My journey to this place is a little complicated: born & raised in Jonesboro, AR (in Arkansas you aren’t “reared”, you’re “raised” – don’t ask) I moved to Detroit right after Bible School, where I married way over my head to the unbelievably gifted and beautiful Chris Hansen.

We spent 10 years in Michigan serving two different churches in our denomination before moving to the Philippines as missionaries. We’ve never gotten over our love for that country and her people, but our stint there was short-lived as a medical termination forced us back to America, and we served another church in our denomination in Missouri.

We finally came to our lifework in suburban Chicago in 1989 and started Christian Life Center in 1990. Here we’ve been blessed way beyond our expectations with an amazing church of some incredible people (and a few regular folks). In fact, it’s the first time in almost 40 years of ministry that I can say: “if I were not a pastor, but lived in the area, this is where I’d attend church!”

More importantly, I’m the proud father of 3 exceptional children: Chad (an accountant & writer who lives in LA with his beautiful wife, Dorothy), Jen (my one & only babygirl, who designed this new look for my blog in her spare time, and serves as our Creative Communications director and my personal assistant at CLC) & Brent (who serves on staff of our newest campus in Lisle along with his lovely Latina wife, Sol), and the smiling poppy of the adorable Jaiden. (I also own one half-blind chocolate Lab named Jasper and a miniature Dachshound named Pedro that I like only because it pleases my wife, and I like to please her.)

When I’m really between sermons, I like popcorn & ice cream (not together, just whenever), action flicks and mystery novels. My heart for missions has given me a love for travel, and I am fascinated by God’s wonderful world and all the people in it who are so different and yet so alike. Of course, I tolerate Chicago’s winter, since I’m still a Southerner at heart.