It is a great privilege and honor to highlight how God is at work in our lives here in Western North Carolina. My journey in student ministry began when I graduated in 2001 from Trinity Baptist College. God immediately opened the door for me to serve at Eagle’s View Academy in Jacksonville as a Bible teacher and a basketball coach. I am very grateful for the many friendships and relationships that were built, and the lives that were influenced and impacted for His kingdom.

In 2002, I married my best friend and the love of my life, Leah Baacke (‘02). I prayed for years for God to send a wife that would partner with me in ministry. He sent me the best I could have asked for. She is a dream come true. We immediately began serving together to impact students for His glory.

In 2004, God opened the door for us to serve at Bible Baptist Church in Kissimmee, Florida. We fell in love with the people and ministry there. We saw God work in mighty ways while serving in the church and Christian school. Many put their faith in Christ, while others strengthened their relationships with Him.

God continued to work in our hearts, and in 2008, He moved us from Kissimmee to our current place of ministry. We joined the staff at Pole Creek Baptist Church in Candler, North Carolina. It is a blessing to serve at Pole Creek, and we absolutely love it here in the mountains. We have been active in the community and both Leah and I have recently joined the staff of Youth for Christ part-time. We have a deep passion for campus ministry and are grateful that God has allowed us to serve as part of the Western North Carolina YFC team while continuing to serve on staff at PCBC. We have seen God work both on the campuses and in the churches in our community while reaching students and drawing them to a stronger relationship with God.

In each stage of ministry, God has grown me as a Christian man, husband, father and leader, for which I am grateful. He continues to deepen my faith and strengthen my passion to help students gain a comprehensive view of how to live for Him. They must realize that the Christian faith is a robust faith. With outstanding volunteers in ministry, God continues to work in great ways as we are seeing the downward spiral of spirituality be reversed.

God has blessed our family immensely. We have a precious, tenderhearted 5 year old daughter, Hayden, and a happy, active 1 year old son, Skylar. They are certainly a joy, and we cherish every moment of family time. Our desire as we raise them is to help them see Christ in all that we do.
It is a great blessing to serve Him in student ministry. We thank you for your continued prayers as we continue to seek to help students follow Christ and share their faith in Western North Carolina.