Wife: Teri
Children: Casey, Sienna, Claire
Years at The Grove: 2014-Present
I am thankful that, by God’s grace, I was born into a Christian home where I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Where I was once a shy little boy struggling with shame and fear, the Lord has now given me confidence in Him alone and a daily deepening knowledge of His grace in my life.
The Lord has been gracious in allowing me to have a wide variety of professional opportunities ranging from having been a police officer in central Indiana for ten years, to leading several different Christian foster care ministries in central Florida. The Lord used my time as a police officer, specifically being a Detective investigating internet crimes against children, to show me the depth of sin in our world, while also affirming that true life changing and eternally lasting hope can only be found in Jesus Christ.
I find great joy in hearing other’s stories and walking with them in life while watching them increase in the likeness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is an even greater blessing to have Teri Claassen as my wife, and to be the father of our three children. Our home is my greatest mission field, one in which I am reminded daily of God’s grace and love. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and roasting coffee. (Yes, I am a coffee snob and nerd…. I buy green coffee beans and roast them at home.)
Fun Fact: I have always enjoyed aquariums with my favorite fish to keep and breed being Lake Tanganyika cichlids