Angie’s story

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT

My journey started long before I was aware. On a UV index of 10, I was exposed at like a 2 when I was growing up. I have very little memory from my time at a Catholic school for my kindergarten year. When we moved to Missouri, my brother, Mikey, and I did go to Awana at a Baptist church there in town, but that seemed short lived. I didn’t acknowledge faith much until high school, when I started going to YoungLife. It impacted me in a positive way but it wasn’t until the following years that my journey truly began.

God was chasing me down. He didn’t stop. It was 2018, I had graduated from high school and moved in with my brother while attending college in Springfield, MO. This is where my plans had fallen apart. I quit college and was in search of a new job. CNA work tore me up, emotionally and physically. I finally landed a job. Alter’d State, an Christian boutique. I met one of my best friends, Kallie, there. We were surrounded by cute clothing, wall decor with scriptures, and Christian music always playing. All these small seeds being deposited. Kallie and I were “new” to all of it. We both had a desire to find out more. She is the biggest blessing to me, we didn’t have to search for a church alone. We decided to go together. We attended Life.Church and we heard Craig Groschel give a message on perfectionism. It was something I very much struggled with.

There’s freedom in knowing that Jesus was and is the only perfect person. We don’t have to try to be perfect, we can’t, we are all sinners in need of help. This is where my entire life was flipped upside down. I could give it all away.. I didn’t have to hold it all in my own two hands. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” God is so much bigger and he cares so much for us that we can give Him our everything. Our hurt, our sorrow, our mistakes, our wins, our dreams. There’s nothing too big or too small for our God.

My life at that time, felt dark and hollow. I was alone and lost. But in a moment, standing in that congregation, surrounded by strangers and Kallie, my heart and eyes were opened. The light had cracked and then flooded through, as if the walls of the dam I had built up around my heart broke. And to be honest, I lost it, I began to bawl. I had felt the weight of my past lift from me. And from there on, I was all in. I quickly gave my life to Jesus, and decided to be baptized shortly after. I was ready to jump into young adult small groups but God’s plan for my life took a turn. Which is when I made my way to Indiana.

I tried “church shopping” but nothing felt right. I had a coworker at the time, Ethan, who invited me to a pickleball small group at the church he went to, Your Venture Church. Which also turned out to be the church my step-dad’s mother went to. Mason and I made a lot of our “friends” upset when we first started dating. And had a big falling out with them. We were so worried about what they might say. But that night at pickleball, I found confirmation in that devotional. “Sometimes God will remove people from your life to make room for those who need to be apart of it.”

From that point on, I’ve been trying my best to listen to what the Holy Spirit is trying to teach me, and follow His lead.

Mason’s Story

I grew up in the church as a kid but never really felt much connection to God. I had too many questions that I couldn’t seem to find an answer to. When I was 23 I decided to try this walk with Jesus. I was shown the love and compassion and understanding of Jesus through the love and support of Angie and through the church we started attending. The more I listened and the more I engaged the more I felt the chains that held me loosen. After a few months at the church I started volunteering with the production team to serve the church in accordance with the gifts God gave me. In April of 2024 I decided it was time to get baptized and publicly declare my faith in Jesus.

If you read the rest of our journey you’ll know that Angie and I got married the following month and the rest is history. God guided us towards this ministry and we’ve chosen to accept. No turning back. We owe our lives to Jesus for his sacrifice to save us. He is our brother to grow with, our friend to confide in, our doctor to heal us, our lighthouse to guide us, and above all our savior to redeem us. Without Him there would be no peace in our souls, no joy in our eyes, no victory in our hearts. His unconditional love for us is a gift that we should all express towards our neighbor.

The Flame was Lit

This tells the story of how we came to be where we are now.

We didn’t have a big plan.

It was just a little spark that ignited within us. A whisper in our spirits. An unspoken agreement between the both of us. A deep, growing desire to do more than just live. To truly follow where God was leading, no matter how uncertain the path was. We didn’t have all the answers, and truthfully, we still don’t.

But we had a flame that wouldn’t go out.

