1.) How did God call you to be a missionary?

He came to faith when he was eighteen years old, and two years later he felt God calling him to missions. When he was a Sophomore in college, a missionary to Romania talked to his Sunday School class about the Arab world. Through this he felt God was calling him to the Middle East.

2.) What are some missions you have done?

He started with many short-term mission trips, lasting a couple weeks.These short-term trips showed him God was really calling him, and he ended up living in Jerusalem for twelve years as a full-time missionary.

3.)How did you know it was time to move on to the next stage in your life?

Mentors lead him and the calling from God was there. When he was doing short-term missions, he realized he was not educated enough. Before going to Jerusalem to stay, he went to seminary in order to learn more.

4.) If you knew then what you know now, what would you do differently?

He would be more evangelistic earlier in his life. Their was a season where he had to pull back and just learn, but he was not sharing the gospel during that time. Standing back and learning is important, but he would have still shared the gospel.

5.) What kinds of gifts has God given you to equip you to be a missionary?

He gave me a gift for languages, empathy, and teaching. Teaching comes later because you have to learn before you can teach.

6.) Who did God put in your life to equip you?

Two in particular. In college at the University of Tennessee, he had a man that prayed for him and pushed him to be a leader. He needed that push because he tends to be an introvert. His second mentor was his pastor when he was going to seminary in North Carolina. He was Egyptian and taught him the meaning of hospitality, an important trait for missionaries.

7.) What are some needs you see?

The Middle East is becoming more and more hostile toward the gospel. There is a need for missionaries trained in the gospel that also have a marketable skill. This marketable skill can get people into a country in order to spread the gospel.

8.) What are some resources or contacts you would recommend to me?

He told me to email him, and he would send me his class syllabus and a book on how to do missions.

9.) What would you do if you were taking this course?

He would get a prayer group together and talk to the pastor of my church. 

10.) Would you mind helping me in the future?

He would be glad to help me.