Justin was born and raised in Hinsdale, Illinois where he attended Hinsdale Adventist Academy from grades K-12.  In 2012, he graduated from Andrews University with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

While applying to various medical schools, Justin discovered that God had a different plan for his life.  In 2013, he accepted his first call to local church ministry at the Bolingbrook Church in Illinois.

Still serving in Bolingbrook, Justin began his Master’s in Worship Studies at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, Florida in 2017, graduating just two years later. The program was primarily remote though it required recurring visits to Florida. Little did he know, God had further plans in this state, and in 2018, Justin accepted the call to come join us here at the Forest Lake Church.

Justin loves God and is passionate about creating spaces that help people encounter Him. He loves his wife, Vania, with whom he is expecting their first child this Fall!