- Department: Academic Success
- University: University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
I was raised in a religious home, which was both a blessing and an obstacle. It was a blessing because it gave me a head start in the search for truth. It was an obstacle because I was never really encouraged to examine critically what my family and I believed. For much of my early life, I focused on religious practices—trying to live morally and avoid obvious wrongdoing. Yet all along I was missing the One for whom I was created. Near the end of law school, I was introduced to the Bible—which, ironically, I had never actually read. For the first time, I encountered it not merely as a collection of stories about floods, giants, and miracles, but as God’s self-revelation to humanity: a revelation of who He is, who I am, and His plan to redeem a people and establish an eternal kingdom under King Jesus. Because Christianity makes historical claims—that Jesus truly lived, died, and rose from the dead—I came to see that it could not simply be a matter of personal preference. It is either true for everyone or false for everyone. What it cannot be is merely true for some and not for others. As I became convinced that Christianity is true, I committed my life to knowing Jesus and helping others know Him as well. Over time I came to see that while there is substantial evidence supporting Christianity, Christianity is ultimately not merely a body of beliefs to affirm but a relationship with a living person. Jesus lived the life of obedience to God that I should have lived. He died the death I deserved for my sin. He conquered the grave I could never conquer. Because of Him, I am fully accepted by God—as His son and friend—without condemnation. That reality has brought a freedom and joy unlike anything else I have known.
Favorite Quote
“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” (Jim Elliot) “If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen - nothing else matters.” (Jaroslav Pelikan)
Friends describe me
friendly, nerdy, athletic (for my age)
My hobbies
Reading, running, Duke basketball, traveling, hanging with my family
Fantasy dinner guests
The Apostle Paul, C.S. Lewis, MLK, Thomas Aquinas, Jackie Robinson
Best advice I ever received
Trust in Jesus
My undergrad alma mater
Duke University
My worst subject in school
Economics
In college I drove
1984 Ford Tempo (the droopy ceiling liner gave it a nice circus tent effect)
If I weren't a professor, I would
be involved in campus ministry
Favorite books
the Bible, Mere Christianity, Don Quixote, and a bunch more
Favorite movies
Dumb and Dumber, the Bourne series, Lord of the Rings, Shooter, the Incredibles, Fat Chance
Favorite city
If I can't pick Wilmington, gotta go with San Sebastián, Spain.
Favorite coffee
Flat white, but really anything hot - NO COLD COFFEE
Nobody knows I
was in a Marvel Movie (Iron Man 3)
My latest accomplishment
30 years of marriage (as of May 2026)
Current Research
Since I'm part time, NONE! But I always love diving into church history or Catholic/Protestant distinctives.