About Me

2019-2024: Growth in College

My journey toward full-time ministry truly began during my college years at International Baptist College and Seminary. I enrolled primarily to sharpen my musical abilities and to dive deeper into Scripture—not just to gain head knowledge, but to learn how to walk with God in real, everyday ways.

The path, however, wasn’t nearly as straightforward as I’d imagined. Coming out of a pretty isolated “hermit” season of life, I had a lot to learn about relating to people, building friendships, and functioning in community. Those first couple of years were stretching, to say the least! To give myself room to grow and better cover my college expenses, I intentionally slowed my pace and turned what was meant to be a four-year degree into five. That way I could better balance my life as a student as well as my job as a cook in the collage's dining hall.

Looking back, I’m so thankful for that extra year. God knew I needed it as He worked to reshaping my heart for hospitality and service. In the process I discovered the quiet joy of feeding people, listening to their stories, seeing how something as simple as a good meal can open doors for gospel conversations. Lord thankfully I was able to graduate debt-free, which I believe really set me up for the plans God had for my life.

Summer 2023: Intro to Camp

In the summer of 2023, I had no intention of serving in camp ministry—I’d always assumed that world wasn’t for me. My original plan was to return home, work a regular job, and save money for my final year of college. Yet as the semester was coming to an end, that path began to feel strangely empty; I couldn’t shake the sense that God had something different in mind. After several honest conversations with my mentor, he gently challenged me to send out a few camp applications and simply see where the Lord might lead.

As you might guess, one of those applications brought me to Grand View, where I was hired onto the kitchen team. That summer stretched me in ways I never anticipated—through late-night dish sessions with staff, early-morning conversations with my kitchen manager while making pancakes, and the joyful chaos of feeding hundreds of hungry kids. In the midst of the heat, the hurry, and the countless little acts of service, God met me powerfully. Revealing to me that He put me exactly where I needed to be for the next season of growth—and, unbeknownst to me at the time, the first step in God’s much larger plan to keep me here in full-time ministry.

2024-Present: Grand View Full-Time

I never expected to return back to camp. I was graduating. I had to figure out where I was going to live? How would I afford rent? What was I even going to do and how was I suppose to glorify God as a college graduate? I had 20 different prayers all at once and for months I had no answer to any of them. Than all the sudden God started answering prayers, starting with a single email from Grand View's Executive Director and Chief Storyteller - Matt Wilson - to meet over lunch to catch up as he was in the area. This would also lead to him offering me the opportunity to partner with Grand View full time.

After meeting with Matt Wilson over lunch and hearing about the offer he wanted to make. Every fiber of my being was telling me to take the job, and I'm confident that that was the leading of the Holy Spirit. After taking a week to pray and talk to my mentors about it I accepted the job. Upon graduating from college debt-free, I jump straight into the 2024 summer season and have been loving it here ever since.

Being here, God has taught me a lot of lessons, and plenty more still. I deeply pray that the Lord will keep me here for a long time and grow me in new ways as I continue to make meals for our many guests year around.

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