“Be strong and courageous. The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

 

I’ve always wanted to become an artist. My siblings and I were the first American generation on both sides of my family. English was my second language, and money was tight. What I didn’t realize as a child is that creating drawings and paintings were so satisfying because of the unique stories I could tell with a single pencil and scrap of paper. Creating visual narratives about my experiences made me feel understood, loved, and valued especially when my artwork provided insights for people to understand or learn something new. For years I found great fulfillment as a professional artist selling oil paintings and murals to strangers and friends, but it wasn’t enough.

I served the United Methodist Church at a local church level and worked my way up to the position of Director of Communications for the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church. But it was my journey as a local church communicator and Christian Education Director that gave me a thirst for Social Media marketing, storytelling, advertising, and website design. I wanted to make my church more appealing and reflective of how God was at work in the lives of the people in our community and around the world.

I recently completed a certification in Social Media Marketing, and I’m currently a student at Scottsdale Community College transferring to Grand Canyon University to finish my Bachelor’s degree in Communications. I’m fascinated by the possibilities we have at our fingertips to resource our church leaders to engage those that are underserved, seeking, strangers of the church, or going through a difficult time in their life. I’m regularly challenged to learn new ways to inspire, teach, collaborate, and support my colleagues in ministry.

“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

Monday mornings I wake up feeling blessed and terrified because of the role I play in creating new disciples of Jesus Christ. Thankfully I’m a natural strategist, antagonist, a cheerleader for change, creative thinker, and a firm believer in God. My responsibilities include researching and training others on new technology and proven marketing and PR methods so that our church leaders’ ministry of transforming seekers into followers and followers into leaders, and leaders into change-makers for the glory of God can be exponential.

I have no idea where God is leading me; I just know that He isn’t done with me yet.