I grew up in a warm, secure home with parents who loved Jesus. We read Bible stories, went backpacking, prayed together, body-surfed together, memorized verses, and went to church. But when I turned 17, I found that I was empty.
The problem was that I had been going to church and acting like a Christian on the outside without being transformed on the inside. I was a pretty good kid, but I was not trusting Jesus Christ as my Lord, Savior, and all-satisfying Treasure. That’s why I was empty – because anything besides Jesus will ultimately leave us empty and disillusioned.
But the summer before my senior year in high school, God changed my heart. For the first time I owned up to the truth of Jesus Christ. I saw that He was fully God, and that because of His live, death, and resurrection He could forgive me, change me, and fully satisfy me.
So I turned from everything else, confessed my sins to Him, and asked Him to forgive, change, and satisfy me. I don’t want to overstate what happened – but He freed me from guilt, changed my heart, and filled me with joy.
I loved talking to Jesus – and would go on walks around my neighborhood so I could spend time with Him. I loved studying God’s Word – and meeting God in His Word. And I loved connecting with other believers, and helping people come to know Christ.
I loved this so much that I knew Jesus was calling me to make this my life’s work. Which is why I am now a pastor. But that’s jumping ahead.
After high school I went to Westmont College in Santa Barbara, and then transferred to UCSB. It was during this time that I met Jan Votaw (now Jan Fuller) who is God’s second greatest gift to me. I graduated with a degree in Philosophy, married Jan, and then went to Fuller Theological Seminary.
We were involved in a couple of different churches, and then in 1989 God called us to move to San Jose to help people come to know Jesus and start a church – which is how Mercy Hill Church got started.
Jan and I have been married 33 years and have two gifted and loving children -- Anna (27) and Brad (24).
Jan teaches fourth-grade two days a week at Pioneer Family Academy, trains women leaders, and helpful critiques every sermon ahead of time. She likes Bed and Breakfasts, the Monterey area, and Typhoo tea. I am the teaching elder at Mercy Hill Church. I love mountain bike rides in the Santa Teresa hills, reading John Owen and Jonathan Edwards, and surfing my long-board at Pleasure Point.
Here's my blog -- LivingByFaithBlog.com.
