R.J. was saved at the age of 14 under the ministry of Dr. Charles Whitfield at Grace Baptist Church in Birmingham, MI. He moved to Kentucky in 1990 and surrendered to full time ministry in 1997, when he became the principal of Tabernacle Christian Academy (TCA).

He was ordained in September, 2003 and currently serves as the Assistant Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church and the Vice President of Tabernacle Baptist Bible College, as well as still being the principal at TCA.

He married his wife, Traci in 1986 and they have two boys, Cody Jon & Tyler.