They say, “Home is where the heart is.” And without question, Southern California is where my heart is. While I’ve lived in several places, Southern California has always been home base for me and my family.

I was born in Pasadena in 1972 while my dad was a student at Fuller Seminary. When I was five years old, my family moved to Germany where my dad pastored a German church for three years and I had the benefit of being immersed in the culture and becoming a little German boy for that time. When I was eight we moved back to Los Angeles, and when I was eleven we moved to Grove City, Pennsylvania. That’s where I spent my Jr. High, High School, and College years, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1994 with a degree in Communication from Slippery Rock University.

After college, my family and I once again moved back to Los Angeles. One thing you have to know about me is that as I was growing up, my life’s dream was to become a big-time movie director. I wanted to be the next Steven Spielberg! And so, after college I started working in Hollywood on various TV shows.

That lasted about two years. What I discovered was that, in order to be successful in Hollywood, your work has to be your life’s top priority. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately!), I couldn’t do that. I was involved in the College/Career group and in the worship band at Arcadia Presbyterian Church and I wanted to give some of my time to that. Ultimately, I realized that I didn’t have a future in Hollywood because God had given me a passion for ministry.

In 1996, I began my studies at Fuller Seminary. At first, I had no intention of becoming a pastor-I just wanted to get a theological education and perhaps do some sort of media ministry. But during my time at Fuller, it became clear to me that God was calling me to be a pastor. And so, I received my M.Div. from Fuller in 2001, and in 2004 I was ordained at Glenkirk Presbyterian Church.

I met my beautiful wife Robin in 1999 while we were both high school camp counselors at Forest Home Christian Camp. We were married in 2001 and just celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary! In 2005, God gave us a precious gift: a baby boy named Micah Oliver. And in August of 2007, we received another beautiful gift: a baby girl named Macy Eve. I love being Micah’s and Macy’s dad and Robin loves being their mom!

My Vision for Northminster

My dream is for Northminster to be a growing community of committed followers of Jesus who are growing in their faith and who are living out the good news of Jesus in our city. I believe that the church is the gathered people of God and the sent people of God. We gather together to worship God and encourage each other. And just as important–though forgotten in many churches–we are sent by God to be salt and light in a dull and dark world. We do this by living out our missional calling of being a missionary people in the city of San Diego. This city is Northminster’s mission field!

Does this describe who we are at this moment. Not entirely, yet. But this is what we are becoming!

I thank God for bringing me to Northminster! This is a place that is on the cusp of some truly exciting things!

Statistics

Favorite Movies:

• Star Wars (all of them, but mostly the old ones)
• The Matrix (all three, but mostly the first one)
• Indiana Jones (all of them, including the new one)
• Lord of the Rings (all three–uhh, yeah all three)
• The Godfather (Parts 1, 2, and 3–but mostly Parts 1 and 2)
• Spider-Man (all three–I know, I know… the third one could’ve been a lot better)

Favorite Book:

• The Divine Conspiracy

Favorite Quote:

• Luke: “I don’t believe it!”
• Yoda: “That is why you fail.”

Favorite Food:

• BBQ wings at Quaker Steak and Lube

Favorite Band:

• Mortal/Fold Zandura (same band, two different names depending on style of music)

Favorite Outdoor Activity:

• Surfing

Favorite Magazine:

• Entertainment Weekly (my veg-out reading…)

Favorite Computer Games:

• Warcraft 3
• Unreal Tournament 2004

Favorite Video Game System:

• Nintendo Wii