Some of you who know me today as a fatherly figure to younger ministers, may not know the whole story of why I try so hard to help others succeed in ministry. It was the early 1990’s and the Church was much different then than it is today. Back then denominational connection was very important and adhering to doctrines that create the differences was equally important. I was brand new at being a local church pastor and my views did not seem to fit in anywhere. We were a part of the Southern Baptist denomination but not really liked there because we openly believed in spiritual gifts for today. Pentecostals did not believe we were really Spirit filled because we were connected to the Baptist. I really needed someone to look up to, someone to answer my questions and someone who thought the Kingdom of God was greater than a denomination. I finally found this person when I met Ed Delph. Ed welcomed me into his inner circle of pastors at a Francis Frangipane conference and began to speak into my life about leading the local church. He invited Dawn and me on our first mission trip in 1993 which led Skyway into the world mission involvement we have today. He was there for us when we hit plateaus in worship and spiritual gifts in the congregation. Ed has more to say in one sentence than many ministers say in one hour. Today Ed travels the world helping the church become The Church and we support his work through our missions. It is my joy to have Ed minister to our Skyway congregation today.