At age 12 Mervin read that his name meant, “friend from across the sea.” Being a missionary child in Brazil, this connected. Nearly 30 years later, when challenged to write a concise life mission statement, it became “to stand alongside and assist.” These two have been blended by God as Merv has been blessed “to stand alongside and assist” individuals, churches, and organizations in many of the 50 nations he has been privileged to visit.
With a B.A. in Pastoral Ministries (Fort Wayne Bible College) and an MBA (Taylor University), Merv served 13 years in church plantings in the US and Brazil, 15 years on staff with EMM (a missionary-sending organization), and 14 years pastoring in two church revitalizations after each had lost over half of their participants. Along with the above, he offered speaking, training, and consultation, also serving on various boards.
Through the variety of situations he faced, a core passion emerged. This focus of interest is the development of core skills for healthy personal and team decision making. Each team can customize its practices in a way that is unique and user-friendly for all. Merv has taught on this in some 12 nations and in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and through interpreters.
Exploring personality and team profiles, and facilitating leadership teams in discoveries through them, is great fun.
Mervin and his wife Laurel have been married 47 years, have four adult children, three wonderful in-laws, and four grandchildren. It’s a great time of life to refocus and grow!
