with LT since May, 2002
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I had the privilege of being raised in a Christian home by loving, Godly parents. Both of my parents have a heart of serving God with their lives, being involved in ministry through both full time and volunteer positions. I grew up with a desire to serve God with my life. While in high school that passion deepened. I spent several summers working at summer camps. That was my first experience serving shoulder to shoulder with other believers and seeing God work in the lives of kids. I was forever changed by being a part of a Kingdom mission.
I went to Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. I was a youth ministry major and was able to be involved in many ministry and leadership roles during my years there. Those experiences further impressed God’s call on my life to serve him in a full time capacity. I also met a beautiful woman, named Susy, who would become my wife. We were married shortly after I graduated from Cedarville.
My first ministry job was at a church in Flushing, Michigan. I first was an intern there and then became the youth pastor. During the three and a half years I spent in that role, God showed me the power of transformational moments with students. I witnessed firsthand the growth and changes that can take place during the formative years of jr. high and high school. The most meaningful times that I had with my students were when I took them on wilderness and missions trips. As we contemplated moving on, Susy and I prayed that God would give us the opportunity to take students on these types of trips all the time.
As you can imagine, when we found LeaderTreks we knew our prayers had been answered. It was clear that we had found an organization that valued the same things we did. We knew that leadership was essential to equip students to be God’s ambassadors. We loved the process of taking students out of their comfort zones and showing them a new way to live. LeaderTreks was a perfect fit.
Over the years at LT, my job description has changed but I am still passionate about our purpose of “developing leaders to fulfill the Great Commission”. I believe that LeaderTreks is making a difference in the lives of students and in God’s Kingdom worldwide. I can’t wait to see what the future will bring us.
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.