Carson Valley Christian Center launched its first worship service in February of 1998. Supported by two large churches in Southern California, a region of American Baptists in Northern California & Nevada, and a number of individuals, the church has become a model for planting a "High Impact Church". Over 1,800 people now attend worship each weekend with hundreds more involved in a range of weekly activities including a full martial arts and dance program as part of over 30 separate ministries. The church is located on 39 acres of land conveniently located halfway between mid-town Carson City and downtown Minden/Gardnerville. An amazing aspect of this reality is that only 100,000 people live within 30 miles of the church and only 5% attend church on a given weekend.

John formerly served as Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest (1993-1997) where he headed a mission staff supporting and encouraging the ministries of 270 churches located in four Western states. With his leadership, a remarkable financial recovery was coupled with deepened enthusiasm and increased commitment to the mission enterprise. During his four year tenure, baptisms doubled in the churches of the Region.

Prior to involvement in denominational activities, John served two churches, First Baptist Church of Oxnard, and First Baptist Church of Buena Park. His 11 years of ministry at Oxnard involved service in youth and educational ministries and as associate pastor, supervising all professional and lay staff. He ultimately became Senior Pastor of this church, where God worked in tremendous ways to bring growth and changed lives. His service at Buena Park was for 1 1/2 years as youth minister.

John is a fifth generation preacher with ministerial roots beginning with his great-great grandfather who was a lay preacher in Great Britain. His great grandfather was the third member of the Salvation Army, his grandmother was an ordained minister, and his father was a pastor as well. John's primary gifts of leadership, teaching, and administration give him a passion for seeing people come to know Christ and fulfill their Kingdom potential in Christ.