with LT since 2008
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Being born into family so focused on Christ, serving Him and serving others is such a blessing. The more students I spend time with the more I realize how rare it truly is to have such a Christ-focused family. My parents are missionaries in Bogota, Colombia, where I was born and spent nine years of my life. Although, I did not always love my life in Colombia, God worked in my heart and life in some incredible ways through the relationships I formed there. Interestingly enough, I was never part of a youth group but my class at the Christian school I attended, along with several of my teachers, played a huge role in my walk with Christ.
After graduating high school, I headed to Cedarville University where I was in shock at the amount of corn fields and the small town culture. Not anything like the 13 million people in the city of Bogota. However, I quickly adjusted as I got plugged into a group of friends, ministry, and a discipleship group.
Through my friends, professors, and opportunities at Cedarville I was challenged to grow incredible amounts in living out my faith. I began to realize once again the incredibleness of God and the horror of my sin. Revisiting the basics of Christianity caused me to come before God over and over again asking for His forgiveness. As I studied youth ministry, I learned a lot of theology but it was my more experiential and practical ministry classes that had the biggest impact on my life. Processing through being homeless for a weekend, a refuge for a weekend, spending a solo day with God, and an intense time of evangelism at Ohio State, with brothers and sister in Christ has shaped the way I view God and how I want to serve Him.
During and after my summer interning with LeaderTreks (Costa Rica ’07), accountability has been huge for me. I feel as if I have finally been able to find true accountability. I have realized it takes me being willing to confront and encourage as well as accept it in return to have true accountability partners. Along with accountability it is simply living as the body of Christ going through life together, struggling together, lamenting together, and rejoicing together. I have been realizing my struggles and walk with God are not only for me to deal with. The incredibleness of the body of Christ is that we have support, encouragement, and confrontation because we share God as our personal Savior.
Now being on full-time staff if is quite obvious my summer as an intern impacted my life. I have come to love the heart of LeaderTreks because of the transformation happening in students but also continue to see in my own life. Starting out my second year of Summit I am excited witness this transformation in the lives of the new staff.
My time in Summit has helped me not only grow as a leader, a believer, a team player, but also in the development of my future ministry. Leading trips all over the US, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic has opened my eyes to many ministries. I have also been challenged to dream and develop my own ministry. Being intentionally poured into on a regular basis has helped me know myself better, how God has gifted me, where my passions are, and how I must depend on God’s faithfulness. Although the future can be daunting, excitement fills me as I take steps to living out the dream God has called me to.
Summit is part of the full time community at LeaderTreks. It is a hands on opportunity to learn cutting edge leadership skills, develop personally, grow spiritually and become a leader in the Kingdom of God.
Summit is a two year full time commitment, during that time Summiteers learn leadership through experience.
Summit is a part of the ministry and work of LeaderTreks in Carol Stream IL, just outside of Chicago.
The goal of Summit is to help develop you as a leader in God's Kingdom. We firmly believe that God's desire is to transform the world, and that his only plan to do that is you - the body of his Church.