Who am I?
My name is Jeri. I turned 22 on December 30th. I’m a daughter, friend, and sister in Christ. I’m a northeasterner turned semi-southern belle. I’m a lover of Lemonheads, shopping, ALL things Tar Heel and the Lord.
Where am I from?
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Franklin Park, NJ but my address says Princeton. I’m the only child of two of the most spectacularly cool people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. I was raised in Christianity, though I didn’t actively start pursuing a relationship with Christ until I was 20.
Last May, I graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a major in Public Policy and a double minor in Spanish for the Professions and Education. Carolina is where I developed my passion for social justice and love of diversity, met some of the best people that I know, and most importantly, where I found Jesus! I spent my time at Carolina promoting diversity and unity through a program called Carolina United, mentoring Latino students through the Scholars’ Latino Initiative, and leading a small group through my church, Love Chapel Hill.
Carolina is where I learned the importance of being a part of something bigger than myself and making an impact that lasts. The people that I met and the experiences that I have had played a huge role in shaping me into the person I am today. For that reason, Chapel Hill will always be my second home.
What am I passionate about doing?
I am extremely passionate about story-telling and relational connections.
I love people. I love learning about our differences and similarities. I love talking to people about what’s important to them. I love encouraging and supporting them. I love that I feel like I can see Jesus in every person that I meet.
I love storytelling because I love the way people connect and relate to each other through shared experiences.
I love to write; it’s the way that I tell my stories. My hope is to one day combine my gift of writing and with my passion for people and to tell stories that connect people with each other and also connect them with the cross.
What do I like to do?
I’m an extroverted-introvert. I like to talk. I love to laugh. I love to spend time with people. I LOVE my friends and family. But I also love my alone time. Reading is my favorite pastime. Buy me a book and I’ll love you forever. I love music and I love being introduced to new artists and genres. I like going to the movies, catching up on Dance Moms, and crafting. I don’t like running but I love the way it makes me feel.
Who am I spiritually?
I am girl continually blown away by the unconditional love and grace of the God I serve. I’ve known God and Jesus for almost my entire life, but I mostly ignored Him. He’s been kind of like that kid who you go to school with for your whole life but aren’t really friends with. You’re with him all the time. You know a lot about each other because of mere proximity, but you’re not friends and you’re fine with it.
God and I haven’t always been on the best of terms. I’ve ignored God, pushed Him away, questioned His existence, used Him for my own purposes, abused His grace and straight up disliked Him. But through all of it, He never stopped walking beside me. He never stopped reaching out to me. And in one of the darkest points in my life, during the middle of a period of depression and apathy and self-hatred, God met me in the Undergraduate Library. He showed me His love through the words and actions of a stranger and I haven’t been the same since.
My life verse is Mark 12:30: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
That verse speaks to the core of who I am. I’m just a girl captivated by the love of God and striving to be a reflection of that love in every word that I say, every action that I take and onto every person that I meet.
It blows my mind that the Lord would entrust someone like me with the mission of serving and loving His people all around the world and I humbly accept the responsibility.
I’m so excited to for this next leg of my life’s journey and I love that I get to share it with YOU!
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You can also contact with questions, prayer requests, or just for conversation me via:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeri.aneese
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jerianeese
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jerianeese
Email: [email protected]
