For the first 19 years of my life I was an adamant atheist. All God was to me was a story people made up to comfort themselves, or to explain the world before we understood it through science. Needless to say I had about as much doubt about the existence of God as one could have. It wasn’t until I arrived at San Francisco State University. where I began to question the beliefs I held my entire life. 

My first year of college was a whirlwind of uncertainty and instability. Everything that I had placed my identity in friends, track, relationships, and family, were changing. I was unhappy living in San Francisco and attending SFSU. On the bright side, this opened me up to the big questions: What is my purpose, who am I, and is there meaning to my life? So just like any normal person would, I spent my entire sophomore year of college exploring the scientific and philosophical debate over the existence of God. This led me to the incredible conclusion, God is real! All the evidence and all the most compelling arguments point directly to the answer that God is real and Jesus is who He says He is. The problem now was, where do I go from here? 

At this point in time I had never been to church, I had never had a relationship with God, and I had no idea what religion entailed. I knew exactly NOTHING!! Not only did I know nothing, but I would have stayed that way if it had not been for one of my track teammates inviting me to Church and introducing me to the FOCUS missionaries on campus. They took me in and for the first time showed me what it was to live a Christian life in relationship with God. 

Over the course of my junior year in college my life was radically changed by God through the FOCUS missionaries on my campus. They walked with me in all aspects of my life, allowing me to see what it was like to live in an authentic community centered around faith in Christ. We became so close that one of the missionaries named Josh became the sponsor of my baptism on Easter that year. For the first time, I understood what true joy was in life. It didn’t come from anything I did or from anything in this world that eventually fades. It comes from living a life in relationship with God who loves you. 

Now my desire is to reach other people who are in the same position I was – lost and without answers. I hope to provide answers to the many doubts that those students have about God just as I did. Too many college students today have never been introduced to a relationship with Christ. I know that He can change their lives just as He changed mine!

The generosity of mission partners like you is what allows me to enter mission to spread Christ to these students. Most people are not able to go out on mission themselves, but I would love to invite you to join me through your support to enter into my mission! I am not able to do this work without your generosity and desire to reach those in need. If you feel called to join this mission I would love to have a conversation with you, so please reach out to me at [email protected]!

Thank you and know that God will use your generosity to change the lives of those we reach!