About Me

I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I attended Duquesne University where I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics in 1972 and 1974 respectively. In 1973, I had a life-changing spiritual experience that radically changed my life course and purpose.

Since then, I have served as an administrator, teacher, consultant, author, and pastor in my professional career. I hold a second master’s degree in pastoral ministries, and earned my Doctor of Ministry degree from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA in 2011.

As executive director of Worship International from 1993-1995, I had the time of my life planning and organizing worship conferences for Integrity Music around the world, and later I became a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), the highest distinction awarded in the conference management industry. In the process, I have taught extensively on the topics of time management, life purpose and organization, and have conducted leadership and purpose training sessions throughout the United States and in 30 countries.

I am also certified to administer the DISC and other related personality profiles through the Institute for Motivational Living. A few years ago I was certified to do institutional profiles through ChurchSmart resources, U. S. distributors of the Natural Church Development system. I am privileged to be a facilitator for The Pacific Institute, based in Seattle, as well certified to administer 360 degree feedback profiles for The Leadership Circle.

I’ve published 18 books, including Life is a Gold Mine: Can You Dig It?; I Wrote This Book on Purpose, So You Can Know Yours; So Many Leaders, So Little Leadership; A Daily Dose of Proverbs; Strictly Business—Soft Issues to Help You in the Hard World of Business; Unlocking The Power of Your Purpose; Beyond Purpose; Faith Files, Volumes 1, 2 and 3; Changing the Way We Do Church; The Price of Leadership; A String of Pearls; What Would Jesus Ask You Today?: A Daily Taste of Proverbs; Urban Heroes, Volumes 1 and 2; and The Revelation Project. I have also written and edited numerous articles and publications.

I am married and reside with my wife, Kathryn, in Pittsburgh, PA, where I now serve as president of PurposeQuest International, a personal and leadership development organization I founded in 2001. Kathryn and I are the proud parents of two adult children, John III and Deborah, and two grandchildren. I love traveling, especially to Africa, and am energized when I speak in conference and leadership-training settings around the world. I also enjoy giving advice as a consultant to leaders and organizations alike. In 2014, I founded a publishing company called Urban Press