Department: Compassion Ministry

Joined Gateway Staff: December of 2006

Areas of Ministry: I oversee the areas of Benevolence and Pastoral Care Intake which comprise Compassion Ministry. Our team ministers to those facing financial difficulty, seeking ministry with a pastor or experiencing emotional distress.

Family: Married to David; have three children—Christopher, Katelynne and Zachary; 1 dog, Pierre (Miniature Schnauzer)

Saved: 1979, following a summer camp after my 6th grade year

Previous Lines of Work: Gateway is my second church to work with benevolence. Previously, I worked in the non-profit sector as an administrator with key area of focus in developing volunteer programs.

FAVORITE
Book: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Food: Mexican
Snack Food: Blue Bell’s White Chocolate Almond ice cream
Movie: Pay it Forward
TV Show: Dancing with the Stars
Song: MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine”
Actress: Katherine Hephburn
Time of Day: Sunrise when the birds are just beginning to sing
Season: Spring
Place in the World: Home with my family
Place to Pray: Back patio early in the morning
Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Reading and playing Guesstures with my family
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11—In doing benevolence, this verse is so important because it shows that the Lord has a special plan and purpose for everything. It puts the focus on Him and restores hope in the eternal and not just the uncertainty in the current circumstances.

LEAST FAVORITE
Food: Hominy
Snack Food: N/A—I love all snacks, well except pork rinds
Time of Day: In the morning when you have to leave the warmth of the bed and there is still a chill in the air
Season: Winter
Place in the World: West Texas where the dirt blows and blows and blows

One of My Greatest Experiences with God: In the late '90s, I was having considerable pain in multiple locations with most of it being located in my legs and feet. After being water baptized in 2002, I no longer experienced pain. During a quiet time, the Lord shared with me that I had encountered the pain due to continually trying to walk on my own and solve my own problems. Upon completely surrendering to the Lord, He was now carrying me and my burdens.