HELLO! Thank you for stopping by!
At 23 years old, I believe I have taken advantage of many opportunities in my lifetime. I graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal & Organizational Communication Studies, and I recently graduated from Seattle University in June 2016 with a Master’s degree in Student Development Administration. I have a huge heart for serving the nations, and I have served in Haiti, San Francisco, South Korea, and South Africa. I had the opportunity to study abroad in South Africa for a semester in 2013, and that is where God revealed my deep passion for ministry in the global context. During my senior year of college, I took a class called “Christian Mission in the 21st Century,” and it transformed my view of missions and ministry around the world.
Since moving to Seattle in 2014, I have been really involved in my church community at Ballard Church serving in kid’s ministry, leading worship, starting a women’s ministry (EMPOWER Women’s Ministries), and spending intentional time with my community in a small group. While in graduate school, I had the incredible opportunity to take courses in the School of Theology and Ministry. From preaching courses to marriage/family counseling courses to pastoral care courses, I have realized that my heart beats faster and my smile beams brighter when I am sitting in classrooms that ignite my passions of ministry, counseling, and teaching.
I have learned so much about God over the course of my life, and I believe He has SO much to teach me in this new season of life! I am eager to learn more about myself, new cultures, and who He is during the next 11 months of ministry. I am excited to bring light into the darkness, find beauty in the broken, be inspired by how He has already been at work, and speak life into the dormant all in Jesus’ name. By His grace alone, I am excited to show people His love and hope on this journey.
Through discipling and shepherding elementary, junior high, and high school students in church and camp ministry settings, I have realized I have a huge heart for pastoral care, exhortation, and trauma care. I am very passionate about community, empowering youth, writing, and worship. My prayer is that God would use my gifts to glorify and further His kingdom, and that He would stretch me outside of my comfort zone to teach me new things about myself!
Here are a few random things about me:
-5 Words To Describe Me: intuitive, strategic, joyful, thoughtful, + creative
-Loves: calligraphy, journaling, photography, + barre
-Spiritual Gifts: exhortation, leadership, discernment, + wisdom
-Myer’s Briggs: EXFJ (even though I’m pretty positive I’m an INFJ… what up fellow introverts!)
-Love Language: Ice cream 😉 + Words of Affirmation (through notes/letters)
-Really Into: puns, cooking, writing, + playing sports
-Passionate About: empowering women, listening to people’s stories, + documenting life through photography, journaling, + videography
Looking forward to experiencing how God moves on this journey! I appreciate your prayers and support!!
peace + grace,
kels
