a great basketball team, and I was one of the few people who had a car—a hard-earned $150 vehicle. When we decided to go to a game, I was the driver. My friend Andy Moores introduced me to Cynthia’s sister, Marjorie, which led me to Cynthia. One thing led to another, and by 1968, we were married. I still remember the date: September 5, 1968. The next day, September 6, I was back in school. Cynthia never lets me forget those dates; she reminds me every year, one in February and the other in March. It’s a running joke between us.
Looking back, I realize that our marriage has been strong because we have kept God at the center. Early on, I didn’t fully grasp the importance of faith in marriage, but Cynthia did. Eventually, I came around, and now I firmly believe that a strong marriage needs that third person—God. Life together isn’t always easy. We don’t agree on everything, but we’ve learned not to go to bed angry. As the Bible says, “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Marriage is about learning, growing, and supporting each other, even in the tough times.
The better part of my life centered around family and work. I managed several local gas stations, a job that required my attention most of the time. I was raised in the Catholic Church and remained a member until about 1972. After that, for a time, I went nowhere. My firstborn child arrived in 1970, and from then on, I took my family to MSBC, where we ultimately joined the congregation.
Even with my job and church, I felt something was missing. It wasn’t until I attended “A Weekend to Remember” in Madawaska, Maine, in February 1975 that I began to see what life could truly be like. My first thoughts were, "What in the world am I doing here?" The couples there were talking about faith, using biblical terms I barely understood. I felt out of place. On Saturday, various outdoor activities were planned, but at -20 degrees, I opted to stay inside and listen. That night, during a conference, the speaker asked questions that felt directed straight at me. He spoke about what it meant to truly follow Christ. I had played around the edges of religion my whole life, never truly accepting anything deeper. But that night, I realized I had a choice: be all in or all out. I chose all in.
That decision changed everything. I had struggles, of course. I had never read the Bible, and much of what I heard in church still didn’t make sense to me. But I committed to learning, so I read the Bible from front to back. It took time, but slowly, my understanding and faith deepened.
Life brought its challenges. One of the hardest moments was losing my mother. When the doctor told me she was going to die, I rushed to see her. She sat up, looked right at me, and said, "Don’t worry about me. I’m going home to see your father." Then, she laid back down and passed away. That moment has never left me. We also lost three children, and while I grieve, I trust that I will see them again in heaven.
Music has always been a source of comfort to me. Certain hymns have meant a lot to me over the years. Recently, Chris Tomlin’s “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” has been a favorite. Other songs I often sing to myself are “Find Us Faithful” and “Family of God.” As for books, Rick Warren’s has greatly impacted me. It helped me understand that our purpose isThe Purpose Driven Life to worship God and live in a way that honors Him. I’ve read it multiple times. I also enjoy legal thrillers and historical books.
Life before Christ and life after Christ were two very different things for me. Before, I thought my hard work and efforts alone were enough. But after Christ, I learned to trust Him, to allow Him to guide my decisions. I don’t need Him to tell me what to eat for supper, but I do need Him in the major and minor choices of life. Faith isn’t just about believing in God—it’s about allowing Him to shape my life, to guide my actions, and to redefine my priorities. It’s about surrendering my plans for His. And though that isn’t always easy, I have found that His plans are far better than mine ever were.
My first mission trip was to Haiti during the revolution. There, I saw true devotion to God. The people had nothing, yet their faith was unshakable. I realized then that I needed that same unwavering faith. Since then, I have strived to follow God’s leading. The journey hasn’t been without its challenges, but I know I’m on the right path.
One of the moments I’m most grateful for was in 1995, when massive Phish concerts were held at the air base. Nearly 60,000 young people attended. My mentor, Garth Gooding, and I saw an opportunity. We gathered Bibles and handed them out, sharing God’s word with those who would listen. Some young people asked me, “Why are you doing this?” My answer was simple: “Because I feel God has led me to do this.” That’s how I’ve tried to live my life—doing what I believe God has called me to do, whether it’s handing out Bibles or simply offering kindness where it’s needed.
I’ve never believed that mission work has to take place across the world. You don’t have to go to Haiti or Tanzania unless you feel called to do so. God calls each of us to serve in different ways, and sometimes, the greatest mission field is right where we are. My oldest son took this lesson to heart. He set up a medical clinic in Paraguay, using his profession as a doctor to serve others and share God’s love. Though he can’t go there anymore due to government corruption, the work continues. That, to me, is a legacy worth leaving behind.
At the end of the day, I want to be remembered as someone who followed where God led, who did his best to serve, and who left behind a legacy of faith for his family and community. That’s what matters. And that’s the journey I’m still walking, one step at a time. Even now, I continue to grow in faith, to seek God’s will, and to trust in His goodness. And that, I believe, is the greatest journey of all.
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