There are millions of college students across the United States searching for a greater purpose and deeper meaning in their lives who are left dissatisfied by the answers they are given by the culture. Simultaneously, young people are losing faith in Jesus Christ and His Church at rapid rates, with 1 in 3 members of Generation Z claiming a lack of religious affiliation. To respond to this growing epidemic, God is raising up missionaries to bring souls back to His Church and I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve as a second-year missionary with FOCUS at the Air Force Academy!

In his famous Confessions, St. Augustine of Hippo prayed, “Because God has made us for Himself, our hearts are restless until they rest in Him.” I spent the majority of my life with a restless heart absent from God, all the while searching for my identity in others’ opinions of me and my ability to meet the impossible standard I had set for myself. My self-worth came from an amalgamation of all my successes and failures, leaving me unsatisfied with my life and constantly trying to make myself feel and appear lovable. It wasn’t until my senior year of college at the University of Kansas that I met a group of friends who showed me authentic love and friendship, introducing me to the Gospel and inviting me to give my life to Jesus. After some serious soul searching, prayer, and distress, I gave my “yes” to Christ. It was then that I realized that a life in Christ offered more than I ever could have imagined otherwise as I began to see my life transformed in a radical way.

As my relationship with Jesus grew and flourished, I was astonished to find He began to heal me of so many of the lies I had told myself. He set me free from the lie that I had to earn love from others and myself, showing me instead to live in the Truth of my Identity as a son of the Father. Friendship with Christ brought, and continues to bring me greater Joy, Purpose, Fulfillment, and Peace than I had previously known, and for this reason I believe there is no better life to live than one with Jesus Christ at its center.

When I answered the call to join FOCUS, I made the decision to rely on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners to help me through this mission. I’ve been blessed with amazing people who have journeyed with me as I serve on campus. If you are interested in partnering with me, you can reach me at 913-904-4622 or [email protected]. I’d be honored to share this mission with you.