In 2003, I met a man named Steve Edwards. He was speaking at my youth group about an opportunity to go on a mission trip to Kukra Hill, Nicaragua. I was young in my faith and excited to serve the Lord in extreme ways. I tried with all my heart to go on that trip in the summer of 2004, but my mom would not sign my paperwork to go. Thankfully, I had a youth pastor committed to reaching the world and in 2005, once I had turned 18 and could sign my own paperwork, our youth group was going to Northern Ireland.
Ireland was an incredible experience I will never forget, serving alongside over 100 other teenagers on a mission trip. I knew that there was more, if I was willing to pursue it. That first encounter with Steve in 2003 showed me something new, sparked something new in me. I experienced his passion for the nations and I wanted to have the same kind of impact one day. In 2005, I went to Vanguard University of Southern California to pursue a degree in religion with an emphasis in biblical studies, with a call to youth ministry placed on my heart, even as the passion for the nations began to burn within.
In late 2005, I got a phone call from my youth pastor telling about an opportunity to go with a group of youth pastors to Zimbabwe, Africa. He shared the vision with me and I was sold, but I was a broke college student and was unsure of how I could fundraise for the trip.
In that conversation, my youth pastor told me that someone was sponsoring my trip.
I was stunned.
In Spring 2006, I travelled with Steve and a group of youth pastors to Zimbabwe on a trip that absolutely ruined my life. I could never be the same after the experience of Zimbabwe. It was in that moment that I knew I had to be a pastor committed to the cause of missions. I reluctantly returned home, completed my degree, and began my journey as a youth pastor in 2008.
Flash forward to January 2013. While I was serving at my second church as a youth pastor, I sought the Lord for how he would have me focus for the year. All I heard him say was “be ready for January 2014.” Honestly, I was unsure of what this meant, but knew it was from him.
At the time, I was serving as a full-time youth pastor and a full-time store manager and marketing director for Chick-fil-A. I was working nearly 90 hours a week between Chick-fil-A and the church and was on my way to owning a Chick-fil-A store. Needless to say, it was busy and exhausting time in my life. In November 2013, I was taking my students to youth convention in San Diego where I saw Steve Edwards, again. As I talked with him, I realized that it would be nice to visit him in Napa and see the operations of Global Passion, but really, it would just be nice to have a break from the crazy schedule of life I was living. Steve and I took out our phones and looked for dates that would work.
We scheduled a time for January 2014.
At this time, I recalled what the Lord had spoken to me a year earlier. My church was undergoing a pastoral transition, life was crazy, and I was seeking the Lord for what he would have me do. I sensed that change was coming. As I boarded the plane in Ontario, CA (California not Canada), I prayed a simple prayer, “Lord, I don’t have much to give you but I have three days. Tell me what you want me to do.” I spent the next three days with Steve and the team at Global Passion at their headquarters on a church campus in Napa, and I happened to come during their season of corporate fasting and prayer. Each night there were prayer gatherings and it was at one of these gatherings that the Lord spoke to me.
During worship, I was on my knees seeking the Lord and had a vision. It was as if I was sitting in the back of the boat with the disciples before Peter walked on the water. I looked out on the water, and I saw Jesus, and as he said come, my gaze turned back to Peter and it was as if I hit the pause button. I saw Peter with one leg perched on the edge of the boat ready to leap. I wondered what he would do. Would he take a moment to think about it? Would he ask for advice? As the vision continued, I watched Peter leap out of the boat without any reservation. I realized that for Peter what came next was irrelevant.
The only thing that mattered was that Jesus told him to come.
At this very moment, I watched as the disciples faded away and I was alone in the boat. I looked out on the water and Jesus stood there now looking at me, and he said, “come.” I knew in this instant that God was calling me to take a leap of faith, move to Napa and join the team at Global Passion.
The next morning, Steve drove me to the airport. I shared my experience with him and I told him that God was calling me to Global Passion to help fulfill the vision that God had given him. He agreed that the Lord was at work. I returned home, cancelled the lease to my apartment, and began my transition away from youth ministry and Chick-fil-A. I gave away everything I could, packed my life into three plastic totes and two bags of clothes. And on July 30, 2014, after leading a summer trip with Global Passion, I drove to Napa, CA, in my gifted 1997 Camaro with no back window, with a place to stay for 30 days and only $100 in monthly support.
God has been faithful ever since.
I now serve as the Chief Operating Officer of Global Passion and the lead coordinator for National AIM (Ambassadors in Missions) with the National Assemblies of God Youth Ministries.
