1. Jesus is the reason why I am alive and why I live.

2. My family is amazing. From my dad’s ability to love through providing, to my mom’s ability to love through serving and my sister’s ability to love through protecting. Also I hope to meet with my sister Heather in heaven to see the amazing woman that God created her to be.

3. I have a heart for students (middle school through college) and want to get them to understand the love of God and His love for people through missions because it explains perfectly that God is the God of every nation.

4. I am a virgin and will not kiss my wife until our wedding day. I cannot give her my first kiss ever, but she will be my last first kiss. I count it a privilege and an honor to not kiss anymore in order to protect the purity and value of my relationship to my wife.

5. Other than middle school “girlfriends,” I have never had a relationship. Though extreme, I have realized the importance of friendships and the ability to narrow down who my close friends are through my passions. My passion will lead me to my wife.

6. Favorites of movies and music are “Singing in the Rain” & Tenth Avenue North. I love dancing and SITR is such a warm-hearted movie. Mike can put into words the beauty of wrestling with the truth that Jesus’ love never fails.

7. I am an intent listener. Within the last year it has gotten extremely difficult to remember everything, but I will never stop listening.

8. I have been to 5 out of 7 continents. Australia & Antarctica are left.

9. Panda Bears are my favorite animal. 3 reasons why. I had a Panda blanket as a kid. They are adorable, and they also have the ability to destroy. Pretty sweet combination.

10. I am an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

11. My favorite sports in order are futbol (soccer in all forms from outdoor, indoor to futsol), hockey, spearfishing, basketball, football (States’ version), baseball and skiing.

12. I love dogs. My favorite kinds are the Bernese Mountain dog, Australian Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd, and the Labrador.

13. Listening to music is one of my favorite things in the world to do. I enjoy different types from heavy metal to classical. I tend to listen to metal more than anything. Follow my choices on http://www.last.fm/user/tommyparke

14. Reading is very fun to me. Favorite writers are Andy Stanley, John Piper, Mark Driscoll, John MacArthur, Stephen Arterburn, Craig Gross, Charles Spurgeon, and C.S. Lewis.

15. I intend to write two books on lessons I’ve learned in life. One for my son and the other for my daughter. Hopefully more, but those are the two most important.

16. I have become a stickler for time. Every minute is given by God and if I can control stewardship of it, especially when it comes to others’ time, I will try to stay on schedule.

17. I hate sarcasm. I use it like most people because it’s become a language in itself, but the meaning of sarcasm has gotten lost and it’s an easy tool to use to mask the way you truly feel or to distance yourself from a situation/idea.

18. I’ve broken 10 bones in my life (Skull, Left tibia, right fibula, sternum, 3 ribs, 3 costovertebral joints), sprained both ankles, a concussion, and a heat stroke.

19. The three sickest times I’ve felt in my stomach through circumstances were when I came back from El Salvador from my first missions trip overseas, when I held an orphaned boy in Tanzania that was saved from a dumpster, and when I realized I could lose my daughter to sexual trafficking.

20. African culture from my Tanzanian experience is the most beautiful culture I’ve seen.

21. I’ve never had a cavity thanks to my mom making me take fluoride vitamins as kid and daily brushing.

22. I’ve had a beard since 5th grade.

23. Ben Stiller and Steve Carrell are my celebrity look-a-likes.

24. I use social networking sites as a way to stay connected anyway I can. If God has allowed me to meet you in some fashion, then the least I can do is at least try and keep that connection so I can help in anyway possible. There is a meaning for every person, place and thing in your life.

25. I’ve studied the Bible in school from kindergarten to college. I love teaching the Bible and I will continue on until I die.