I was born and raised in New Lexington, Ohio. At the time, coal mining was the number one industry.

My dad left my mother when I was about 18 months old, leaving her to bring up five boys on her own. We were very poor; I can remember going to bed very hungry at times. There was one big stove in the living room that had to heat the whole house, and we had a coal stove in the kitchen to cook on. There was also an outside toilet- which, in the winter, was really cold- to use. To take a bath, you had to heat water on the cook stove and pour it into a big old tub. We never received Christmas or birthday gifts, but we had a very loving mother.

Looking back on my life, I think God used all of this to prepare me for the mission work that I do. These very things are what God used to give me such a desire to take food, clothing, and Bibles to folks in need. Every year we try to do a Christmas mission trip to take gifts to children in poverty. My wife and I enjoy doing this, and God has always provided the funds to make this happen. Lord willing, we will continue doing this for as long as He gives us the health and means to do so.