A 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 MoreSingleness is not a bad thing. But in the Christian world, it can often be interpreted as the phase before life actually begins. Sometimes even being identified as “single” can feel like a form of punishment to a person in a time when family portrait sessions and engagement ring photos make up approximately 93% of Facebook News Feeds.
Read MoreLet me start by saying, attending Partnership Class was a wonderful and impactful experience for me when I attended last fall - despite my expectations to the contrary.
Read MoreThe absolute truth is we are not Summit Church without our amazing volunteers. I personally get the opportunity to lead and serve alongside the many teams that help create Summit’s first impression at the Herndon campus. These folks arrive early to brew insane amounts of coffee, they help you find a parking space with a smile, they greet and...
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 MoreHave you ever considered what your best gift in ministry is? If you were to give the very best of yourself to God’s work in the world, what would that look like? I am guessing that you are a very gifted person. After all, you are reading this, so you know how to read and can use a computer. But your gifting probably extends well beyond that. You might be super organized, or a gifted strategist.
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.
Read MoreI have been in jail for over eight months now. I had one visit the first week I was here, but they didn't show up - and I didn't even know who it was. Since I've been in jail I've dedicated my life to Jesus Christ. I've learned a lot about love and forgiveness the last several months...
Read MoreUnseasonably warm (or rather, unreasonably toasty) weather didn’t keep Summit’s family and friends from dispersing throughout our cities to work alongside dozens of non-profit partners that serve our communities year round. We tackled landscaping projects at local parks and facilities. We sorted donations to be delivered to those most in need of relief locally and globally.
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