When I came to the states having just graduated elementary school, I was naturally inducted into church life as most of my extended family here were Christians. I was baptized soon after without fully understanding what it meant, desperately wanting to fit in with the other kids. I lived the next 20 years of life as an imposter, a white washed grave. I lead small groups, bible studies, worship, and Sunday schools without submitting an ounce of my life to Christ. I lived a self gratifying and self glorifying life while “doing church.”

In my early 30’s, I was overcome with a fear of my parents’ passing as I attended my grandfather’s funeral. This fear manifested itself in a form of restlessness and an unhealthy infatuation for financial freedom.

I was trekking with a group of friends in Peru when God suddenly intervened. In the midst of my struggle with physical exhaustion and lack of oxygen, a voice came: “Fret not, for I will give you enough breath for your next step.” In that moment, all the moats and walls I have built for my life broke down and I spent the night repenting for the life that I had lived.

God came to my rescue in those mountains and lifted me out of my self imposed misery. When I was not seeking Him, He sought after me. He said to me, in that tent: “I am greater than all the disappointments that was, is and will be in your life. Trust Me in that by the time We come to those moments in your life together, it will be ok; for I will have made you new.”

God brought us to Lighthouse in 2019 from our previous church. For both my wife and me, it was a season of healing and rest. We were patiently and abundantly loved by those in this church. As my wife and I started serving ourselves, many from Lighthouse poured their lives into us to mentor and support us. All of that came to a head in my bout with cancer. It was a period of my life that God filled with the inexplicable but profound joy and deep satisfaction in God. A big part of that joy is this very body of Christ, and the love and faithfulness God has shown to us through so many in this church. Just as we were lovingly enveloped by this community in my valley of death, it has become my joy and hope to continue to co-work with God to help build community where needed.

I am honored to be called as an elder candidate. It is an honor I approach with great fear. As we collectively discern God’s will and calling for Lighthouse Christian Church in its next season, I humbly ask for your prayers and honest feedback about my future role in that calling, so that we together “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.”

If you would like to provide comments or input on this candidate,  please email elders@lighthousechristian.church.