My Story

Early Years
I am the middle son of an Air Force officer. I grew up all over the world and am thankful for the exposure that lifestyle afforded. We attended the base chapel most Sundays, but those years were not focused on or surrendered to Jesus. 

Coming to Christ
During college, I was involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a local church chorale. While I've always known about Jesus, I never knew Jesus. Early in my marriage, Tricia and I were looking for friends in our new hometown and got involved in a local church and started serving in their student ministry. Through our small group and the student ministry team, I learned that God loved me, didn't hate me, and sent His son Jesus to save me.

Present Ministry

After planting and leading two churches in the Denver area, I am serving as the Senior Pastor of Valley Fellowship Church in Buena Vista, Colorado. I've recently helped  churches and leadership teams from the West coast to the East coast, from Africa to Asia, discover their God given purpose and potential, better defining their systems and structure, and bring organizational health to their congregations and staffs. 

Ministry Philosophy
I am committed to helping people find their way back to God - for the first time or once again. I believe ministry is a team sport. I believe life change happens best in the context of life-giving relationships. I believe that every follower of Christ has been designed with a God-given destiny to worship, grow and serve Jesus. I believe that nobody is perfect, everyone is important, and anything is possible with Jesus.

Doctrine and Beliefs
I believe in God the Father, who sovereignly created and rules over all things, Jesus the Son, who came to offer eternal life to those who would repent, believe, and faithfully obey Him, and the Holy Spirit, who is actively working in the lives of believers. I believe the Bible to be the infallible and inspired Word of God, sufficient for all the Church's needs, including primarily its growth in holiness to Jesus. 

Personality and Giftings

Strengths Finder: Strategic, Activator, Achiever, Self-Assurance, Futuristic

Spiritual Gifts: Leadership, Teaching, Wisdom

Myers Briggs: ENTJ

DISC: D/I

Enneagram: 3w4

Education

Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC |  2001
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA  |  1995
Ordination and Licensing

Holly Hill Baptist Church, Burlington, NC | 1997

Family
Wife - Patricia Ann Crimmel, Married July 1, 1995

Daughter - Brittany Crimmel, Born April 2, 1997, Production Director at Saddleback Church

Son - Zachary Crimmel, Born August 19, 2001, Junior at the University of Wyoming

Son - Jacob Crimmel, Born April 21, 2007, Ninth Grade

Interests
Skiing, Snowboarding, Climbing 14ers, Cooking, Baseball, Football, Movies, Lacrosse, Reading, Coaching