When I was 12 I had a dream of being EVERYTHING. My parents bought me a book on being a police officer, I thought about being a teacher, and I told my teacher I wanted to be a pastor. 3 jobs all with one thing in common. I wanted to help people, and its something God put on my heart in 7th grade.
And then I went on my first mission trip. We got in a van, and I was SO excited. We pulled into Lame Deer Montana and I feel in love with serving people.
I spent the next 5 years with LIFE missions at Sycamore United Methodist Church forming a love for serving through the church and the programs it held. Volunteering at VBS, teaching Acolytes, and traveling with a pack of high schoolers from Montana, to Tennessee, to Flordia, to New york. And I feel in love with the time.
So I did something that was unexpected and unplanned for my life, especially since all through high school I said I would be the one person to never leave Sycamore. I left, to work in missions for 3 months every summer. I lead mission trips, mission children’s ministry programs, and taught high schoolers about Christ for 4 years.
I traveled for work to Montana, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennesee. And I found out during these summers this is where I was happiest, serving in ministry.
God started to speak something big into my life- becoming a pastor. And I ran away.
I applied for the World Race, something God had also spoken into my life, but fully knowing applying meant I received 11 more months to think about Pastoring being my future. And each day here confirms my career in ministry.
The biggest thing I’ve found in the last 8 months overseas isn’t God calling me to missions in some remote African village, it’s him calling me somewhere even better- home. I’m being called home with a newfound passion for serving America.
So as of December 1st, I’m looking for a job in children’s ministry, something where I can serve God, serve my passion for children, and go to seminary along the way. I’m following Gods command on my life, even if it means I have no idea what he’ll do with it.
Let me know if you know of any churches hiring in your area- I am starting to plan for my trip home and can’t wait to be HOME. Until then I’m soaking in every lesson God is teaching me for my future sermons, and profession!
Thank you to the churches that have built me up in their programs. To Sycamore United Methodist, to Grace United Methodist. You both have not only welcomed me with open arms into your church but also given me amazing people to walk this journey with.
I am blessed by the people I’ve met in these churches, for the friends I’ve made in the pews beside me and for people like Cory who’s fighting this seminary battle with me! (I can’t wait to be pastors together Cory!) I can’t wait to get home and see you all again soon, only 3 short months!
So here’s to God, for giving me a plan that I didn’t even expect and a desire for ministry in children’s programming, and in the long run in seminary. I can’t wait to see where he brings me in these moments.
