Full time ministry for 14 years. 8 years as youth pastor. Adult prison ministry for 3 years in Portland.
3 years juvenile ministry in CYA. Ministry in youth sports for 20 plus years -- coach and minister (wrestling [16 state champions and 8 runner-up champions plus 4 city championships out of 8 years]; baseball, three league championships; and soccer , two league championships out of two years of competition -------------------------- and yes, I am most definitely bragging at this point).
Pastoral counseling since 1990 to present time (avocation). Ministry in VORP (a victim/offender program of restitution and re commitment) - current. Preparing for reentry into prison ministry in one of the area's six adult prisons ---------- currently applying for placement.
We (my wife and I) ae currently preparing for a home church ministry and I am about to entertain a written ministry in the local paper. Rather than begin with a para-church meeting on Sundays evenings as we did year before last, we are going to begin with a bible study group on Wed evenings. The newspaper ministry will be most important in this work as will be the counseling ministry.
And, I will soon begin my PhD in pastoral counseling (this fall). Add in my business and I am a busy person.
We live off my wife's income and 25% of my builders income -- the rest of that money goes for ministry support and helping others.
I have seen many come to the Lord in each of these ministries -- no one can claim ministry success based on "numbers of converts>" It is not only unethical but anti-bilblical.
I am hardly a do-nothing Christian. The next time I ask a question - I will hope for an answer and not an excuse.
JD
