August 2000-June 2001

Here is a great picture of the super wonderful youth group we were involved with in London, Ontario. A highlight was us all going to Acquire the Fire in Hamilton, Ontario, in October of 2000. It became the impetus for them to start a mountain climbers group for those who really wanted to go deeper with the Lord.



This is a great shot of our church family in London who gave us this great goodbye party prior to us making the move to set up Abundant Blessings. We have such fond memories of the loving people we got to know. Thankfully, some of them did make it up to Abundant Blessings and we have also had opportunity to visit them over the years.



In June 2003 we moved back to Ottawa after almost two years at Abundant Blessings Christian Retreat. We are very thankful for all the folks we had the honour of spending time with there. The Lord directed many brothers and sisters in Christ to come and experience Him in this beautiful place. Abundant Blessings ("north" as we call it now since we have retained the name for our ministry here in Ottawa) was located in Val des Bois, Quebec on a beautiful lake in the Laurentian foothills about an hour from Ottawa. We ran it as an intimate retreat for those seeking to rest in His presence.
About two hundred people came through the doors in that time and it was amazing to see how the Lord moved in all of our lives. It was also a great place to write music...I can recall many times looking out over the lake and the mountains and giving praise to God in song. I especially remember praying that He would give me a longing for His appearing as St. Paul writes to his son in the faith, Timothy. Thank you Lord for answered prayer. Maranatha! For Angelina, Abundant Blessings "north" allowed for the establishment of a "secret place" fashioned after Matthew 6:6. A specific room was set apart as a prayer closet. She spent many hours with the Lord and I was amazed to gaze upon her countenance after she had met with Him. It was also wonderful to see others experience His presence there and eventually pick up the idea and establish a secret place in their own home. We will continue to treasure and ponder in our hearts the works of His hands at Abundant Blessings North.


June-September 2003



Bass Solo twenty years later.wmv

In Your House/Open the eyes of my heart.wmv

The highlight of summer 2003 was certainly Worshipfest which took place during the Labour day weekend. About 10,000 worshipers went through the gates over the three day event. We had originally been booked for a half hour set to open for the Newsboys Sunday night but during the week we also got asked to play a forty-five minute set before Avalon on Saturday night as well. Joining me in the band were keyboard player extraordinaire Darren DeRidder, the ace of bass Brian Chhangur, the very talented Michael Mascioli on drums, the multi-versatile Joseph Crowley on guitar, harmonica and bazooki, and a special last minute guest vocalist, well known in her own right, Kathy Grant Mahon.
Kathy was not even suppose to be in Ottawa that weekend but through some unusual circumstances she found herself at Worshipfest and about an hour and a half before our set, Lorne Anderson from CHRI suggested to me that she sing with us. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly went over the songs with her and she joined us that evening. We had a great time and the extra fifteen minutes that night allowed for an invitation for folks to give their lives to Christ. Interestingly enough, when Sunday night rolled around there was a real time constraint and we did not end up playing. It was amazing how the Lord had orchestrated everything for Saturday night as He knows the end from the beginning.















Just Believe.wmv



October-December 2003

The last months have been very productive at Studio 99 with the completion of the Rest in His Presence Cd. I find the recording process both encouraging and challenging as you try to get what you have in your head down on "tape" to use an ancient term.

In December David MacDonald and I led worship for the St. Mary's mission. Angelina and I participated in three Rest in His Presence house events. One in Madoc, one near Smith Falls and one in Ottawa.

November 1st the band played at Tom Jackson's Institute of Music and Ministry Workshop attended by artists from across the country. The idea was for us to play a song and Tom would work with us and make suggestions on how to improve the presentation of the song live. It was a little nerve racking at first but in the end it was great experience and everyone attending gained more insight on the live side of ministering in song. That same night the CGMA awards (Canadian Gospel Music Awards) were taking place and the band and I played with David MacDonald. Here is a video clip from a morning show we did earlier in the week to promote the evening.

I am the Resurrection.wmv


January-June 2004

If you have been to the events link you will notice that we had many live events. Of note were those occasions geared to the protection of life from point of conception. We hope to be more involved in moving this important cause forward in the future.

With the close of Studio 99, I have set up an efficient tracking studio at home over the last three months and began to learn the software. I have also decided to use "live drums" on the next cd and have begun the pre-production process with Scott Walsh (tasty guitar solo on Man in the Middle on the 1996 Call to Witness CD) and Mike Mascioi at Scott's studio called Sound Creations. (A great place to record if you are looking!)


October-December 2004

Angelina and I found ourselves doing a lot of travelling in the last couple of months of the year. Our trip to the U.S. was wonderful and we met some great folks in North Carolina. Of note were our speaking engagements in southern Ontario which proved to be very fruitful...we are looking forward to returning and ministering there again as the Lord would lead.


July-September 2004

Worshipfest 2004 was again the highlight of the summer! We opened up for Robin Mark and Nicole C. Mullen on the Sunday night. The addition of Paul VanRemortal on lead guitar gave our set some edge that was enjoyed by all. We took this same line-up into the Father Stan Fortuna weekend at the Bronson Centre in September.






January-June 2005

Another wonderful adventure begins as during lent I discerned to return to my previous profession as a real estate sales representative. Our "multitude of counsel" confirmed that my career in real estate and our Abundant Blessings ministry are not mutually exclusive. To that end Angelina and I are looking forward to a new season which we believe will bring more flexibilitly to our ministry.

July-December 2005

Adjusting to a career in Real Estate has been...well an adjustment. The Lord has confirmed this choice however, as I have been able to serve some beautiful believers in the process. It has been wonderful to have Angelina as my assistant as we prayerfully come along side folks and meet their Real Estate needs. I have had to put music ministry somewhat on the back burner for the time being but I am hopefull this is just for a season!

January-December 2006

I do not know where the year went but it did! Angelina and I moved out to Constance Bay in March (about half an hour from Ottawa) for a year. We have enjoyed the company of many as they have come to "Rest in the Lord's Presence!" It has also been wonderful to write music again by the water. We also had the pleasure to have a lot of family come a visit...something that was not very practical when we were living in our apartment in the city.






January-March 2007

We have had a great year out here in "the Bay" and are now looking forward to moving back to 99 First Avenue sometime this summer. Above is a pic from the Promise Keepers event in Ottawa and to the right is the New Life Youth group which I had the pleasure and priviledge of meeting and ministering to. Below is where we are now minus the plane.