I once read an Accidental Creative article with a challenge to create a 7 word bio. I didn’t follow the exact style suggested, but I love my bio above. In seven words, I succinctly describe who I am.

Founder. Builder. I like to create and build new things, specifically businesses and organizations.

Leader. I have the God-given ability to lead both those organizations and the people within them.

Father. I am a father both in the natural sense (I am married and have 4 children), but I also tend to have mentoring relationships.

Provider. I am not the sole provider for my family, but it is part of who I am.

Author. I’ve found that I love to write. I’ve written in several different ways over the years, and began blogging a few years ago. I couldn’t believe how much I loved it. Long term, I have a goal to write a book.

Extra-ordinary. The last word may come off as prideful, but that’s the opposite of my intent. I’m a normal person. However I have something within me making me more than normal (so do you).

My story.

I was born, raised and continue to live in the Kansas City area. I graduated from Mid America Nazarene University in 1997 with a degree in Christian (Pastoral) Education.

I married Kia Antisdel in 1995, and we have 4 children – 2 girls and 2 boys. I stay busy attending school activities, coaching soccer teams, driving to dance practice, making dinner and cheering for Sporting Kansas City and the Kansas City Royals.

I worked for 10 years as a professional children’s pastor at 2 churches. I was good. I easily connected with children, and I was able to bring together adults to work together for a common purpose.

In 2005, I was ready for a new challenge. I left my position to join my wife and her family in a new business endeavor – Senior Portrait Artists (spa). I was the director of spa from its inception in 2005 through 2010. I helped build an organization of over 400 studios with an annual event of over 600 people.

In 2011, I created a blog/business to focus on writing and creating an online business focusing on photography, business and life. It was a major success and failure all at the same time. I learned to write, but I didn’t make any money. I’m okay with that trade.

2012 was a year of transition. Kia left the family photography business to build her own studio (find more about Kia as a photographer at KiaBondurant.com). I waited. I knew there was something God had for me, but I just couldn’t put my finger on it. In June of that year, my good friend David accepted the role of lead pastor at Cross Points Church in Shawnee, Kansas.

I offered to help in any way necessary to help make him successful, planning to volunteer in some fashion. Surprisingly, David asked me to fill the role of children’s pastor. I said no. God said yes. So, here I am at the same church doing the same thing I was 1o years ago. Since joining his staff, my role has morphed and molded into doing a little bit of a lot of things…including kids ministry. I love it.

One thing I don’t get to do enough of is write. Write what I want to write – put my feelings and thoughts to paper (digitally). This is that place.

Here you’ll find a few of my favorite blog posts from The Collective, and everything new.

I always believe there is more. My story has much more to come. I look forward to sharing it with you.