God called me to follow Him at age 7.  Growing up in a family of four (later 5), I experienced what I felt was a fully-engaged childhood.  Much of my time was spent imagining myself a great astronaut, a superhero, a time-traveler, or one of the greatest illusionists who ever lived.  In the early years, my younger brother, Jim, was both my best playmate, and at times, my stiffest competition (especially in regard to good grades at school).

My father worked many jobs (for at least one period, all at once) over the course of my early young life.  Sometimes, those jobs even involved serving in ministry (a leading God later passed onto me).  Up through my years in elementary school, my mother worked at home as a full-time mom.  God also equipped her, on more than one occasion, to accept ministry support positions (from worship choir member, to VBS leader, nursery worker and even children's choir director).