From rural Manitoba, to North of the 54th parallel, to city living in Winnipeg, there is no predicting what will happen next in life for me. Since graduating high school God has blessed me with an adventurous and unique story. I have had the opportunity to be shaped by serving Him at my home farm, in camp ministry at Simonhouse Bible Camp, oversees in Australia, in the local church, and currently in my role as one of the Youth Directors at Eastview Community Church. My journey has allowed me to share with others who God is in my life and challenged me to rely on a God who is waiting to do the impossible in my life and theirs.
While on this journey God has been pouring into me various tools to be able to share and communicate with others His love for them. Whether it is the love of physical work and not being afraid to get dirty, or planning for events, speaking things out loud, or capturing moments through a lens being able to express that love is a passion of mine.
Me and God:
“There is a God... And it’s not me” - John Ortberg. As soon as I heard this quote I felt it resinate with every part of my being. Faith has always been a part of my life, the question of the existence of a God has never been a question for me. My family rooted me in my Christian walk though their consistent desire and devotion to see God in the every-dayness of life. Growing up on a farm I felt like this was how God intended us to live, working and tending to His creation. On top of that having a close family, one that still plays a very significant role in my life, helped me understand the type of community God desires for us to build within the church *(and specifically how to lay down your rights for someone else!) Being from the middle of the pack of four kids meant I knew how to serve, and eventually gain wisdom in how to be known and lead.
I’ve always felt the desire to be at the front, or the top, or just the best at whatever I do. I think this played a significant role in my faith, as for much of my childhood/ young teen years I continually asked Jesus to “come into my life” for fear that I didn’t do it right the first time because my life hadn’t changed significantly enough since I asked Him last. This desire for a big change *(mixed with my “be the BEST” mentality) made me wish that I had a better more drastic testimony, that I came from the depths of despair and was a completely different person now that He was in my life. The reality was that I’ve always known God and He has always played a significant role in my life, to the point where I believe it isn’t so much the drastic change but the every day devotion that He has asked me to live out.
Significant spiritual growth came through attending Capernwary Australia, after which I decided to be baptized, and multiple summers at Simonnhouse Bible Camp (SBC). My ministry experience at SBC pushed me to further understand that my relationship with God is not a “Me” relationship, i.e. I’m not God! I think that much of my early faith was very child like in that I expected God to act more like a vending machine... In other words I told Him what to do. I didn’t expect that maybe He had very different plans for my life, which was quite evident when I answered the call to move to Northern Manitoba and live there for 3 years while doing ministry for SBC. Working in vocational ministry full-time stretched me beyond anything I could imagine as I began to understand both the joys and responsibility that comes with being in both a leadership position and ministry. It allowed me to realize as much as I can do all that I can, and be the BEST I can be, that God really is the author and perfecter of my faith. That in my desire to be in control of everything I really don’t have the biggest picture in mind, and that it is only though relying on Him daily that I can walk confidently though life. It is a lesson that I’m continually learning as He teaches me new things, and as I continually give (then take back, and then give away again) areas of my life that He desires to take control over. God’s refinement of me a long and painful process... and I pray He has the patience to keep working on me!
