Pastor Jeff grew up in California and Virginia. While in 6th grade, he put his faith in Christ as his Savior through Sunday School. During junior high and especially high school, he grew in understanding what it meant to be a Christian, and God began to put church ministry on his heart. His second week in college, he attended Evanston Bible Fellowship (EFCA) and continued worshiping there until the Lord called him to pastor in North Dakota. During his college years, God used Jeff’s involvement in Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru), to help him continue to learn more about living the Christian life.

Jeff’s education includes a bachelor’s degree (Economics & Political Science) from Northwestern University and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Before accepting the call to serve in Keokuk, he ministered as pastor of Faith Evangelical Church (EFCA) in Underwood, ND for 13 years. Previously, he served as Youth Director at Evanston Bible Fellowship in Evanston, IL.

Pastor Jeff understands the mission of the church to be making more and better followers of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20). He sees his role as a pastor to be cultivating a disciple-making culture within the church. He feels he is to lead by example in both seeking to grow in his own walk with Christ and helping others grow in theirs.

Pastor Jeff believes the church also exists for those who are not yet part of it. Believers are to seek to make more disciples by having a welcoming and inviting culture, as well as actively seeking to reach neighbors, co-workers and classmates with the Good News of Christ by taking ministry outside the walls of the church building. As he settles into the Keokuk community, Pastor Jeff says he is excited about getting to know the area in order to identify how E Free Church can help the community experience the love of God. “I am passionate about seeing lives changed by God’s Word in helping people follow Jesus,” he says.

Pastor Jeff is married to Harmony and they have 3 children. Jeff enjoys reading, playing with the kids, coaching, and golfing once in a while. Harmony enjoys reading, baking, board games with the kids, and while in North Dakota, enjoyed volunteering at the food pantry she started.