Biographical Information

I was born and raised in the Kalona, Iowa community. I graduated from Iowa Mennonite High School in 1978, attended Rosedale Bible Institute (OH) for 3 terms, graduated from Hesston College (KS) in 1981 (AA degree in Agriculture), and Eastern Mennonite College/University (VA) in 1983 (BS in Camping/Recreation & Youth Ministry and Christian Ministries), attended Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) for one year (1998-99) before attending and graduating from Denver Theological Seminary (CO) in 2000 (MA in Youth and Family Ministries and Counseling Ministries).

From November 1983 to November 1984, I served in voluntary service for one year in Ocean City, MD at Diakonia, a residential crisis shelter. Following this I was camp director at Bethel Mennonite Camp in southeastern Kentucky from May 1985 through August 1987. It was from this point on to the present that I have been involved in congregational ministry, except for the three years in seminary.

From September 1987 through August 1998, I served as Director of Youth Ministries at Souderton Mennonite Church, Souderton, PA. In June 2000, I joined the pastoral team at East Goshen Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana.

Mary Yoder and I were married November 30, 1991. We live in Goshen, IN. Mary is an elementary school teacher. She enjoys teaching, as well as spending time working around our home, gardening, walking, cruising antique shops, and traveling. Our son Ian finds great joy in miniature people, horses and other animals, looking at books and being read to, being outside, and roughhousing with mom and dad. Austin was born November 22, 2002, and his adoption was finalized February 13, 2003. As a family we enjoy riding bike together, traveling to visit our families, day hiking if we’re in Colorado, and hosting people in our home.