Background
I was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Before I started Jr. High, my family moved to Morris, IL. I spent my adolescent years in Morris being involved with sports, youth group, girls, and my friends of course. After graduating high school, I went to Moody Bible Institute seeking the best training in youth ministry that I could find anywhere. During my time at Moody, I did a lot of youth work spending my summers as a youth pastor in Wisconsin and my winters as a youth pastor in Indiana. They were busy times, but they prepared me for my future ministry with LeaderTreks. I actually spent one summer interning with LeaderTreks while at Moody. Upon graduation I decided to take a year to just live downtown Chicago working a job with a valet company. After that year I decided to seek a full time position with LeaderTreks.

How did you become a Christian?
I was raised in a Christian home. Going to church every week was a priority. At times I didn’t particularly enjoy it, but it was there that I learned about God’s grace. My Sunday school teacher taught me what the Gospel was, and I decided to follow Christ one morning while walking to school.

What is a leadership lesson you have learned while serving at LeaderTreks?
Through the ministry of LeaderTreks I have learned the importance of leadership. When Christ called His disciples to go and make disciples in all nations, he was empowering them to be leaders. Leaders make change happen.

What is one of your gifts and how do you use it?
My leadership type is a Doer. When there is a task in front of me I immediately want to jump in and get it done. I have the most satisfied feeling when I finish a task, so completing a task is usually my number one priority. I also love to teach. When I have the chance to be in front of students and teach them God’s truth, I get excited.

Who is one student that you have seen grow as a leader?
I remember working with jr. highers last year. One night at youth group I talked about a homeless woman named Bonnie whom I had met on the streets of Chicago. I mentioned that Bonnie loved stuffed animals. The next week at youth group, a girl named Jesse came with a bag full of blankets and a big teddy bear. She gave them to me and said, “I want these blankets to be passed out so the homeless can stay warm, and I want this teddy bear to be given to Bonnie.� Jesse led by example, showing Christ’s love in simple ways.

Family
I am a single guy with no family of my own, but I do have two older siblings: Brian and Becky. Brian, the oldest, lives in Palatine, IL, working as an engineer on landscape development. Becky, the middle child, is married to my brother-in-law Nathan, and lives in Prescott, AZ, getting ready to join Mission Aviation Fellowship as a missionary. My parents live in Morris, IL, so I’m not too far from home.