In 1993 I began to serve as the youth pastor at Machias Community Church. Pastor Ron Sallee started the Contenders classes a few years later.

Having attended [a local Christian College], I had a fresh perspective of what was going on in Christian colleges. The level of instruction in every Contenders class was superior to that of every comparable class. The cost difference was of course a much better investment as well!

I served at Machias for 14 years. If you know anything about youth pastors, that is a long time at one church. Being an assistant and student prepared me for pastoring a church and teaching Contenders classes.