Coming from a non-Christian background, he became a Christian at University in the UK, taking his degrees in physics and chemistry. His Post-Doctoral research took him, as a Fulbright Scholar, to the Southern USA where he met and married Nancey. They have one daughter and 4 grandchildren. During his late twenties he founded a Bible college for cross-cultural training, and when he left his post as Principal, he had trained 2000 people over 27 years. Having begun church planting in the USA, he continued this in the UK over a period of 20 years.

His first contact with Evangelical Alliances began in 1983 when he joined the Executive Committee of the Evangelical Alliance of the UK, and then became successively Vice Chairman and Chairman. The following year, 1984 took him to his first European EA meetings, and he has now attended without a break 24 General Assemblies. He became President of the EEA in 1995, and General Secretary temporarily in 1997. That same year he founded a local EA in the New Forest region of the UK, and is now a pastor to the pastors in that region.

He has written 10 books and ministered in 65 countries. He was elected onto the International Council of the WEA in 1997 and is still in office. During the years 1997 to 2002, he helped in the formation of EAs in Europe, and this was succeeded by a similar ministry in Central Asia, on behalf of WEA and EEA, which is expected to last until 2010. His ultimate goal is to see the formation of a Central Asia Regional EA, linked to the WEA. His leisure interests include Orchid hybridising, and he is Chair of a Orchid Society in the UK. He also enjoys cycling and grows most of his own vegetables.