After an unsuccessful attempt at syndication of a comic strip called "Rat Race" in early 2001, I began the arduous task of coming up with an idea for another comic strip. It seemed as if all the "good ideas" were already taken: cavemen, children, dogs, cats, teenagers, sports, single life, married life... even vikings!

I was coming up with nothing. My motivation was shot - it is a humbling thing to be rejected by every syndicate under the sun!

In the Fall of 2001, my best friend of over twenty-two years, David Bass, (that's his real name by the way) called me one morning and suggested that I do a Christian comic strip. "Where did you come up with that idea?," I asked. He told me it just came to him during his prayertime that morning. I argued a bit with him over the fact that there were no Christian comic strips in the mass media, and there was no way it would work...

His response was, "God gave you a gift, this might be how He wants you to use it. After all, church is a funny thing sometimes."

After many argumentative hours spent on my knees over a period of several weeks, I humbled myself and told God I was willing to do whatever it is He wanted me to do.

Within hours after that prayer, the ideas for cartoons began coming to me, the characters slowly taking shape on scraps of drawing paper. Thus was born the comic strip "Church Mice."

It has been a true blessing to develop this cartoon ministry, and I pray that the world welcomes this cheesy look at the gospel.