It started with a tickle.

On November 13th, 2023, I first noticed a tickle in my throat. Three days into an evangelistic series at one of my churches, I hoped it wasn’t the start of a cold or flu. I didn’t experience any other symptoms, so I chalked it up to my busy preaching schedule. However, weeks passed, and that tickle lingered, along with noticeable difficulties in speaking. Church members grew concerned and began offering various herbal remedies for my increasingly hoarse voice, but none of them helped.

As time passed, it became clear that something more serious was at play. My wife strongly encouraged me to see a doctor. Initially, the recommendation was to take a few Sabbaths off to rest my voice, but that didn’t make a difference. After visiting three specialists, I was finally diagnosed with a chronic neurological voice disorder called spasmodic dysphonia. This diagnosis forced me to make the difficult decision to step down from pastoring my district, a role I had felt called to fulfill since childhood.

Ending my pastoral career was one of the hardest decisions I have ever faced. It felt like closing the chapter on a calling from God. However, I have come to understand that when God guides us to change directions, we must listen and obey. When my pastoral journey concluded, God prompted my family and me to embark on a new calling to serve the Japanese people as missionaries. I hope to share the testimony of how God took my voice so I could help bring the gospel, the voice of Jesus, to them.

As my family and I prepare to walk a new path in ministry, we invite you to join our support team.

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