I grew up in Hardin, Kentucky where God saved and called me to Gospel ministry. With the help of some friends, I met a beautiful girl from Marion, Kentucky named Stacy Leigh, and, as soon as possible, I married her in May 2006. In February 2009, God blessed us with our first (and so far only) child, our son Jude.

I graduated from Boyce College of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies and a minor in Missions.  While in college, I pastored Elk Lick Baptist Church in Owen County, Kentucky before discerning God’s leadership to serve as short-term missionaries. For two years, our family served as missionaries in the Republic of  Moldova where I taught New Testament, Church History, and Spiritual Growth at the EurAsian Baptist Bible Institute & Trade School.

We moved to Moldova when Jude was only six months-old. Between Jude’s first and second birthdays, we grew increasingly concerned over the fact that he was not talking but kept telling ourselves that Jude was likely linguistically confused due to the three languages (English, Romanian, and Russian) swirling around him. However, by his second birthday, Stacy Leigh and I realized that not only was Jude struggling to communicate but he also lacked receptive language skills.

In June 2011, we returned to Louisville, Kentucky and sought professional help for Jude. A few months later he was officially diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Currently, I am studying for an Advanced Master of Divinity at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary while Stacy Leigh, Jude, and I joyously endure this bitter blessing of Autism. Lord willing, my contribution to ChosenFamilies.org will be a record of God’s faithfulness through this aspect of our pilgrimage. We pray that through this God would give us “a heart, whose pulse may be Thy praise” (from Gratefulness by George Herbert).

Contact: joshua@chosenfamilies.org