I am always amazed when I look back and see how God has been involved drawing parts of my life together and leading me to this point. My first feelings of being called into ministry came as I worked for the mission trip organization, YouthWorks. For over a year I tried to say, "No, I'm not enough of this or that to be a pastor." But I found that God doesn't let us disqualify ourselves for how we might be used.

When I had decided that I was being called to seminary, the next question was...where? At that point I was engaged, and my fiance who was not headed to seminary was looking for his first job. We asked ourselves, should seminary determine our location or should his job determine where I went to seminary? It turned out that they were one and the same. After being encouraged by more than one WTS alumni, I visited the campus and knew immediately that it was the right fit.

I am extremely pleased at the formational journey I have been on here, which goes much further than the classroom and studies. I've found Western to be intentional about creating a community. That comes easily for students as we engage with mostly the same group of people in our classes for three years. Yet, the faculty is deeply involved in the community and in our lives as well. They have been a source of much encouragement of both gifts and calling along the way. I am grateful for the opportunity I've had to be at Western.