I am the son of a sharecropper, an historian, anthropologist, former business owner, doctoral candidate, published author, average musican, avid reader, dog and cat owner, hiker, camper, happy father of two and husband of one.  Often mistaken for "the most interesting man in the world," I grew up on a small West Texas farm, obtained undergraduate degrees from Texas Tech University, graduate degrees from Clemson University and Columbia Theological Seminary, and am a doctoral candidate at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.   I describe myself as a "good ol' farm boy that got lucky!"

My spiritual journey began very early in life.   A the age of six I made a personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized, almost drowned, at the First Missionary Baptist Church of Morton, Texas.  Faith and often the lack thereof have guided my life at every turn.  Years of part  time youth ministry, both volunteer and professional, lead to a sense of call to the vocation of ministry.  After seminary a brief stint in a children's hospital as a chaplain sharpened God's call in my life.  As a result, I have spent the last twenty years embarrassing churches by being known as their pastor.

I have a deep love for our crazy denomination and, because of our Reformed tradition, an even deeper love for Scripture.   I swing from begin somewhat of a mystic to a determined pragmatist concerning God's Word.   I always seek to approach Scripture in study and in sermons with a good sense of humor, practical wisdom borne of life experiences, a love for history, pop-culture, and a commitment to serving God by serving others.   My favorite sayings are, "We must never be so spiritually minded that we are of no earthly good!" and "Do something for Jesus now even if it's wrong!"

In 1990, through the grace of God and under unusally comical circumstances, I met Ann who, in 1991, agreed, for reasons which still escape me, to marry me.  For twenty years I have given thanks to God daily that I "out punted my coverage,"  We are parents of two wonderfully unique children.  Alex is entering the sixth grade and is a devoted Boy Scout.  Emma is entering the fourth grade and desires to be the world's first singing-dancing-dentist-artist.   Our greatest joy is spending time together as a family, camping, traveling, enjoying a few private moments, and just having a good time.

I have been serving in the church or Christian Non-Profits for the past 12 years.  I have been a Presbyterian all my life, and at age 19 started serving Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church as their Youth Director.  At Rumple, I discerned my call to the ministry.

I have enjoyed serving at various other ministries; an administrative assistant  for Operation Christmas Child's Headquarters in Boone, NC, a cashier at a Christian Book Store in Charlotte, NC, an assistant to the development office at Covenant Day School in Matthews, NC, an intern at Indian Trial and Avondale Presbyterian Churches in the Charlotte area and Director of the CROSS Mission Program at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC.

I met my husband, Reed, while attending Appalachian State University.  We were married in 2001 and moved to the Charlotte area shortly after.  While attending Union-PSCE seminary, Reed and I had our first child, River Grace born September 2005.  I graduated from Union-PSCE in Charlotte in 2007 with a Masters of Divinity.  The day I graduated from seminary, we found out we were pregnant with our second child, Haven Leigh, who was born in December, 2007. 

My first ordained call has been here at Tinkling Spring as the Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults.  My family's faith has been enriched by the warmth of this congregation.  If I drive by the church with my two girls and do not pull in the parking lot, my girls will say, "Let's go to church, mom." 

Our hope is that you and your family will feel the warmth, our family feels from the Tinkling Spring family during your walk with Christ.

I was born in Baltimore, Maryland on June 8th, 1944, the son of Merle L. Fisher, Sr., and Hilda Sauer Fisher.  It was in Baltimore that I met my future wife, Helen M. Addington, who had moved to the city  from Gate City, Virginia.  We lived in the same community and attended the same church, Abbott Memorial Presbyterian, where we were active in church programs, youth group and Sunday school.  After high school, Helen went to Nursing School and I went on to The King's College, where I concentrated my studies on the field of ministry, since I had felt the call of God on my life.  Helen and I were married on August 27, 1966 and have celebrated 43 years of marriage.

We then moved on to Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, where we met other newylweds and made life long friends.  After completing seminary in 1969, we were called to the Mitchell's Presbyterian Church in Rapidan, Virginia.  It was during this time that our two children were born.  Today, Kim and her husband, Jeff Wood and their three children, Elle, Bess, and Jack live in Staunton and are part of the Tinkling Spring church family.   Our son, Sean, and his wife, Liz, have two daughters, Madison and Mackenzie and live in Ellicott City, Maryland.  They attend the First Presbyterian Church of Howard County.

The Lord then called us to Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Old Church, Virginia in 1973.  After nine years, the door was open to move in ministry to Westview Presbyterian Church in Burlington, North Carolina.   From there, we sensed God leading us to The First Presbyterian Church in Ocean City, Maryland, where we ministered for over 11 years.  In December 1998, we came to Waynesboro, where we were called to Glen Kirk Presbyterian Church.  In October 2006, after 41 years of nursing and 37 years in ministry, Helen and I sensed God opening a door for retirement.  After about two months, I was involved with Pines Chapel Presbyterian Church in Greenville and accepted a call to be their Supply Pastor for a year until August, 2008.  In September, 2008, I was called to be the Parish Associate for this congregation here at Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church.  I am pleased to serve the congregation in visiting and other responsibilites assigned to me.

