Many disciples around the world have never met an elder. Through the global connection of the internet, we can introduce you to them.

The Shepherding Service Team organized by the Delegates at the last International Leadership Conference have assembled some quick looks at the elders in the group. These will be published here and on www.icocco-op.org so you can know who these people are. Disciples Today is working on a new tool that will allow you to "Ask an Elder."

For other profiles on elders, click here.

Elder and Evangelist, New York City Church of Christ, Mount Vernon, NY USA

I was brought to the Lord in 1975 during my freshman year at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina where Wyndham Shaw served as campus minister. Shortly after graduation in 1978 I moved to Gainesville, Florida where Cynthia and I dated and were married in 1981.

God blessed us with the opportunity to serve in the ministry in Tallahassee, Fl from 1981 to 1987. We moved from Tallahassee to New York in 1987 where I now serve as an elder and evangelist.

Cynthia and I have two wonderful girls who are faithful disciples. Christina is a law student at Fordham University Law School in Manhattan and Lauren is in her senior year as a speech pathology major at Lehman College. She will attend Columbia University for graduate school in the fall. Both are active in the campus ministry in the New York church.

Cynthia and I have had the honor of serving in several regions of the New York church during our twenty-one years here. God has taught us many invaluable lessons during our time in this multi-cultural metropolis of some eighteen million souls. One of those lessons is that of perseverance. You won’t make it as a disciple in New York (or anywhere) if you don’t learn the lesson of perseverance.

It would be great if becoming a Christian exempted us from the trials and storms of life. It does not. Though life in Christ is the best life it is not a life free from difficulty. At times because of our faith we may face even greater challenges. The devil may put on the full court press. The evil one makes every effort to get us to quit on ourselves, on our families and on God. I have seen many give up and settle for far less than God envisioned for their lives. They began the good fight but failed to get back up when knocked down.

It is imperative that we learn the lesson of perseverance. (James 1:4) Spiritual maturity takes perseverance. Building a great marriage takes perseverance. Raising God-fearing children takes perseverance. Finishing school take perseverance. Getting to heaven takes perseverance. Whatever you do, you can’t give up in this race. Fight the good fight and embrace the challenges before you with faith. Do not compromise. Hold to your convictions. Trust in God and his word at all times-no matter what happens. After thirty-three years in the faith I have never seen God abandon those who persevere in Christ. Psalm 37 is fact not fiction. (Psalm 37:25) I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. Persevere and God will bless you beyond your dreams and expectations.

Heb. 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.