Born in Jackson, Michigan, and raised in Miami, Florida, Bob graduated from Florida Southern College with an AB degree in Philosophy in 1967, a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School in 1972, and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew Theological School in 1988.

Bob and his wife, the former Linda Newsome of Winston-Salem, enjoy writing and sharing original and contemporary music in faith-sharing concerts. Bob is a certified instructor in Tae Kwon Do with 33 years experience, currently working on his 5th degree Black Belt. Linda is a gifted artist and crafter, enjoying decorative painting and making porcelain dolls. Together they enjoy their children and grandchildren, and the summer of 2007 Bob and 10-year-old grandson Cody built a boat so they could fish on Lake Norman. Linda prayed fervently that the boat would float!

Licensed to preach in the Miami District of the Florida Conference in 1965, Bob joined the Western North Carolina Conference in 1972 and has served churches across our conference. He spent the first eight years of his pastoral ministry in the Conference with a focus on youth ministries, first founding "The New Wineskins" in 1971 and directing them for the next two years, and then founding "The Mustard Seeds" and directing them until 1980. Both groups shared their witness to Jesus Christ in word and song all across the Southeastern and Northeastern states, from Florida to Michigan and Washington DC to Texas.

While serving in Lexington, Bob helped establish "The Main Scene" ministry to street kids in the downtown area, some of whom were children of Outlaw motorcycle gang members. While serving in the Asheville district, he was part of the founding team that created "The Potter's Touch," a Tri-District counseling service that continues to provide psychotherapy and spiritual direction for United Methodist clergy and laity in the western regions of our Annual Conference. In several churches to which he has been appointed, he started puppet ministries as a means of outreach to children in the surrounding communities. After serving nine years at Main Street in Reidsville, Bob and his wife, Linda, moved to Terrell the summer of 2006 to serve the Rehobeth congregation.

Bob has served beyond the local church on District and Conference committees. For the past two quadrenniums he has served as the Vice Chairperson of the Conference Witness Commission and has been involved in the evangelistic efforts to reverse the decline in our Conference membership for the past seventeen years. He has also served as the Chairperson for Hispanic and Migrant Ministries while serving in the Northeast District. A strong advocate for "Natural Church Development," he has recently been asked to coordinate coaching for our Conference's Natural Church Development team and has been a frequent leader at District Leadership Events across our Conference, addressing the topics of "Spiritual Gifts and Gift-Oriented Ministries," "Natural Church Development," and "Practical, Need-Oriented Evangelism." He has also served over the years as a mentor for candidates for ministry.

• Archive of Bob's monthly messages and other writings