John Groth

Associate



Fun Facts


Go to Scripture Verses:

2 Cor 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Hobby:

Golf, Photography (especially of birds and other wildlife i.e. my dogs), watching British TV shows with my wife

First Car You Owned:

It could be the 76 Chevy my wife brought into our marriage or it could be the first vehicle I bought which was a new 1982 Honda 750F Super Sport.

Favorite Book (other than the Bible):

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Through the Valley of the Kwai by Earnest Gordon.

Hidden Talent:

Using humor as a gateway emotion to much deeper things


Background


I had a conversion experience at the end of tenth grade when I was led to Christ by fellow high school students. I was active in Scouting (Eagle) and went to Ursinus College where I was a Health and Phys Ed major with a minor in Greek and three years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. I’ve been in full-time ministry for over 37 years, since graduating from Seminary in 1984. That ministry has included pastoral ministry, being a Chaplain and teacher at a boarding school, 21-years as an Air Force Reserve Chaplain including eight years working in the Department of Defense Mortuary at Dover AFB, almost 30 years as a volunteer or paid staff member with Priority One and I currently serve as adjunct professor at the University of Delaware (teaching over 500 students a year in very popular classes in the Behavioral Health and Nutrition Department). I also currently part-time pastor at a small country church in Maryland. I’ve been married to my college sweetheart for over 41 years and have three married children, two grandchildren and always a dog or two. The most notable thing about me up front is that I’m 6’7” tall, but am very approachable when meeting one-on-one, leading small groups or speaking at any size retreat.


John's Interests


I love to read, to mentor men of any age, to help restore and strengthen marriage and family relationships, to golf, to speak to church events, Men’s Weekends, civic and veterans’ groups and most of all to just hang out with old and new friends of all ages. I work on maintaining strong friendships both inside and outside of the ministry. I particularly enjoy honoring veterans and valuing what they bring to the body of Christ – regardless of when or for how long they served. Having been medically retired with Post Traumatic Stress disorder after the experience at Dover’s mortuary, I’m committed to Christians being real about the trauma we’ve experienced in life (see my life verse above and the power that comes from being open, honest and transparent about our weaknesses. I’m very interested in being a strong male and father figure to many of my students – it is some of the most rewarding ministry and relationships I’ve done in my life. Finally, in the spirit of the Apostle Paul, I have always enjoyed run-on sentences :-)