My call to ministry goes back to when I was in High School. When I was a senior I felt a calling to give a sermon to my home church, a task which was quite daunting. After receiving affirmation from many people in my congregation my call to ministry was re-affirmed at the national youth convention in St. Louis.
The calling to ministry continued to grow and be tested through my time at Bethel College. After completing a Bible and Religion degree I accepted the associate pastor position at Buhler Mennonite Church. My primary work was Christian education and spiritual formation of Jr. High and High School youth. Over the course of my four years of ministry there I worked to develop a joint youth program between Buhler Mennonite, Hoffnungsau Mennonite, and Inman Mennonite churches, which included youth from all several other small churches in the county as well.
The calling to ministry continued to grow and be tested through my time at Bethel College. After completing a Bible and Religion degree I accepted the associate pastor position at Buhler Mennonite Church. My primary work was Christian education and spiritual formation of Jr. High and High School youth. Over the course of my four years of ministry there I worked to develop a joint youth program between Buhler Mennonite, Hoffnungsau Mennonite, and Inman Mennonite churches, which included youth from all several other small churches in the county as well.
During my time at Buhler I was also enrolled at AMBS Great Plains Extension. In 2007 I left to finish my course work on campus in Elkhart, In. In the spring of 2009 I graduated with a M.Div with aYouth Ministry Concentration.
In March of 2009 I began as the solo pastor at Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church in Harper, Ks. During my time at Pleasant Valley I have been responsible for various lead pastor tasks such as preaching and visitation. I have also had a large responsibility in working with the youth group. Pleasant Valley has had a built a large connection with many of the youth in the community which has resulted in a relatively large youth group. For a church of 70-80 on Sunday morning, the youth on Wednesday have reached upwards of 50-60 kids, many of whom are from the community.
In March of 2009 I began as the solo pastor at Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church in Harper, Ks. During my time at Pleasant Valley I have been responsible for various lead pastor tasks such as preaching and visitation. I have also had a large responsibility in working with the youth group. Pleasant Valley has had a built a large connection with many of the youth in the community which has resulted in a relatively large youth group. For a church of 70-80 on Sunday morning, the youth on Wednesday have reached upwards of 50-60 kids, many of whom are from the community.
In 2011 I was ordained within South Central Mennonite Conference and am currently in good standing. My calling to ministry continues to be strong and consistent, even if the form that it has taken has been different depending on the context I find myself in. I continue to have a strong calling and commitment to Christian education of all people, but especially for youth and young adults. I have a passion for working with people who are eager to learn and grow in their understanding of faith and the Bible. I am deeply shaped by the Anabaptist perspective on the Christian faith. I have a love for Anabaptist history and for helping that history come alive and empower people for the journey of faith in our current world.
