My Background
PastorRobA.jpg (18352 bytes) I am currently serving the Lord as Pastor of St. Thomas Lutheran. I am married, have four children, and three grandchildren. I have a great sense of humor, although people tell me it is very dry, whatever that means. I am also a songwriter, guitarist, and banjo player. I am an eight year veteran of the United States Air Force.

Ministry Experience

Growing up I had a typical Sunday School experience, was an acolyte, and participated in youth groups. At 17 years old I joined the Air Force and lived in Texas, Colorado, Utah, and Germany. At age 23 the Lord awakened me to deeper spiritual life and the next year I went to college. At age 24 I was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior Lutheran Church, LCMS, in Mayfield Hts. As a young man I was a musician and mostly volunteered with youth goup activities, served on evangelism committees, led men's groups for Bible study, and was involved with a discipleship group called the Navigators. I served as a worship leader, musician, and liturgist for many years while working in the field of computers until the Lord awakened me to the need to prepare for full-time ministry.

I have been in full-time ministry now for over seven years. I believe every member of the body of Christ is called to ministry of some form. We are each gifted in our baptism for ministry. We should always ask ourselves, therefore, where is God calling me to serve?

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Education

  1. MDiv. - Masters of Divinity from Ashland Theological Seminary - 2004.
  2. MLS - Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University - 1999.
  3. BA - Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Psychology from Kent State University - 1992.
  4. AS - Associate Degree in Computer Science from the Community College of the Air Force - 1985.
  5. Technical School, United States Air Force - Munitions/Weapons Systems, Explosive Ordinance Disposal.

Employment

  1. St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 2003 - present, Pastor.
  2. St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 2000 - 2003, Redevelopment Minister.
  3. United States Air Force Reserves, 2000-2006, Weapons Systems Specialist
  4. Before coming to St. Thomas, I was the Director of Technology for the Streetsboro City School District.
  5. Before Streetsboro City Schools, I was the Automated Systems Manager for theTaylor Memorial Public Library in Cuyahoga Falls.
  6. Before Taylor Library, I was the Residence Services Coordinator of Informations Systems and Emergency Services for Kent State University at the Allerton Family Housing Office Complex,
  7. Before Kent State, I was the Manager of Technical Services for Steel Service Center Institute, a trade association of the steel industry in Cleveland, Ohio.
  8. From the time I discharged from active duty with the Air Force until I graduated from Kent State is a period of time I like to call the college years. During those years I held a number of jobs I will just leave to the annals of history, but let's just say they all make for good sermon illustrations.
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