Our Story
It was Forrest Gump who said that you could tell an awful lot about a person by their shoes. Where they’re going. Where they’ve been.
That too can be said of pastors when it comes to their churches. There is an awful lot you can tell about a Pastor by their church. You can tell where they have been and where they are going.
So, that being said, I think you need to know both where I have been and where I intend to go as it pertains to both Christ and GENESiS.
GENESiS is a start, a beginning, but it is a second start and a new beginning for me in regards to pastoring a church. In June of 1991 I became the first pastor of Faith Alive Ministries (FAM) formerly located in the Deep Creek section of Chesapeake, VA. FAM grew from eleven people to an average attendance of over 2,000 before my departure after nearly 18 years as the lead pastor. By the blessing of God I was able to guide FAM through its infancy, oversee FAM through its adolescence and lead FAM into becoming one of God’s most dynamic and influential churches in Hampton Roads. However, because of my transgressions I needed to step down from my pastoral position.
In April of 2009, it became known that I had been involved in an extra marital affair and it was obviously time for me to leave my position as lead pastor and in turn begin a process of personal and marital restoration.
From May through December ’09, I began the journey of rebuilding my personal life, repairing my marriage with my wife Shawn of 24 years and renewing my relationship with God. Shawn and I met weekly with a Christian marriage counselor and I was counseled individually by a mentoring pastor. Not only did I witness God’s grace in the restoration of my marriage but also in the relationship with my children and in my home.
Throughout this process Shawn and I agreed that we would not go back into the ministry and instead actively pursue secular careers. However, at the turn of the New Year, ministry (through Shawn) was laid on our hearts again. After an honest but difficult conversation, Shawn and I began to pray about ministering again. In short, God answered our prayers leaving no doubt that He was calling us back into ministry.
So…
With the help of a handful of loyal, Christian friends, GENESiS was begun. I have shared with you where I have been and I now invite you to see where God has myself and GENESiS going.
Love, Bob
P.S. I know not everyone agrees that I should ever be in ministry again, I understand. I will not ask you to change your mind, but I will ask you to keep my family and I in your prayers.!
