Favorite Book(s): I loved reading The Hatchet or My Side of the Mountain as a kid. Where the Red Fern Grows is the first book that made me cry. The Sparrow is a book I’ve returned to many times as an adult that really made me think about God and our perception of him.
Favorite Childhood Possession: An Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle (with a compass on the stock).
Favorite TV Show: Survivor–I would love to be on Survivor. And The Office.
Favorite Movie: Dumb & Dumber, Tommy Boy, Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester, Akeelah and the Bee
If you had to eat one food at every meal going forward, what would it be?: Japanese cuisine in general, and sushi in specific.
Dream Vacation: I’d love a salmon-fishing trip to Alaska.
Disney Spirit Character: Donald Duck
Movie or TV title that best describes your life: Threat Level: Midnight
How do you like your coffee? …as a McDonalds’ Diet Coke
A little more about Tom:
Tom experienced God calling him to ministry when he was 12 years old, and–after a few internships–he went into full-time ministry 10 years later. He primarily served in student ministries for 15 years, with many opportunities to lead in other areas as well, including children’s, adult’s, small groups, men’s, women’s, hospitality, connections, and finance ministries. He is now delighted to serve Richwoods as the Executive Pastor. He is energized by the idea that–if he does his job well–he enables the church and its ministries to run smoothly, the church and its people are protected, and the staff and the congregation are well-cared for.
Tom met his wife Renee at Fuller (where she got her Master of Divinity two years before him!), and they have two rambunctious boys: James and Jacob. Tom is working on his doctorate through Fuller, and spends his free time working on that, going out with his wife, playing board games and video games with friends, wrestling or going on adventures with the boys, reading, cooking, and learning to garden in the very forgiving midwest soil.