Tom was born and raised mostly in Grand Rapids, MI (with some time spent in Jackson, MI and Elkhart, IN). He went to college at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Upon graduation Tom worked two years as a youth director in Grand Rapids. He then continued on to seminary at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. Not only did he graduate, but there he met his wife Betsy (also from Grand Rapids).
After graduation from seminary and getting married, Tom and Betsy moved to Onekama, MI to be the pastor of the 1st Congregational Church, UCC. Tom was then called by the Reformed Church in America to start a new church in Traverse City, MI. The church was founded in 1994 and formally organized in 1998 as The Community of Joy. Tom also in that time finished his Doctoral Ministry degree at Fuller Theological Seminary completing his degree in 1997.
In 2007 the Community of Joy closed. Tom then embarked on a different career, working at Edward Jones Investments in Elk Rapids as a financial advisor. In 2012 Tom was again called back into pastoral ministry serving as part time interim at his old parish 1st Congregational Church in Onekama. Tom was called to be the full time pastor at Church of the Living Christ in August 2012. Tom and Betsy have two grown children, James and Scott and a granddaughter, Brooklyn. They enjoy the outdoors, birding, golf, travel, and bridge.