A little about me and how to contact me.

I grew up in Detroit, Michigan.  I went to public schools as a child.  My family went to church on holidays and prayed a prayer of thanks at the dinner table.  When it was time to go to high school my parents planned that I would go to their alma mater, Denby High School, but the city of Detroit just began a de-segregation busing program which would have me going to a school across town.  My parents were so frustrated that I could not go to Denby that they began to look at the possibility of sending me to a private high school.  By the middle of the summer, I learned that I was going to go to Lutheran High School East for my high school education.  It is there that I became a Christian.

After high school I went to a Christian college and seminary, and ultimately became a pastor.  I laugh about this today. My public speaking teacher in high school told me not to go into public speaking.  I was one of those kids that got blotchy red and my voice shook every time I had to speak in public.  It is amazing what the Spirit of God can accomplish in and through us.  He can overcome our human weakness! (2 Cor. 12: 9&10)  I was a pastor at three different churches over an eight year period.  They ranged in sizes from 1000 members, to 450 members, back to around 2000 members.

The consequences of sin in my life forced me to leave the ministry.  I went through a divorce, and am working hard to this day to keep as healthy a relationship I can have with my four great kids.  I am remarried to a lovely woman.  She makes everything about me better.  She came into our relationship with 3 great girls.  So if you have done the math…yes, there are 7 children total.  And they are a blast!!!

Although I am not a pastor of a church, the Lord has never removed his calling from my heart and life.  I have been teaching the Sunday morning Bible class at my church for a number of years now.  The class has grown from 20+ to nearly 100 today.  Praise the Lord!!  I have gone to Israel once and to Haiti every year since 2003.  I am so thankful that the Lord still provides me opportunities to use the spiritual gifts He gave me to serve in His kingdom!  What a gracious and amazing God we have!

Recently, a very good pastor friend of mine, asked me to start opening some doors and see if God might have something more for me to do in His service.  Within a week or so of our conversation, I started a Bible study in my house and started this website.  I am not sure what the Lord has planned, but I know He has one!!  And I am open to move in whatever direction He sees fit.

Above are a couple pictures of me teaching.  One is in Israel.  The other is of me teaching lay-pastors in Haiti.

If you want to contact me, I can be reached at the following email address:  tom@firmlyrooted.org  Check me out on facebook – Firmly Rooted Ministries.

Peace!

Tom