I knew about Jesus, and then I met Him
I grew up as a preacher’s kid in a small town in southern Ohio. Church was familiar. I knew the songs, I knew the language, and I knew *about* God—but knowing about Him and truly knowing Him are two very different things.
For years, my view of God was tangled up in religion, rules, and my own rebellion. I spent much of my high school and college years running in the opposite direction of the life I had been raised around. But Jesus has a way of finding us even when we aren't looking for Him.
As I grew into a wife and mom, the Lord began opening my eyes to a love I had never understood before. What had once felt distant and religious became personal. Jesus wasn't interested in cleaning me up and making me look the part. He wanted my heart.
And He changed everything.
I discovered that He really does set captives free. He redeems lost time. He restores what we thought was too far gone. And somewhere in the middle of Him putting my life back together, I realized He wasn't only rescuing me—**He was calling me.**
For years, my view of God was tangled up in religion, rules, and my own rebellion. I spent much of my high school and college years running in the opposite direction of the life I had been raised around. But Jesus has a way of finding us even when we aren't looking for Him.
As I grew into a wife and mom, the Lord began opening my eyes to a love I had never understood before. What had once felt distant and religious became personal. Jesus wasn't interested in cleaning me up and making me look the part. He wanted my heart.
And He changed everything.
I discovered that He really does set captives free. He redeems lost time. He restores what we thought was too far gone. And somewhere in the middle of Him putting my life back together, I realized He wasn't only rescuing me—**He was calling me.**
The yes that changed everything
If you would have told younger me that one day I would travel around preaching Jesus, I probably would have laughed at you.
Fun fact: I won Miss Ohio National Teenager back in the day, and at that point in my life I was *far* more comfortable standing on a stage in a swimsuit than I ever imagined I'd be standing on one with a Bible in my hand. Oh, how God has transformed me.
The call to preach, teach, write, and minister wasn't something I went looking for. In fact, for a long time, I ran from it. But eventually my running turned into surrender, and my surrender became a **yes**.
That yes has taken me places I never could have planned—from serving in youth and young adult ministry, to becoming a women's pastor inside the local church, to traveling, preaching, teaching, praying, writing, and sitting across tables from people hungry for more of Jesus.
I have watched God set people free, restore hope, awaken callings, and completely change a room with His presence. There is nothing I'd rather give my life to.
But I also know this calling carries weight. I never want to become casual with something that cost Jesus everything. It is an incredible honor to carry His Word, steward what He reveals, and point people back to Him.
So I keep saying yes.
Not because I have it all figured out—but because I've learned that whatever is waiting on the other side of obedience is worth the surrender.
Fun fact: I won Miss Ohio National Teenager back in the day, and at that point in my life I was *far* more comfortable standing on a stage in a swimsuit than I ever imagined I'd be standing on one with a Bible in my hand. Oh, how God has transformed me.
The call to preach, teach, write, and minister wasn't something I went looking for. In fact, for a long time, I ran from it. But eventually my running turned into surrender, and my surrender became a **yes**.
That yes has taken me places I never could have planned—from serving in youth and young adult ministry, to becoming a women's pastor inside the local church, to traveling, preaching, teaching, praying, writing, and sitting across tables from people hungry for more of Jesus.
I have watched God set people free, restore hope, awaken callings, and completely change a room with His presence. There is nothing I'd rather give my life to.
But I also know this calling carries weight. I never want to become casual with something that cost Jesus everything. It is an incredible honor to carry His Word, steward what He reveals, and point people back to Him.
So I keep saying yes.
Not because I have it all figured out—but because I've learned that whatever is waiting on the other side of obedience is worth the surrender.
And then God made the vision bigger
For years, I thought the assignment was simply to go wherever God opened a door, preach Jesus, and make room for the Holy Spirit to move.
And I still will.
But somewhere along the way, God began showing me that the vision was bigger than a microphone, a platform, or a calendar full of places to preach.
**CKM By The Sea was born from a desire to build places for people to encounter Jesus, grow deep roots in His Word, discover what He has placed inside of them, and find community to walk it out with.**
Today, that happens around tables and across screens, through Bible studies and teaching, prayer and mentorship, gatherings and resources, the By The Sea Community, and wherever else God gives us room to say yes.
And we're still building.
The vision is big. The prayers are big. And I believe what God is doing is bigger than any one person, platform, building, or ministry name.
We want to see a sleeping Church awakened to the presence of God. We want to see ordinary people equipped to carry Jesus boldly into their homes, churches, workplaces, and communities. And we want to make room for the Holy Spirit to move without trying to manufacture what only He can do.
Because ultimately, this has never been about building my kingdom.
It's about His.
**Encounter over Performance.**
**Kingdom over Castles.**
**Glory over Agenda.**
We're here to **wake the Church and revive the nations**—one surrendered yes at a time.
And I still will.
But somewhere along the way, God began showing me that the vision was bigger than a microphone, a platform, or a calendar full of places to preach.
**CKM By The Sea was born from a desire to build places for people to encounter Jesus, grow deep roots in His Word, discover what He has placed inside of them, and find community to walk it out with.**
Today, that happens around tables and across screens, through Bible studies and teaching, prayer and mentorship, gatherings and resources, the By The Sea Community, and wherever else God gives us room to say yes.
And we're still building.
The vision is big. The prayers are big. And I believe what God is doing is bigger than any one person, platform, building, or ministry name.
We want to see a sleeping Church awakened to the presence of God. We want to see ordinary people equipped to carry Jesus boldly into their homes, churches, workplaces, and communities. And we want to make room for the Holy Spirit to move without trying to manufacture what only He can do.
Because ultimately, this has never been about building my kingdom.
It's about His.
**Encounter over Performance.**
**Kingdom over Castles.**
**Glory over Agenda.**
We're here to **wake the Church and revive the nations**—one surrendered yes at a time.
