Growing up I went to church and was involved in youth group as a social activity. In middle school, I began to recognize that the people and things I was living for weren’t able to completely satisfy. I asked God to show me if He was real, and started to listen in youth group. Through a series of conversations, I learned I could be saved from the depths of my sin through Christ’s death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit could give me new life just as Jesus overcame the grave, and I could have a restored relationship with God. I gave my life to following Jesus, and the joy I experienced from knowing Him fulfilled these deeper longings. This was foundational for me as I went through high school and college. I attended the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, and joined a local church where my understanding of God and living a gospel-centered life grew in community.
I first learned about Campus Outreach in Evansville, Indiana, when I made friends with staff members shortly after graduating college in 2019. I was encouraged by seminars I heard from them at my local church and the faithful lives they lived for Christ. I moved back to my hometown in Minnesota in 2020 and joined a small group at Bethlehem, where I coincidentally met staff from the CO Minneapolis region. I began to spend time with them regularly and got more involved with CO over the years. I realized I loved being around college students; watching them grow in Christ and treasure Him. This led me to pray and talk to others about joining staff, confirming my desire to transition to vocational ministry.