In the fall of 2021, we got the opportunity to teach a class of about 100 women at our local church. We took them through the Story of Scripture (a class from Dallas Seminary that explores the metanarrative of Scripture).
At the end of the class, one thing was evident - women wanted to go deeper in the Word. We thought that would look like leading again at our local church, but God had very different plans.
My mom always said, “when it comes to following Jesus, write your plans in pencil!” Why pencil? Because often life doesn’t look like what you planned. My guess is you have walked through a season like this. One where you wondered what God was up to or if he was even in it. TRC was born out of one of those difficult and painful seasons where we wondered what God was up to and if He was even in it. Over the next few months, God provided a resounding “Yes, I am in this and I am up to something good!” God took what we thought was broken and created something new. Over many tears, and much prayer The Remember Collective was born.
We are confident that the difficulties we faced could have so easily sidelined us in our walk with Jesus and derailed our ministry dreams. Yet in God’s goodness and grace, instead, we were propelled to great depths of faith and trust. We are unclear of all that God has in store for TRC so now we go forth writing in pencil!
“...but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3
I am a Bible study teacher, disciple maker, and lover of Jesus. My story begins 6 thousand miles away in an orphanage in Iran! By God’s grace and sovereignty, I was adopted by an American military family and raised to know and love Jesus. While in college I discovered what it meant to surrender to God’s leading and I have never been the same! During my 25 years in ministry, I’ve worked in college ministry, had the privilege of being a youth director for a few years, lived overseas as an international worker, and most recently served in women’s ministry for the last 12 years. I am passionate about God’s Word and desire to help women gain a solid foundation. I’m looking to call all women to seek God not only with their hearts but with their minds so that they can stand firm on His faithfulness.
When I am not speaking or writing I’d like to tell you I garden or cook but really I love naps, books, and a great cup of coffee.
I am an avid reader who rarely finishes a book, a University of Minnesota Gopher fan who went to Rutgers and I own a fantastic collection of sarcastic t-shirts
I run on iced coffee, laughter, and a little bit of whimsy. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, and I love Jesus. By day I am a first-grade teacher and by night a seminary student. When I’m not in the classroom or studying for class you’ll most likely find me hanging with my friends, singing in my car, kickboxing, or creating with my Cricut. I currently live with my wonderful family in South Jersey.
Through some sweet friends, I came to know Jesus in 8th grade, but my faith became my own in high school and I’ve been growing closer to the Lord ever since. I’ve been privileged to serve in both youth and women’s ministry and the Lord has grown in me a deep desire to equip and teach the next generation of teachers, learners, and leaders. I truly feel the highest purpose of my life is to know God deeply and make Him known to others.
In current culture there is great discourse and disagreement over what the church should hold as essential. We feel it’s important to be transparent about what we believe are basic doctrines that should be essential to our teaching.
We believe God is one, yet eternally exists as three distinct but equal persons-Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father, Son, and Spirit, perfect in unity, share all the attributes of God, yet each person has distinct functions and remains worthy of glory, honor, and worship. (Deut. 6:4, 33:27, Isa. 40:28, John 10:30, 2 Cor. 3:17-18, Rev. 4:11)
We believe God made humans, male and female in His very own image.This image bestows each human with inherent dignity and value. God breathed into Adam and Eve the breath of life, and gave them dominion over the earth. These first humans were originally sinless and enjoyed uninterrupted fellowship with God and all of creation. (Gen. 1:26-28, 2:7)
We believe Adam and Eve rebelled against God ushering sin and devastation into the world. Every child born there after was born with a sin nature. Sin has corrupted every part of creation and now all humanity exists in a broken world with fallen natures. As a result, all people are totally unable to please God. Everyone is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Gen. 3, 6:5, Pss. 14:1-3, Jer. 17:9, Rom. 8:6-7, Eph. 2:1-3)
We believe Jesus lived a sinless life on earth, suffered, and died on the cross in the place of humanity to provide atonement for our sins. Those who place their faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross are made right in the sight of God and eternally secure. We believe that this redemptive work is a free gift from God to be received by grace through faith and not by any human work, effort or merit.
(Lev. 17:11, Matt. 26:28, John 1:12, 3:16-18, 36, 5:24, 10:28, Rom. 3:26, 5:6-9, 2 Cor. 5:21, Gal.3:13, Eph. 1:7, 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, 1 Pet. 1:18-19, 23)
We believe in a future day when Jesus will come again to earth. We believe His return will be bodily, and visible. We believe He will judge the living and the dead. We believe Heaven and Hell are real and eternal.We believe His return will consummate history and usher in a new heaven and earth where all those who are found righteous will forever be with the Lord.
(Dan. 12:2, Matt. 10:28 25:46, John 5:29, 14:1-3, Acts 1:11, Phil 3:20, 1 Thess. 4:16, Titus 2:13, 2 Pet. 3:10,13, Rev. 21:1-2)
We believe Jesus Christ is the Head of the church. We believe the body of the church is made up of those baptized by one Spirit into one body. We are all one in Christ Jesus therefore each have value and should be recognized as equal members of the body. We desire to be unified as one irregardless of denomination and ethnic diversities. We affirm that Scripture exhorts God’s people to gather together regularly for worship, for edification of the body, to receive instruction from the Word, and to participate in the ordinances of communion and baptism. (Matt.16:18, 28:19, Luke 22:19-20, Acts 2:42, Rom. 12:4-5, 1 Cor. 11:26, 12:12-13, Eph. 4:2-6, 13-16, Col 1:18, 2 Tim 3:16-17, Heb. 10:24-25).
We believe God has graciously revealed Himself through creation, His Son Jesus and the Scriptures. The entirety of Scripture is inspired by God, and contains His very words to humankind. Inspired describes the work of the Holy Spirit through the authors of Scripture to have them record not simply their own words, but the very words of God. As the very words of God, the Scriptures carry divine authority and the Bible serves as the final authority for matters of Christian faith and practice.
Deut 6:24-25, Pss.18:30, John 17:17, Rom 15:4, 1 Cor. 2:10-13, 2 Tim 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:20-21)