My heart aches for the many children who have been abused and are being abused.  I could not sit still while thousands of children are being abused every year with the knowledge that sex offenders are attending churches.  God led me to start Keeping Kids Safe Ministries.

Many people ask me why I work with sex offenders.  My answer is simple.  I do not want another child to be harmed by an offender and if it means investing in the life of an offender I proudly do it.  I believe God has revealed the solution for sexual abuse.  Children are safer when sexual sinners are genuine Christ followers seeking God instead of children with treatment, and are court supervised.

God has been preparing me for this ministry by allowing me to work in prisons and inpatient and outpatient sex offender treatment programs as a therapist.  My experiences include being one of the early pioneers in the development of the United States military sex offender treatment program.  Other experiences include being the CEO of a consulting firm that assisted youth programs in developing child safety policies, reducing liability for potential sexual abuse, and implementing a system to deter offenders from working in children's programs.  My education background includes a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy.  I am a clinical member of ATSA.

Member - American Association of Christian Counselors

I have been counseling professionally since receiving a Master of Arts in Religion (in marriage and family therapy) from Harding Graduate School of Religion in 1985.  I specialize in the treatment of sexual offenders.  I have worked in church youth ministries, private practice, community mental health, children's homes and foster care agencies.  One of the things that struck me very early and hit hard, was the recognition of how sexual abuse, particularly experienced in childhood, can tear lives apart and cripple people for years, or even lifetimes.  Many of my clients, both children and adults, were victims of childhood sexual abuse.  The effects of this abuse included anxiety, fear, depression, behavior problems, difficulty in relationships, sexual dysfunction and promiscuity.

Eventually I became convinced that as a therapist, I could serve victims, and protect potential victims better by helping offenders to become and remain accountable.  As I have learned more about the dynamics of sexual offending I have come to understand that God's plan for all of us is a message that can change the lives of offenders, too.

A few years ago a youth in a residential treatment program told me that he wanted to attend my church when he got out of the program.  I recall so clearly the mix of joy that he was seeking God, fear that he desired to attend my church, and then guilt about my fear.  I am embarrassed to report that my response to his request was shameful.  I advised him to make sure someone at the church he chose to attend was aware of his history, but I avoided giving him any information about my own church, not wanting him to attend.  

Soon after that I met Greg and began to learn from him what he had been doing to help churches cope with this delimma and to grow from the experience.  After many months of prayer and consideration I decided to join with him in creating this ministry.