I began serving FCC on January 2, 2014 and served our church for three and a half years as Associate Minister. In July of 2017 the Board of our congregation approved my transition to Senior Minister. It is both a privilege and honor to serve God with you in this capacity.
I was born in Huntsville, Alabama, but grew up all over the country (and in Germany for a bit) because of my dad’s career in the US Army. Ultimately, we landed in El Paso, TX, which is where I attended high school and where my dad retired from the military. After graduating from J.M Hanks High School (Go Knights!), I attended Texas Christian University (Go Frogs!) in Fort Worth, TX, where I majored in Religious Studies. After college, I attended seminary at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, TX and Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK. In May of 2019 I completed my Doctor of Ministry degree at PTS.
It’s such a blessing to serve in Smithville, and I’m excited about the ways we can step out in faith together. Before serving in Smithville, I served for 4.5 years as the Minister for Youth and Young Adults at Hillside Christian Church in Kansas City, MO. I've also served as Minister to Youth at First Christian Church in Fayetteville, AR, as the Regional Youth Minister for the Great River Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), as Associate Minister at First Christian Church in Abilene, TX, and as Area Youth Minister for the Trinity Brazos Area in Fort Worth, TX. All told, I have served Disciples congregations and regions for more than 19 years. My first love in ministry is the work we do for and with young people, and I believe that youth ministry, young adult ministry and family ministry are central to our call to make disciples who serve God and strive for justice in the world. I am also passionate about preaching, writing (curriculum, articles and books), intergenerational ministry, mission, and creative worship.
My hobbies include yarncraft (knitting and crochet), writing, reading science fiction or fantasy literature, walking, listening to music, taking in an occasional movie, and spending time with my family. My husband, Chuck, is also a Disciples pastor who serves as Minister to Youth at Saint Andrew Christian Church in Olathe, KS. We currently have two “fur children”: a West Highland White Terrier named Shelby, and a black lab named Faith. In September of 2017 we adopted our daughter, Violet, at the ripe age of two days old. She is the joy of our lives!