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Hometown: Spring, Texas
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Texas A&M University, December 2015
Ministry at ABLAZE: High school Journey at St. Mary's in Brenham
Ministry Background: I was first introduced to ministry in high school, when I got involved with my youth ministry’s leadership. In the first years of college I struggled to get connected with ministry opportunities until I was finally able to staff Aggie Awakening retreats with St. Mary’s.
My focus became turned towards those living in poverty in my junior year. Through Saint Mary’s Advocates for Christ Today (ACT) I was able to work in the soup kitchen at Twin City Mission. Though I wasn’t much of a Christian at the time, I realized that the people at the Mission would never change without getting to know Jesus. I started a Bible study at the Mission with the help of ACT and have been attending for the past 2 years. I am very grateful that God has put these people on my heart. They have blessed me in more ways than they could know.
I have been working with the high school youth of Brenham since the Fall of 2015 by leading youth nights, several parish events, and assisting with their Confirmation. These young guys and girls are amazing and definitely cooler than I ever was in high school. Watching them grow closer to God over the past half year has brought me more joy than they could know.
Passions and interests: I love playing sports and eating food. I grew up playing soccer, basketball, football, fencing and briefly MMA. Of the four sports football is my real love. Watching the Aggies BTHO everyone is my favorite Saturday activity and watching the Houston Texans choke in the fourth quarter is my second favorite Sunday activity. I also enjoy eating at buffets and receiving baked goods from loving friends.
How I became involved with ABLAZE: Youth ministry was an idea I always played with in the back of my mind. I never gave it serious consideration because I was more worried about money for most of my life. A year ago I gave my life to God and He has changed my heart very quickly. When praying about my future, I could always feel a pull towards ministry, but I couldn’t figure out what type of ministry I was called to. Thanks to the counsel of Marcel LeJeune I looked up ABLAZE for ministry volunteer opportunities. At the time I had nowhere near enough money to cover my next tuition payment, so when I saw that they were hiring ministers I had to apply. When I was offered the job I felt so much peace and joy at the prospect of being a youth minister that I knew I was meant to be here.
Favorite Bible verse:
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5