I became a VW freak when Dad gave me one of those old VW bugs sitting in our driveway at age 14 and have owned several of them since.  He wanted to make a dune buggy for hunting or something and I wanted something that would move faster than I could ride my bike.  I got more than I bargained for.  I gladly relinquished all the extremities of VW racing and car shows for the joy pursuant of raising a family although I do own a Passat and a Eurovan.  Eurovans rock!

High school was great enough.  I missed one of the high school swimming records by one-tenth of a second!  I swam and played water polo in college for a couple of seasons and I immensely enjoyed that.

Jeff preparing to swim at Ohlone College (anyone remember “Cardiovascular Hill?”) and the soon-to-be “Beat the snot out of Porsches” 1964 VW.

I went to Ohlone Junior College and San Jose State University to pursue an Electrical Engineering degree but ended up becoming a pastor.  Who would've thought? It wasn’t on my list but I’ll never turn back.

I picked up playing the guitar again at that time and I now own several of them.  I’ve also written several songs but never professionally recorded anything.  It’s all fun!

I went to a couple of bible colleges.  The first one was in my home town - Fremont, Ca.  Then I finished my B.A. degree in Pastoral Theology at a second school in Springfield, Missouri.

I became a youth pastor at a church in Martinez, Ca. while working full-time for Costco in the Summer of 1991.  I married Tammy Cissell, a Southwest MIssouri State Univ. student whom I met in Springfield through mutual friends.  Hoorah and still loving that smile!

I moved to Woodland, Ca. in May 1994 and became a full-time youth leader at Woodland Assembly of God church (now called The Dwelling Place).  I became the pastor in 1997.  I have a wonderful church family here and we have an ever-increasing amount of great times!

I own a 1980 Honda CB750 to satisfy my need for speed --- oops!  “GAS MILEAGE” is what I told Tammy.  It's a lot cheaper than a 1960‘s, freakishly-superiorly-powered, VW Bug and I'm not sure it's any LESS safe <<grin!>>

Although I don't remember a thing about programming computers other than “C=C+1,” I stumbled into developing computer databases which has earned me a few bucks over the years doing side jobs.

My parents passed away in 2001-2.  Dad went first and since Mom's health wasn't good, she lived with us for the last year of her life.  It stunk being in my thirties and having my parents pass away because my two youngest have no memory of them.  But no regrets as I always had a great relationship with my parents.  Heaven will be a wonderful reunion for me.

Tammy and I have four children:  Jenna, Hannah, Emma, and Noah.  No, we didn’t plan the “uh’s” but we often laugh about how it turned out that way.  We often laugh about a lot of things.  Our children are wonderful, well-grounded in God, and are a joy to be around.

Oh yes, and before I get nasty emails by my dog-loving friends, we have a couple of great BIG dogs named Monte and Mercedes.   :)

I pray your life experiences bring you true joy beyond measure,

-Jeff

“Water longs to be walked on again”  - Bill Johnson