Hi everyone, I am Jenny. I am 31 years old and I am originally from North Carolina. I grew up on a farm just outside Charlotte and loved it. Although we no longer own the farm and the Lord has directed my steps through places like Boston, Colorado, Cincinnati, and now DC I think my heart will always be that of a Carolina girl. (We are the best in the world!)
My journey with the Lord began at the age of 6, but it took until the age of 14 before I understood that He desired to spend time with me and build an intimate relationship. From that point on I couldn’t get enough. I was eager to know what He thought about me, what He had planned for me, and how I could help others. As a student, my youth group went on lots of mission trips. We traveled all over the US. I guess that is where I was bitten by the missions bug. When I was a junior in high school I began to feel a heart tug toward career missions. I began to seek out opportunities to serve others and got particularly excited about International service. I went to college at Appalachian State University where I found some of my closest friends and became heavily involved with Campus Crusade for Christ. Since graduation God has opened many different doors for me. I have been on staff with Campus Crusade, I taught 7th grade english and a year of preschool, and I have been in several administrative positions. The doors have been opened missionally as well.
I have had the wonderful opportunity to go to Malawi, Africa twice. The first time I went I was told how difficult the adjustment would be and how I would get over the homesickness and fear soon. This report concerned me, as I had NO idea what I was about to experience. But, what happened was pretty much the exact opposite. I stepped off the plane in Blantyre, Malawi and felt as though I was coming home. The Lord confirmed in me His call to serve the less fortunate around the world during that trip. Since then, I have sought out other overseas opportunities, so I could serve any way possible. I have also been blessed to help in leadership at Hardin Baptist Church, serving with the student and music ministries. It was at Hardin where I began to understand the importance of real community and what that looks like. The Lord called me away from Hardin in 2005 when He led me to join a team of church planters in Cincinnati, Ohio. There we began to plant a body that was based on Acts 2 &4. We focused on giving all we have for the good of the body, if there is a need it is met within the body. We grew rapidly the first year and found that God was leading some of us to “birth” a new body from the existing one. In praying through how that would take place it became apparent to us that Washington, DC was the next step. A small group of us moved to Great Falls, VA, a suburb of DC, in September of 2006. In June of 2007 I was blessed to be a World Racer. I cannot express how God used the race to change me, heal me, and show me that the world around me is huge and in need of His love.
I am excited to have the opportunity to go again with a whole new group of racers. I know that this next year will be filled with challenges both spiritually and physically. I will go in a new role, as a co-leader over the whole squad. I am expectant for what the Lord wants to teach, uproot, and grow in me and I cannot wait to see how He is going to use my loaves and fish to provide for those He brings into our path.
