Both Joe and I grew up in great Christian families that set a great standard of what a person in love with a God should do with their lives! From very early ministry something both of us had considered. Beth (Joe’s mom) majored in missions and did some mission work with her father in Honduras so it was prevalent in his life. I had an Aunt in the mission field, as well as the many missionary stories my mom would read us, kept the thoughts of living a life serving God in a full time ministry alive. As we grew up the call to working for a ministry remained important to both of us.
Joe got his calling his freshman year of college at a youth retreat that he was a sponsor at. That is when he transferred to Grace University, where he ended with his camping ministry degree. All throughout high school I served at camp and knew that serving people in a full time capacity was where God was calling me. While I was a grace Joe and I met and started dating. When we started talking about our future we knew that being involved in a full time ministry was where we were suppose to be headed. In the beginning phases we thought it would be a camp, similar to Camp Forest Springs, but while in our internship at CFS God opened our eyes to all the other possibilities. In all our discussions going oversees was always a possibility but neither Joe or I have had much experience with other cultures (Joe went on a two week mission trip to Mexico) so we weren’t sure if that is where we should look. When we graduated and got married we wanted to take some time before we jumped back into a ministry and wanted to see what serving God looked liked as a couple outside a ministry. While we were “taking time off” we kept our eyes and heart open to where He would lead us next. We have takes with, applied and looked into multiple opportunities that were state side and nothing panned out till now.
When Joe found this ministry we were really excited about it for a couple big reasons. The first is goes to so many countries that if being abroad is where God wants us it will be made clear and we will have a really good idea of where in the world would be a good fit for us! Second is World Race focuses on deeping the relationship between you and God for ever racer. This will be huge for Joe and I as we are headed into ministry as a couple! We are soo excited to see all that God has in store for us in this trip!!
