When I was five years old my mom led me into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ through the Cubbies curriculum in my church’s AWANA program. Upon discussing the meaning of John 3:16, I realized my sin and need for a Savior. Growing up in a Christian family it was easy for my faith to stay on a surface level. I focused more on my personal behavior rather than my commitment to Christ and desire to know him more deeply. This changed when I was encouraged by a friend to apply as a Junior Counselor at Camp of Champions USA in the summer of 2003.

In teaching the Bible to children and sharing my relationship with Christ with them, I was suddenly forced to either truly cling to the teachings of Scripture or walk away from the faith of my family. Christ clung to me as I clung to Him and in that first summer not only did I experience the grace and love of God in allowing me to impact kids’ lives, I also felt God guiding me towards vocational ministry, God placed specific people in my life through camp, during college at Moody Bible Institute and beyond who have come alongside me affirming my strengths and abilities and holding me accountable to continue growing in my love for Jesus Christ.

Through ministering at various parachurch organizations and now at Samaritan Ministries here in Peoria, God has taught me how to love and attempt to lead others. Particularly in these last couple of years, I have been struck by the beauty of God being with his creation– our faith truly is a relationship with our Creator and not a performance before him or others.