About Me

 

 

 

I grew up a crazy kid in my “hood,”
Lancaster PA, home of the Amish, check it, but no Im not Amish, so don’t ask me
about riding a buggy. Im an only child, but most people never guess that about me,
since I am very outgoing. My childhood was full of fun, playing soccer, jumping
on trampolines, summers at the beach sailing and skim-boarding, and straight up
Wild’N Out. I was (and still am) a big Star Wars fan, and was always inspired
by Rocky, but I’m a lover not a fighter. I loved (and still love) to be with friends,
but my Mom was my best friend of all. As a kid, I went through numerous
life-shattering struggles, but they have significantly shaped my character and
outlook in positive and perseverant ways. God used these gifts of suffering to
bless me with His grace, turning my weakness into real strength. Middle and
high school brought its own storms, but God blessed me with a tight-knit group
of friends and I enjoyed life more as I trusted in God more. Playing soccer was
a big part of my life, teaching me about teamwork, perseverance, and trusting
God. In high school, my faith grew, yet I didn’t fully live it, and thus I
often suppressed it. I did well in school, had mad fun, and loved God, but I lacked
the grace and passion to follow Him wholeheartedly. Being at Villanova
University for college though, God’s light burst forth and shined fuller each
day, transforming me as a Disciple of Jesus. At Nova, I heard God’s call to
humbly pursue a life in ministry. Studying theology and peace & justice and
being very involved in Campus Ministry, my faith grew deeply in and out of the
classroom. As my faith blossomed in college, God challenged me to walk more
faithfully and lovingly, but He also blessed me with the joy of Christian
community, a daily reality that continues to occur in my life. Now, I couldn’t
enjoy life more, striving to cherish every moment as a gift of God overflowing
with His joy and peace.

Almost a year out of Villanova, I am
currently a student at Lancaster Theological Seminary, studying for my Masters
in Divinity. There’s really nothing more rewarding academically than to study
that which makes your heart beat, and I find myself increasing in my hunger for
knowledge and wisdom in faith every week. I live at home, since it’s a close
commute and saves money, and I work part time for my dad at a Volvo dealership
cleaning cars. Thankfully, Im still extremely close with my high-school friends
and can still spend a lot of time with them. I’m closer than ever with my family, and new friendships
from seminary and elsewhere join the old ones. Sure the storms of life still
come, but I hold on to God’s grace and seek to build His Kingdom by sharing His
love with the world. Its all about One Love, from God above, gotta love it,
gotta live it, Amen, Holla at ya Boy JC.

 

 

 

Lemme lay down some quick notes about me though to let you
dig a lil deeper into who I am:

-Im all about what some people call my “urban flava” for
Jesus, and some think I have my own clothing line called “Tommy Jesusfigure”
(kinda like Tommy Hilfiger? U get it? cmon now pick it up) so basically that
means I try to rep for JC from the style and perspective I acquired in high
school, like listening to all kinds of Christian hip-hop and R&B; check out
Lecrae, Trip Lee, Coffey, Tedashii, KJ-52, and Da Truth

-therefore, you gotta know that I love to dance, never took
lessons or anything, but I jus do my thang, ya know? a dream would be to be on
America’s Best Dance Crew… like that would happen. (unless any of yall wanna
make a team? Haha)

-Don’t be fooled though, Im a crazy-deep emotional person,
wearing my emotions on my sleeve and keeping it real with you in God’s love at
all times. I love any chance to grab some quiet time to pray, meditate, and
flow with some real chill acoustic Christian music and worship music. In fact,
that’s how I almost always spend my time in the car, if Im not catching up with
friends and mentors on the phone.

-My grandma has said she gets tired just hearing about all
the things I do, so yall know I love to stay active and keep busy. In college,
I spent every moment I could in Campus Ministry activities or other campus
activities, like leading retreats, mission trips and weekly fellowship groups,
being an Orientation Counselor, being on the Special Olympics Committee, doing
Peace & justice groups, playing Club soccer and intramural bball, and just
kickin it with friends. Now, I am a leader for my church youth group with
retreats, mission trips, and small groups, I help at a homeless/addicts
ministry in Lancaster city, among other things, but I miss all that I could do
at Villanova!

-My secret number is 1.5, so you’ll have to find out what
that means at some point….

Here’s some favorite verses: We walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Cor. 5:7; Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give
you rest… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28,30. I have
come that they might have life and have it to the fullest. John 10:10.

This is my boy, Coffey, check out this song… some people have told me they think Im a lot like this dude, so I guess its like a preview of me? haha pysche, you’ll like it though.