My Journey in God's Ministry

I am starting Phase 2 of the Fearless Residency at the end of the month! (Thank you to those who have been praying alongside Alex and me in that decision!) Alex and I at Sleeping Bear Dunes this summer What will I be doing for phase 2 ?   I will be working with Cultivate Community Church in Hamilton with their middle and high school ministries! They are a church plant who meet in a high school for Sunday services. They turn 2 years old this October! Last year I was mostly shadowing pastors, while leading some projects here and there, but this year, I will have more responsibilities and ownership . Not only am I looking forward to strengthening my leadership in student ministries, but I get to explore my love for church planting ! I will get to see firsthand the unique joys and struggles of a church plant (including setting up and tearing down every single Sunday morning! I mean, wow, that's a lot of work!) Goal for this 2nd phase residency: Be equipped and ready

It's June. How is it already June? A year ago I got the call that I had been accepted into the fearless residency, and I was so nervous (but also excited. 😉)Now, this is my last month of phase 1 residency, and I am looking back over the year.  I have changed and grown this past year through the residency, getting married, moving, and simply being an adult (who is finally out of school!).  Many have already been asking me, "What is your biggest takeaway ?" Since it is hard to choose just one, these are the big ones that first come to mind: In my faith and in ministry: I have been reminded that ministry is not about programs, but it is about relationships .  Being a Christian is more than checking off boxes to make sure you're being a good Christian; we need to l ove the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22:36-40).   God equips who He calls.  I have been affirmed again

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~Matthew 11:28-30 You, yes you. The days are long, the sky is cloudy and dreary, the winter doesn’t seem to end. Your to-do list is high. There always seems to be more. There always seems to be things you mean to do, but never get to it. You’ve disappointed other people. Other people have disappointed you. Maybe you’ve even disappointed yourself…. You ask yourself, “What am I doing?” “Why?” “Is there a purpose?” You feel stuck. You’re not good enough. Can I remind you? You are enough. You are worth it. Not because some chocolate ad tells you that you “deserve” to buy their product (Yes, chocolate company, we know we can give you our money.) (Although if you need some Dove chocolate on a dreary day… seriously go get some. You have my blessing.)

Me: "What do you love about camp?" Camper: "Everything!"      Whenever I would ask this question to get some feedback and start a conversation with a camper, this was the most common answer. I mean, I can't blame them... Camp is awesome! It will always have a special place in my heart.   My first summer at Son-Life Camp! Son-Life Camp is My Favorite        This camp played a huge part in developing my ministry leadership. I started out 5 years as a shy counselor who loved kids and wanted them to know about Jesus... to running the day camp program and staff, going up front, and being loud and goofy. I was even one of the speakers for the summer! God has done incredible things in my life. Snowbound!!! Snowbound 2015!      You know how Facebook does those posts at the top of your newsfeed? "5 years ago you were traveling here and eating this amazing food...." Thanks a lot Facebook.... Don't taunt me like that! Well, one y

I'm Officially in Student Ministries!!!!!!!!!! 😄 (I'm just a little excited 😉) Residency update!!!! It's December, and that means........ *drumroll*......... I'M IN STUDENT MINISTRIES! The orientation phase of my residency is over, and after spending time with all of the different ministry departments and church plants, I followed God tugging on my heart for youth ministry, specifically middle and high school! God has given me a passion for kids to know Jesus and grow in relationship with Him. This passion has been growing for the past several years, and I'm honored that God is drawing me deeper on this journey.  So that means I will be spending my time at Ridge Point Community Church on Sunday nights with high schoolers and on Wednesday nights with kids who are in grades 5th-8th! During the week I am working with the family ministry staff and joining their meetings and plannings and setting up and everything else they do. 😁  This is the high school

The Residency and Me in a Nutshell:  As promised from my first post, I will tell you about my residency at Ridge Point Church (Fearless network church), a little about myself, what God is doing, and how YOU can join Team Hannah and support me! About Me and the Residency: God is leading me in my new phase of life after graduation. I graduated from Calvin with a teaching degree in math and a minor in youth ministry. After much prayer, I followed God to Ridge Point Community Church in Holland, MI to work in their Fearless Residency Program! This residency can be for three years total, but residents commit for a year at a time. This first year is called the "Dream Year," emphasizing that God's dream is bigger than our ambition. God's dream is bigger than our ambition. God has been using Ridge Point to plant churches throughout Michigan, and even outside of the U.S. With all of these church plants, they need church leaders to serve the Christians who gather th