I was born (a very long time ago) in Montpelier, Vt. into a wonderful family who went to church only about three or four times a year. In our everyday lives, no one in my family ever mentioned God, so I grew up not believing that there was a God.
I studied psychology at Wesleyan University (a former Methodist seminary) in Middletown, Ct. and graduated without knowing either who John Wesley was, what Methodism was or who God was.
While in graduate school, as a child of the 60’s, I became caught up in the civil rights movement, the hippie “revolution,” the anti-war movement, the New Age Movement and, later, the back-to-the-land movement. In all these cases, I was searching some kind of personal peace and a way to make the world a better place, but found no definite answers.
In 1972, after working as the assistant to a psychologist and becoming a social worker for the Vermont Welfare Department, I moved to Prince Edward Island, Canada hoping to find the meaning of life. There I “homesteaded” on a small farm while working as a newspaper reporter. As a part of my search, I read everything from the Communist Manifesto to Autobiography of a Yogi but became discouraged about ever finding a truth in which I could believe or a way of life which could bring me lasting happiness.
In 1975, in answer to a very desperate agnostic prayer (“If there’s anybody up there, please help!”), God revealed Himself to me in a mind-blowing way and I became a follower of Jesus Christ. (for the full story, see my written Testimony and You Tube Testimony)
As I began reading the Bible for the first time, I discovered a glorious new life filled with love, joy, peace and more meaning, purpose and fulfillment than than I ever thought possible. My hunger to learn more about God led me rather quickly to South Berwick, Maine to attend the Stevens School of the Bible.
Three years later, I graduated and started a small inner-city church in Albany, NY where I pastored for over 20 years. Working part-time as a substance abuse counselor in three different secular programs eventually led me to my current position as Director of the New Life Program at the Capital City Rescue Mission where I help recovering addicts and alcoholics to find the life-changing joy and freedom which a personal relationship with God can provide.
Over the years, God has allowed me to share the blessings of this new life in Christ as Chaplain for the Albany County Jail, Hudson Valley Community College, the Albany Patroons Basketball team and the New York State Legislature. In all of these venues I have witnessed the power of God to transform people’s lives in wondrous ways.
My wife, Kim, and I have been happily married for 36 years. We have two wonderful children, Hannah (born in 1999) and Derek (born in 2001) and one grandchild, the amazing Adelaide Grace Milkens, who was born in September of 2019. It has been a richly blessed life so far and, as is always true for those who know the Lord, the best part is still to come!
If you would like to know how you can experience the matchless blessings which the salvation of Jesus Christ offers and discover God’s plan and purpose for your life, please make use of the various resources found on this website. It would bring me great joy to help you find and grow in this glorious new life.