I am so excited to join the great team here at Foothills and partner with what God is doing in and through this church. This last year my wife Clara and I have felt warmly welcomed by the community here at Foothills and look forward to continuing to deepen connections with you all. God has confirmed that Foothills is the place He is calling us to. God has given me a heart for youth ministry and a passion to see students live unashamed, Jesus-first lives.
Here is a snapshot of my philosophy of youth ministry: I believe scripture makes it clear that youth ministry is an essential and necessary part of the flourishing of the church. Youth ministry is one way that we are faithful to the great commission mandate. Disciple-making is most effective when it starts from a young age and grows into spiritual maturity (Prov. 22:6). Scripture makes it clear that discipleship is not optional, but rather the expectation of following Christ (Matt. 28:16-20). Discipleship through youth ministry is close to the heart of Christ (Luke 18:16-17). Throughout Scripture, God commands his people to care for the spiritual well-being of the youth (Deut. 6:5-9; Deut. 11:19). It’s clear to see that God desires for children to be brought up to know and serve Him. As children transition into adulthood, youth ministry provides a spiritual foundation that equips them to continue to follow Jesus through the rest of their lives.
I believe youth ministry is deeply desired by students. From middle through high school, youth are searching for a place to provide them with identity and belonging. These two needs provide a thirst and curiosity for truth and community. Youth ministry then becomes a great pathway toward discipleship and gospel transformation. At a healthy youth group, students will hear the gospel and learn their true identity as adopted children of God (Rom. 8:14-Gal. 4:7). This new identity brings a place of belonging as we enter into the spiritual family of God. Along with this amazing reality, students find belonging as members of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12).
From the experience I had this year, I would double down on the fact that youth ministry is needed. Youth need to know they are a part of the church body and have an active role in the ministry of the church. I would also say relational ministry is so effective. When students see that the leaders care about them holistically and not just within the parameters of the church, it breaks down barriers and creates space for God to work. God is a relational being and I believe he designed us to minister to people through the avenue of personal relationships.
A little more about me: I am originally from Phoenix Arizona but moved up to Oregon to attend Corban University. Growing up I was raised in a Christian home⏤the second youngest of five siblings. My siblings and I were homeschooled and enjoyed the flexibility and freedom that came with that style of life, especially in my pre-middle school years. Another advantage of homeschooling is that it helped create a deep bond with my siblings as we shared a lot of sweet life moments in our childhood. My passions as a kid were sports, fishing, and eating, and to be honest they have not really changed.
As I mentioned above, I grew up in a Christian household and had a solid understanding of the gospel and what it meant to follow Christ from a young age. However, it was not until the summer of my junior year that God gave me a passion for daily following him and growing deeper in my faith. Over the course of the summer, God gave me a strong desire to read His word. I read through the book of Acts and for the first time saw the biblical story as something I was a part of, especially regarding the spread of the good news. This time revitalized my faith and gave me a heart for ministry.
Pursuing that passion, I moved up to Oregon to attend Corban University, where I received my BS in Church Ministry as well as my Masters in Divinity. I absolutely loved my time at Corban growing with like-minded believers and making friendships that will last a lifetime. During my time at Corban, I met my wife Clara and we got married in February of 2023. We recently moved to Stayton and are expecting our first child in September!