I was a biology major my first two years of college, planning on becoming a dentist. However, after observing a dentist at work at the end of my sophomore year, I decided that was not a vocation for me. I sought counsel from professors, friends, and respected mentors and all of them, without exception, encouraged me to consider pastoral ministry. I accepted their counsel as God’s direction. As a result, I entered seminary following graduation from college and have pastored since graduating from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1980.
Where have you pastored?
My first appointment was a little country church in Ulysses, Pennsylvania. The people of that congregation taught me that ministry was about being a shepherd, getting to know the members of my church, spending time with them, and encouraging them in their walk with Christ. After six years, I was appointed to the Free Methodist Church in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania. There I learned about the importance of impacting a community and seeking to be salt and light in an entire town. Seven years later I was appointed to Edgewood Free Methodist in a southeastern suburb of Rochester. I feel Edgewood taught me the importance of creating an environment of grace, so anyone can feel welcomed and embraced by the Christian community. Now, after fourteen years at Edgewood, I find myself appointed to Pearce. I’m sure there will be valuable opportunities for learning here as well!
Who has influenced you in ministry?
I have been privileged to have many mentors. Professor Warren Woolsey at Houghton College first instilled a passion for understanding the scriptures. Dr. Gorden Fee at Gordon-Conwell Seminary and Dr. Robert Lyons at Asbury Seminary deepened that passion and taught me “context is everything”! Through his books, Eugene Peterson has instructed me about the heart of a pastor. One of my most recent mentors was a lay person at Edgewood: Pritchard Douglass. He demonstrated every day of his life what a life fully devoted to Christ looks like. My Uncle Jack, who continues to minister in his eighties, models for me the gracious heart of a servant.
Who are you married to?
I was married on May 27, 1978 to Mary Margaret Grazioplene, a fellow student at Houghton College. She has been a delight to be married to and I consider myself incredibly blessed as her husband. She grew up in nearby Batavia, taught junior and senior high math for thirteen years, and for the past fourteen years has worked for Benefit Resource in Rochester.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to read and enjoy discovering coffee shops where I can sip a good cup of java and dive into a great book. Mary and I both enjoy bicycling and consider the canal bike path one of Rochester’s treasures. We also love to travel and find the world an incredibly fascinating place. We also enjoy an evening playing bocce with friends, as long as I get to win!
What are a few of your favorite books?
To Kill a Mockingbird remains my all-time favorite novel, although, Margaret Craven’s I Heard the Owl Call My Name is a close second. I also enjoy travel books and recently finished China Road by NPR correspondent Rob Gifford. I’ve also enjoyed reading Frederick Buechner’s books, especially his autobiographies. Of course, C. S. Lewis and G. K. Chesterton are dearly loved writers. I appreciate good history and I am just beginning to read a recent gift, Washington’s Crossing by David Hackett Fisher. I would be amiss if I didn’t confess a love for good mystery books. P. D. James and Elizabeth George are among my favorite mystery writers.
I was a biology major my first two years of college, planning on becoming a dentist. However, after observing a dentist at work at the end of my sophomore year, I decided that was not a vocation for me. I sought counsel from professors, friends, and respected mentors and all of them, without exception, encouraged me to consider pastoral ministry. I accepted their counsel as God’s direction. As a result, I entered seminary following graduation from college and have pastored since graduating from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1980.
My first appointment was a little country church in Ulysses, Pennsylvania. The people of that congregation taught me that ministry was about being a shepherd, getting to know the members of my church, spending time with them, and encouraging them in their walk with Christ. After six years, I was appointed to the Free Methodist Church in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania. There I learned about the importance of impacting a community and seeking to be salt and light in an entire town. Seven years later I was appointed to Edgewood Free Methodist in a southeastern suburb of Rochester. I feel Edgewood taught me the importance of creating an environment of grace, so anyone can feel welcomed and embraced by the Christian community. Now, after fourteen years at Edgewood, I find myself appointed to Pearce. I’m sure there will be valuable opportunities for learning here as well!
I have been privileged to have many mentors. Professor Warren Woolsey at Houghton College first instilled a passion for understanding the scriptures. Dr. Gorden Fee at Gordon-Conwell Seminary and Dr. Robert Lyons at Asbury Seminary deepened that passion and taught me “context is everything”! Through his books, Eugene Peterson has instructed me about the heart of a pastor. One of my most recent mentors was a lay person at Edgewood: Pritchard Douglass. He demonstrated every day of his life what a life fully devoted to Christ looks like. My Uncle Jack, who continues to minister in his eighties, models for me the gracious heart of a servant.
I was married on May 27, 1978 to Mary Margaret Grazioplene, a fellow student at Houghton College. She has been a delight to be married to and I consider myself incredibly blessed as her husband. She grew up in nearby Batavia, taught junior and senior high math for thirteen years, and for the past fourteen years has worked for Benefit Resource in Rochester.
I love to read and enjoy discovering coffee shops where I can sip a good cup of java and dive into a great book. Mary and I both enjoy bicycling and consider the canal bike path one of Rochester’s treasures. We also love to travel and find the world an incredibly fascinating place. We also enjoy an evening playing bocce with friends, as long as I get to win!
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