John was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and raised in Tarboro. He graduated from
Piedmont International University and Dallas Theological Seminary with a master of arts
in biblical studies. He graduated from Southeastern Seminary with master and doctor of
divinity degrees.
John completed a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) unit through Wake Forest Baptist
Hospital at Nash General Hospital. John did post-graduate work at The Southeast Institute
in Chapel Hill and post-graduate work through the Beeson Institute for Advanced Church
Leadership through Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.
He was on staff at Dallas Seminary from 1983 to 1988. While in Dallas, John founded Dallas Christian Video and
produced several educational and religious videos, including an animated children's series based on a family of
bears called the Bear Hugs.
John has served churches in Ohio and Texas and was ordained in 1992. John has served several churches in North
Carolina, including those in Wilson, Rocky Mount, Beaufort, Kitty Hawk, and Manteo.
John retired early to accept a position at NC Wesleyan College. In 2018, his position at the college was eliminated due
to budget cuts. He was contacted by a small church and hired as an interim minister. After they found their "permanent"
minister, he accepted a part-time role in a tiny church. He traveled forty-fi ve miles to preach and serve this congregation
for two years. He planned on staying at this church for several more years when his phone rang again.
He returned to the fi rst church he served in the 1990s, which he continues to serve.
He has been married to Sheryl for over forty-fi ve years and has one daughter, Nicole.
