Brian was born in Southeast Iowa and moved to Marion when he was a wee little lad of three. He grew up just a few blocks east of the church building, attending Linn-Mar schools (class of ’88), and remembers when the church property was nothing but farmland and empty beer cans. Brian accepted Christ at 10 years-old and has benefited from a lifetime in the church, watching his parents and grandparents faithfully serve it.
While attending the University of Northern Iowa, Brian helped start a Christ for UNI Bible study. At about the same time, he met Michelle, and they have been inseparable ever since. After graduating in 1992 and receiving a BA in Public Relations, Brian began a 10-year career in marketing and communications. In 2002, he switched lanes and began a sales career with a Fortune 100 insurance company, where today he directs its training and development program for Eastern Iowa.
After marrying Michelle in 1993, Brian helped raise and homeschool children Allie and Sam, who today are both married and have surrendered their former bedrooms to Michelle’s creative design choices. The “empty-nest” stage of life is proving to be both weird and wonderful.
Brian began attending New Life in 2005 and was first recognized as a bi-vocational Pastor in 2009. Pastor Brian’s favorite scripture is 2 Timothy 1:7, “God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control.” His greatest desire for the New Life family is that it would grow daily in its conviction to “Fight the good fight” with our Savior’s ever-present love and leading.