I grew up in the Mormon religion, but the pressure for perfection and good works was too much. By the time I turned 26, I left religion altogether. For 10 years, my husband and I decided to teach the Bible to our children at home, but it was very sporadic, as was my personal relationship with the Lord. Unfortunately, at the time, I was choosing the hard way of doing things by myself.
Read MoreSeveral years ago I was in a meeting when an idea came up. What if we could find a coffee supplier that would align with our vision and desire to partner significantly in stopping the AIDS pandemic in Africa? It wasn’t my idea (John Parker always has the best ideas), so I can say it was a great idea— like really great and also really big. An idea that, if we were going to do it right, needed a lot of research and time.
Read MoreQuinn and Jaye led the way out into the ocean, followed closely by their father, Trevor. Quinn walked straight and purposefully while his sister, Jaye, skipped and hopped with joy just behind him. This was the day that Trevor and his wife, Ashley, had been waiting for. The day that life changing decisions were declared with joy in front of their church family.
Read MoreI never cared to do anything at church beyond attend and occasionally play with the worship team. I grew up as a pastor’s kid with a ton of siblings (9 to be exact), and had about all the “behind the scenes” experience I could handle. When I was younger, my family would be in church any time the doors were open.
Read MoreJust as God is infinite and has an endless capacity for revealing Himself in and through this world and beyond, there are numerous ways in which we can experience Him and worship Him from within His creation.
Read MoreI remember a time in my life when I was showing up to work every day just to receive a paycheck. It was a horrible feeling. I was not passionate or proud of my work, and every week seemed to bring a “case of the Mondays”. I think about this in contrast to some of the prayers of our friends in the 33rd Street Women’s campus.
Read MoreA little over three years ago, I married my now-husband, Patrick. We did what most engaged couples do and went through premarital counseling. We felt that we had all the right conversations and talked to all the right people. In addition to the normal marriage preparation, we also knew that as a couple our financial situation needed some attention.
Read MoreIt’s 1 a.m. A mob of teenagers forms in front of a stage in a dimly lit room. The bass drum thumps as an electric guitar sings. Energy surrounds the crowd; it moves through the crowd. A scream begins with one and then another, then another. This is it. The song they have been waiting for.
Read MoreLast fall marked the beginning of my 6th pass through the reGROUP journey. Whether categorized as a participant or a leader, in reality, each time I am still very much a participant. I walk beside the gentlemen I am tasked to guide as someone who knows the path, not someone who has everything sorted out myself.
Read MoreA few weeks ago, I walked into service at Summit Lake Mary, not quite sure what to expect. Bulletins were handed out at the door, the lights dimmed, and Worship Coordinator, Josh Pearson, began to play just like any other Sunday. Campus Minister, O.J. Aldrich, sat near the front, preparing to give the sermon, and the sound booth was staffed with the lighting and sound volunteers. However...
Read MoreOne of my favorite things about the people that call Summit home is that this community values creating lifestyles of service. This value is lived out uniquely by every person at Summit. Whether it’s becoming a small group leader in Foothills, participating in a niceSERVE project, or joining a team that goes to Africa— the partners, attendees, and guests at Summit consistently find ways to make service a part of their lives...
Read MoreI recently had a short but deeply impactful conversation with two women, and I wish you had been there. These two women—full of life and hope and joy, who know they are loved and that they matter to the people around them, who are more than what they do even though they now know they can do great things— simply said, "we saw the number. Thank you.”
Read MoreIn 2015, I had two New Year’s resolutions. One was to run the fastest 5k of my life. I realize that I am quickly exiting the peak years of distance running and wanted to make a sincere attempt to beat my previous personal record (PR). To be clear, my previous PR is roughly the cook-time of a casserole, so beating it would be an accomplishment only to myself.
Read MoreI thought I was perfectly content working full-time at a Christian non-profit—I was constantly around Christians, and you could say my daily work helped to fulfill the Great Commission, even though I was on the administrative end of things. I thought I could see myself working there forever. Where else do you get to pray with your coworkers and read the Word on the clock?
Read MoreI know I shouldn’t play favorites. This is especially true when it comes to my children and when it comes to volunteers at Summit. There are a few though who really have captured my heart in a special way. I am referring to volunteers of course, not my kids. After all, each of my children are equally awesome and my favorite in their own unique way...
Read MoreMy husband Pat and I were missionaries living in Budapest, Hungary. However, one September we were on a two-week visit to our hometown, Colorado Springs. During a routine physical it was discovered that Pat had cancer. So with the decree, “you have acute leukemia,” our cheerful little two-week visit quickly morphed into an eerie, nebulous odyssey...
Read MoreI have always wanted a big family. I remember as a girl cutting out a newspaper article about a family with 13 kids. John and I even wanted to adopt one day, after we had a few kids with my blue eyes and his laid-back personality. But, when the time came we never got pregnant. Months turned into years of the continual rollercoaster ride of hope and disappointment.
Read MoreOver the last twelve months, I have had the opportunity to speak to Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, high school assemblies, corporate board meetings, churches, and anyone who would listen about poverty in Orlando. At the same time, families earning 200% of the U.S. poverty level or below are...
Read MoreLast month, I put on my cowboy boots and headed west. Okay, so I don’t actually own a pair of cowboy boots. But I did head west. My wife Diana and I were invited to join a Summit Connect service event for groups in the Windermere/Dr. Philips area. And let me tell you, it was a blast.
Read MoreEdge Goes to the Beach was nothing short of an experiment gone totally right. For the past 4 years, Edge has done a fall camp with all the typical elements: cabins in the woods, a ropes course, a blob on the lake, etc. But this year we threw all that out the window in exchange for sand, waves, and a ukulele.
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