About

I grew up during my formative years in Birmingham, Michigan. My best friend and wife, Shirley, and I met at Seaholm High School. It took an entire year to win her heart in 1974, but I finally succeeded. We have been together ever since! We were both raised as ‘church-goers,’ but it wasn’t until college that we really understood our need for personal forgiveness and a relationship with Jesus Christ.

I studied Business Marketing as an undergraduate student, and I was heading towards a career as an architect. Even though my career path was ultimately redirected, my passion to design, build, and create has never been quenched. Over the decades I have designed and built a wide variety of things: a go-cart, a garage, an attic office, a climbing frame, a play house, tree houses, and an arch-top jazz guitar to name a few. I even restored a 1963 classic Austin Healey sports car that I love to drive!

After surrendering my life to Christ, God empowered me with spiritual gifts, my primary gift being teaching. I could never have imagined that I would find my greatest fulfilment in a lifetime of vocational ministry alongside Shirley. We spent our formative ministry years serving with Campus Crusade for Christ, International (CRU). My life verse since college is Ezra 7:10 “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Study, practice, teach are still my mandate from God.

My spiritual gift of teaching combined with my passion to design, build, and create have allowed me many incredible opportunities. I have designed and created projects to earn a Doctorate in Ministry, and a PhD in New Testament (Aberdeen, Scotland). I have also designed courses and had the privilege to teach in two seminaries: International Graduate School of Leadership (Philippines), and Moody Theological Seminary (Michigan). I have created Bible College courses, sermon series, and conference talks. In 1997, Shirley and I partnered with a handful of families to plant Oak Pointe Church in Novi, Michigan. It has been a great challenge, but amazing to serve alongside so many devoted fellow workers. I find great pleasure in the ‘people aspect’ of ministry, encouraging others on their spiritual journey towards Christ.

In our free time, Shirley and I have taken up ballroom dancing, which is fun but much harder than we imagined! She was a ballet dancer and hands down shows me up! I try to get some rounds of golf in during the summer with “the guys”, and I love music: upbeat worship, jazz and anything my kids create and perform. I also enjoy watching all sports, especially in the play-offs!

Our family is our greatest joy. Shirley and I have four adult children: Chuck, Sarah, Scott and Luke. In 2008 God miraculously brought Dominic into our lives, a former South Sudanese refugee, displaced from his family for 24+ years. None of our children live in Michigan, but we prioritize being together. Shirley and I also enjoy loving on the many “spiritual children” that come into our lives.

– Bob