I grew up attending church and being involved in the youth group there, but I never really understood Christianity’s meaning and relevance to life until 1989. While attending Purdue University, a mentor of mine finally helped me to fully understand. It was like putting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together as he explained Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. When I understood the gift He offers to all and especially me, I knew Jesus had to be who He said He was, the Son of God.

For a long time, I struggled to be a Christian. It seemed more like a set of rules and I was always trying to find out what God had planned for my life. I could not meet the standards God set out for us in the Bible. I had forgotten God’s grace. Then two things changed my life. First, I became involved with my church’s Christian Service Brigade unit when my oldest son was in first grade. Through Brigade, I met one of the greatest men I know, a carpenter named Gary Allen. Gary’s passion is for fathers and sons. He has had a positive influence on so many men and boys. He models service and strength and there is no one with a bigger heart. Brigade has helped me develop strong relationships with my three sons. Over the last eleven years, we have been on many adventures through camping, canoeing, and backpacking trips; we have helped build two habitat houses, made many friends, and worked with other young men.

The second thing that changed my life was the book Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. The principles I learned helped me better understand the idea that we all have a purpose in life and we need to use the gifts we have been given. I have taken these ideas and, for the last several years, I have focused on inspiring the next generation to be better than what they think they are through mentoring, teaching, and coaching.

To learn more about CSB Ministries go to http://www.ohiocsb.org or their summer camp go to http://www.ohiobrigadecamp.org.