Raised by two godly parents in Richmond, Virginia, the Gospel was sown in me throughout my childhood. At age seven I understood that I did not have the relationship with God I was intended to have and that trusting in Jesus, who was fully God and fully human like me but without sin, was the answer to this problem. Though I did not understand the full nature of my sin and the nature of the work of Christ, I did know my need for Him and professed faith, being soon thereafter baptized. At age ten the reality of my sin and Christ’s death as a substitution for that sin became clearer and my Christian walk began in full at that point.
At the University of Virginia, I began to sense a call to full-time vocational ministry. I served in the local church with Clear River Community Church while also serving for three years as President of the UVA huddle of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. These opportunities afforded me the chance to learn how to lead in a ministry as well as chances to explore the ins and outs of ministry in the local church.
Upon graduation I began theological studies and ministry preparation at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, where I also had the privilege to come under the mentorship and discipleship of Dr. Andrew Davis at First Baptist Church, Durham. In both capacities I was able to understand where God had equipped me for the service of His church, jumping into pastoral ministry under Dr. Davis for nearly a year, before pursuing full-time vocational work in ministry.
Teresa and I met during my transition to seminary on a missions trip to Romania. Quickly we fell in love and married in the spring of 2009. Teresa grew up in Virginia Beach where her parents, sister, and many extended family members still live, and still calls the beach home! She and I are blessed with two children, Aiden (11) and Charlotte (9), and, best of all, a Golden Retriever named Bennett (Go Hoos!). The kids enjoy playing sports, swimming, and video games. As a family we love being outside and so we can’t imagine a better place to live than the beach!
My wife and I have long been burdened for the nations and how God would use local churches to reach them. I love preaching God’s Word, meeting with members of the church for counsel and encouragement, as well as serving my staff and leaders helping them thrive in their ministries. Finally, I am passionate about local and international missions. Overall, I strive in all I do to glorify God by edifying and equipping believers to be called out of the world while immediately being sent back into it following King Jesus in the demonstration and declaration of His victory!
If you missed worship on June 9, here is the message from Dr. Patrick Edwards.
