Background Information:

I’m from Los Angeles, moved to the mountains near Fresno in middle school and graduated from Sierra High School. I attended Grand Canyon University with a BA in Digital Film w/ emphasis in Production before moving to Florida where I lived for 3 years working in aerospace manufacturing. From there I moved back to LA and attended Los Angeles Film School and graduated suma cum laude with a BS in Entertainment Business. It was while I was seeking work in the film industry that God called me to renew my faith in Him and ultimately to ministry in Japan. I now am faithfully following wherever God leads me.

Ministry Assignment:

Missional Partner Appointee since 2024

My current ministry assignment is Pre-field Relationship Development Ministry as I prepare to serve in Japan.

Advice to Potential Missionaries

God speaks to us in ways each individual will understand. For me, God broke my heart. I can’t handle seeing other people hurt, even knowing someone is suffering makes my heart ache. That’s how God called me, and perhaps how He will speak to you, through the burden of love for my fellow man who doesn’t know the life-saving, life-changing, redeeming grace and love of Christ.

Fun Cultural Story

I was in a suburban area looking for a bakery for a gift for one of the missionary’s kids. I find what I think is a bakery and walk in, the lady inside is confused why I’m there and doesn’t speak any English. I very poorly ask if they have cake (kekki arimasuka?) and she leads me outside, I expect her to point me where to go, but that’s not the polite Japanese thing to do! She walks me down the street, not a block but about a quarter mile or more to another bakery! Turns out she was trying to tell me she was closed, and led me to a bakery that wasn’t closed and told them what I was looking for. I thanked her, bought my cake (and the nice owner also gave me a red bean filled chiffon cake for free).

Meaningful Ministry Activities

I cannot emphasize my value of youth ministry enough. Scripture emphatically encourages us to care for the children, to raise them up in a godly manner. Youth ministry on occasion gets treated like a less important and less serious ministry, like it’s just babysitting, but I feel it’s one of the most meaningful and important parts of ministry.

Lessons Learned in Ministry

The old saying that God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. God will use whoever He will use to deliver His message, I’ve seen young children being the reason parents started attending church and new believers help an old man understand God’s message in scripture. Have discernment with people but don’t assume God won’t use someone because they aren’t who you expect God to use.

Hopes for the future...

I want to reach the unreached. My greatest hope is that God will use me, even a rusty wrench can turn a bolt. I’d like to be involved with youth and young adult ministry as I grow in my ability to share the gospel cross-culturally.

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