I was born in Huntington, New York, and lived there until I was 7 years old.   My family then moved to Alabama for several years.  I remember when my mom told me we were moving there, I thought we were going to a desert!   We only stayed there for two years or so, and then moved back to New York for another year.   When I was 11, we moved here to Virginia.  Virginia for me is definitely my home.  I absolutly love it here.   I love the mountains in the spring and fall, and I love the snow (when we get a lot) in the winter time. 

My husband and I met in 1988, and dated once or twice.  Then a year later, we met up again, and this time I knew he was the one.  I still remember the feeling I had when he held my hand that night.  Now, 21 years later, here we are.  We just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary, and we have two magnificent kids, Samantha and Derek.   Our daughter will be a senior and our son a freshman.    As a family, we love to go camping.  We've been to places like Niagara Falls, Myrtle Beach, Nags Head, and Hershey Park, as well as many other small state parks throughout Virginia.  Each year we try to choose a state we've never been to and spend a week camping there.   Pretty soon, we're gonna have to head out west.   Our family attends Cornerstone Church of Augusta in Fishersville.  We have been members there for almost 12 years. 

I enjoy taking pictures, and I'm a pretty avid scrap booker of all those family times together (although I'm always a little behind.)  I also enjoy reading, singing, gardening, and cooking.   I enjoy taking walks with my husband and spending time chilling out with my kids while watching a movie.   Those are some of our most precious times together.

I have a heart for teens, and love to spend time with them and encourage them.   I serve as the Impact Mentor Program Coordinator for my church.   In this program, we match up adults and teens within the church and encourage them to spend time together and create friendships.  This program has touched my heart as I've watched it grow from 5 to 14 matches within the last year.   Our team truly believes that today our teens need adults other than their parents, who can encourage them, listen to them, and be their friends as they walk through their teen years.

My family moved from Richmond to Stuarts Draft in the fall of 1970.  My mother’s family came to Tinkling Spring when she was a teenager so naturally she brought her family to the red brick church by the tinkling spring.   

Throughout the years I have discovered that God is a God of surprises.  While working  at a local grocery store I met my husband, Greg, and quickly discovered that he not only worked with my mother, but he was the very same person she had been trying to introduce me to for five years!  We were married at Tinkling Spring in 1988 and were blessed with two incredible children:  a daughter, Morgan, and a son, Devon.  Both children were baptized in the same sanctuary where Greg and I had shared our wedding vows.   

More surprises were in store as God led me into active service in this congregation through the weekday preschool as a teacher’s aid and a teacher, and then as a Sunday School teacher, mid-week ministry director, Vacation Bible School director, Deacon and Elder.  In 2002 I was called into fulltime Christian Education ministry and truly love every moment of this journey. 

I greatly enjoy the time Greg and I have with our young adult children and our grandson, Juan Michael, particularly the rare times when we’re all gathered around the table together.  When I’m not in the office you will find me playing with my grandson or looking for a new recipe to prepare.   

I look forward to a continued partnership in ministry with this family of faith, and hope you will join us in worshipping God at the red brick church by the tinkling spring.  I pray you to will discover the love and grace of Jesus Christ through this faithful family. 

I've been a member at Tinkling Spring since 1990, and the organist since 1994.  Before retirement I spent 31 years as an Electronic Engineer with the Army Electronics Command in New Jersey, developing battlefield radios and clandestine communications.   Most of the time it was a lot of  fun .

But I also love music, and had piano and organ lessons in my long-ago youth.  Although I never had the virtuoso talent that would have allowed making a living from music, I've always been a church organist.   I also built two organs for churches in New Jersey, plus the one in my home (for practicing, which I never do enough of).  Most recently, I rebuilt the organ here at Tinkling Spring for the new sanctuary.

I married the love of my life, Joyce, in 1971.  We raised four children who gradually provided us with ten grandchildren.  My youngest daughter, Emilie Friedland, and her husband, Larry, are active members at Tinkling Spring too.  Joyce succumbed to cancer in 2006, but it was during those dark days and since, that I have experienced the love of my family and our church family so strongly and realized that when you have love, you have what matters most in life.  (See John 4:7-12)

Having been born and raised in Augusta County, I consider myself to be very fortunate that all of my family still lives in the local area.  I attended public schools and graduated from Stuarts Draft High School in 1987.  I first began worshipping with Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church in 1994.  The following year, my wife, Nicole, and I were married here at the church.  In 1998, we were blessed with twin sons, Justin and Darrin. As a family, we enjoy spending time together.  We enjoy attending sporting events of various kinds and all levels from little league, high school, college and even professional.  I also enjoy coaching children in sports.  During the summer, you can often find us at Lake Anna where we enjoy swimming, boating, skiing and riding our wave runner.  We also enjoy traveling.  Some of our favorite trips have been a cruise to Jamaica and the Grand Cayman Islands, both Myrtle and Virginia Beaches, as well as to Philadelphia to watch the Phillies play in the playoffs.  Throughout my years here at TSPC, I have enjoyed seeing the many changes such as the addition of Spring Hall and the expansion of the Sanctuary.  I now look forward to working with the staff and congregation to be a part of the continued growth of our church as we serve our Lord.