A.J. was born and raised right here in East Tennessee. Though he grew up in the Baptist church, where he professed faith as a young child, he was introduced to the Reformed tradition while in high school. A growing love of Reformed theology would lead A.J. to attend Covenant College, a Presbyterian institution, to study the Bible. It was during this time that he joined the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. After his time at Covenant, A.J. attended Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

A.J. and his wife, Chelsea, have two children, Olivia and Asa, and a third on the way. A.J. enjoys reading theology, spending time outdoors, and socializing over a cup of coffee.

As an intern from June 2021 to May 2022, A.J. served Sandy Springs through preaching, teaching, and leading in worship. He was subsequently ordained as an evangelist for East Tennessee. The mid-week Bible study in Athens, TN that he began leading as an intern continued as part of his on-going evangelistic and church-planting ministry. In October 2022, the Bible study in Athens transitioned to Sunday evening worship services. It was then established as Zion OPC, a mission work of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and A.J. was installed as the organizing pastor in November 2023.

You can listen to sermons by A.J.: Sandy Springs web (in your browser); Sandy Springs rss (for podcast apps); Zion web.