What I Do For GPC: Lead, love, teach, train, keep us upward and outward focused, and try to keep us from tanking.

What I Do For Fun: Go to the beach with my kids; play pool with Mark, the assistant pastor (and win…sometimes); go out to dinner with my wife to get away from the kids so we can talk about the kids; deep sea fishing with my oldest son; hang with the staff (especially on retreats).

What Makes Me Laugh: My staff.

What Makes Me Cry: My staff.

In A Previous Life (before GPC): I was a rock drummer. I was a music major at Ohio State University (go Buckeye’s, but would you actually win a National Championship, please! By the way, because of the gospel, we accept Wolverines at our church.) I came to California with a Christian rock band but then realized there wasn’t much “Christian” about it so I bailed and went to Bible school.

Best Advice I Ever Received: Be yourself.

Things I Care About: My wife, my kids, my friends, what’s on God’s heart.

Family Matters: My wife is a knock-out – in every way. Her name is Hope and I was hopeless until we met. Really, I was 32, never married and with no prospects! It was a mercy marriage. I know everyone says this but in my case it is true, she’s the best thing that has ever happened to me; next to Jesus drawing me. My mother-in-law lives with us and she is amazing. Miss Brenda is the antithesis of all mother-in-law jokes. My kids are a trip. We have five. At one point we had five under the age of seven! (I don’t know how we are still married.) Sam is a special needs child we adopted from Vietnam. He is mischievous. Elliott is silly; Bella is creative; Lily is emotional; and Eva is stubborn. The only pictures I have up on my office wall are theirs. They are my world.

My Secret Talent: I can burn things on the grill better than any man alive.

My Favorite Cartoon Character and Why: Yosemite Sam. He is always trying so hard and is so passionate about what he is doing.

Grew Up Where: I haven’t yet, but I was born in Columbus, Ohio.

Favorite Movies: The Dream Team, Shine, A Beautiful Mind

Food I Can’t Live Without: Italian

Favorite Books: The Bible, The Celebration of Discipline, When Heaven Invades Earth, The Secrets of the Vine, In the Grip of Grace – actually anything by Max Lucado, God’s Generals

Favorite Music/Bands: Rush, Traffic, Kansas, Yes (especially old Yes), almost all Contemporary Worship

What Made Me Want To Follow Jesus: I was empty.

Contact information John@GatheringPlaceChurch.org