Growing up in a community church changed my life. As a child, I didn’t get it and often undervalued the blessing of growing up in a church dedicated to the gospel and loving people. Until God snatched me out of darkness into His marvelous light at the age of 9, and set me on a course of complete surrender to Him!

I grew up in the beautiful city of Garland, TX. While there was a lot to love about the city where I’m from, there was also a lot of brokenness to lament. The presence of drugs and violence at school and in the community were a norm that I often minimized knowing that other communities had it worse. Nonetheless, it was not the way things were supposed to be and that was something I always felt deeply.

Church and home were my safe havens through middle school and high school. My parents provided a stable home environment, and my youth pastors and mentors formed a spiritual trellis that provided the structure and support I needed to grow in the midst of the brokenness that surrounded me daily.

The role of the local church has left an indelible impression on my view of the church and the power of healthy churches in hurting contexts. My wife, Chrissy, a New Orleans native and South Garland refugee due to Hurricane Katrina, has experienced the same. Our lives are a testimony of what faithful men and women – filled with the Spirit – surrendered to Jesus and who generously give of their time, talents and treasures for the sake of gospel can accomplish!

Because of the mercy and grace of God in our lives, and the investment of faithful believers we met our senior year of high school, Chrissy and I have dedicated our lives to continuing that mission. From summer camps, to medical mission trips, to after school programs, student ministry, nursing, teaching, and pastoral ministries – the past 14 years of our lives have been marked by putting our “Yes!” on the table for Jesus wherever He would have us. 

Several years ago, Chrissy and I had the opportunity of partnering with our mentors, Charles and Tranay Wilson, who not only introduced us to one another (insert “awww”), but were also two of the faithful men and women who modeled what it looked like to live a life of surrender to Jesus before us. The Lord was calling them to plant a multicultural, multiethnic, multigenerational church in the northwest section of Roanoke Virginia, and we were happy to join them as financial and prayer partners.

 Northwest Roanoke, like New Orleans and Garland, is a beautiful part of the city that is no stranger to brokenness. It is felt in the segregated neighborhoods, educational challenges, the limited access to healthy food options, and divorce rates higher than the national average. Additionally, it is felt in the lack of gospel-centered leaders and families who live, work and worship in this city.

 Charles and Tranay, upon witnessing the good, the bad and the ugly of the city, were compelled to bring the good news of the gospel in the form of a local church – The Hill – because they love Jesus, and Jesus loves people.

 Over the years, we have had the opportunity to watch as the Lord began to work in Roanoke through the Wilson’s – joining them in prayer walks, visiting to celebrate mile markers, and building relationships with their team. Though we were only playing a small part, we were glad to witness the Spirit at work through The Hill Church.

 That being said, through much prayer and consideration, we believe the Lord is calling us to put our “Yes!” on the table once again! While we were content to partner and watch what God was doing in and through The Hill Church from afar, we felt the burden and the Lords call to be gospel-centered laborers who live, work and worship in this city.

 By God’s grace, we have been invited to join in the continued establishment of a new gospel outpost in the heart of a community with more than its share of challenges. For myself, that looks like raising up leaders, shepherding young families and preaching the word of God. For Chrissy, that means serving kids in the community, joining the worship team, and sharing her medical giftings with the body. 

 There is so much joy and yearning flooding our hearts, and many gospel conversations, conversions and baptisms taking place in the midst of a city filled with darkness. There is no way to fit the abundance of what the Lord is doing in our hearts and this city in this letter. Chrissy and I would love to connect with you in person over coffee or by Zoom to give you more details of what the Lord is doing both in us and in the OKE! 

 As I am praying towards the transition, I am asking the Lord to use us just as He used so many in our own lives. That we would be so blessed as to help form the spiritual trellis of others who need to know the love of Christ and experience the love of neighbor. A verse I was able to write on the walls of The Hill during one of our last visits come to mind, Jeremiah 29:4-7:

 4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

We believe God is calling us to take up our tents and settle down in Roanoke, VA; to plant gardens of righteousness and compassion for the good of the city and the sake of the kingdom. We want to say, “Yes!” again!

Now that you’ve heard about us, here’s where our stories can intertwine. We want to afford you the opportunity to put your “Yes” on the table with us! We’re asking for your financial partnership and fervent prayers as we follow the Lord’s call to love and serve the people of northwest Roanoke and the valley. To reconcile a broken and lost people to Jesus, and reconcile people who claim to know the King to one another.

As a result, we are seeking to raise 3 years of salary for my position as Pastoral Resident at The Hill Church.

Through your partnership, we will be able to help minister to and strengthen families, which we know is at the core of any thriving community, mobilize Christian non–profits who wish to bring kingdom flourishing to the community, and provide a place of worship that is in the city and for the city.

I can already see what God has in store, can you!? Will you join us then with your prayers and resources?

“Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers to his harvest.” -Matthew 9:38