At that time we were both working manufacturing, the typical 7-3. We got married back in May of 2024. During our honeymoon backpacking through Northern California, we had a lot of time to think, talk and dream. At that time, the vision was simple: maybe we could sell our house and get something with a little more space. A yard to homestead in, somewhere to grow vegetables or raise chickens. This was our plan.

So, when we got home, we got straight to work. We started remodeling our house to sell, tearing up carpet, replacing toilets, laying new laminate flooring, and cleaning up our little yard. It was a labor of love, and we are so thankful for our family that helped, we couldn’t have done it without them. The house was on the market over night and had multiple offers. It sold quickly and smoothly. God’s hand had cleared the way.

During this time we visited Mason’s family and went to a county fair. They were displaying their new models of travel trailers and just for fun, we stepped inside. We looked at each other and thought, we could do this, we could live in a travel trailer.

We didn’t know what we would do, or where we’d go. But we kept thinking, how much do we really need?

So, we went for it.

We sold our house, paid off our debt and bought a truck and travel trailer. Not because we had a flawless plan, but because a fire had been stoked. We were being called into something new, something wild, beautiful and definitely uncertain.

The Wheels Began to Turn

Lord, thank you for your perfect timing, Your perfect intervention. You work out all the details before we even know. Thank you for your loving helping hand. Amen

August/September 2024

We had done a lot of research before going in on a travel trailer. There were countless hours on YouTube and reading blog posts about #rvlife. The dream we had thought of, was getting closer and our ambitions of actually doing it, were getting high.

We finally decided to go look through Camping World, Indianapolis. We would go just to look. We walked in really to learn more about the different kinds, styles, features that we would want, or not want. That’s when we ran into one of Mason’s childhood friends, Alan. Who in the end, turned out to be our salesman. At first, Mason was taken back that his good friend was there. What fun that day turned out to be. Excited to see each other, Alan took us all around the entire place. He showed us new, used, class A, 5th wheels, travel trailers, van, you name it. He knew us and had a feel for what we were wanting. It was a blast. Our mind was blown on how nice these campers could get. We probably went in and out of 20 different RVs. We closed Camping World down that night.

That day, we didn’t buy anything, Alan made us at least sleep on it and talk it all out.

There was one that stuck out to us. A used 2017 Alpha Wolf. A rear kitchen, with a big pantry and fridge. Access to the bathroom without the slide having to come out. It had a theme of national parks, with curtains that had animated campers and a redone table with all of the national park stickers under epoxy. Not my style, in fact I really didn’t like the look. But it’s just a table, the layout was what we liked the most.

So, we visited Alan again, and he sold it to us.

We still had an issue, we didn’t have a truck to pull it. We looked at a dealership and called about this 2018 Chevy Silverado 2500hd. Wow, she was stellar. An amazing price and in great condition. Plus if we ever upgraded to a 5th wheel, we wouldn’t have to buy a new truck with more tow capacity. We took Alan’s advice and slept on. But we loved it already.

We bought the trailer, it got delivered on Thursday, the house was sold on Friday, we test drove the truck on Saturday, and took her home on Monday.

Now, we are living full time in this 270 sq ft home on wheels and our Silverado takes it wherever God leads us.

We’re in the business of saving souls.

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Angie-

July(ish) 2023

I found myself wrestling with a big decision—whether or not to go back to school. I was convinced I wanted to study biology. Mason and I have always been fascinated by the natural world—how everything is intricately connected and beautifully designed. We’ve always shared a deep sense of wonder and curiosity about creation, and biology felt like the natural path.

But around that same time, our Connections Pastor, at Your Venture shared an opportunity with the congregation: a two-year Christian Leadership and Ministry Training residency through Highlands College. As soon as I heard about it, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me. It was clear—God was calling me in a new direction. Even though my heart was set on biology, I couldn’t ignore His voice.

Still, the decision wasn’t easy. I asking God, “Why not both?” And so, for a season, I did both. I enrolled in the residency classes on Mondays and took my biology courses on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. It was a full schedule, but I felt energized, eager to learn, and grateful that I could pursue both passions—at least for a while.

Our church began a 21-day season of prayer. Every evening, for three weeks, we gathered to seek God together. Our class was encouraged to attend as often as we could. During one of those quiet prayer nights, I asked the Lord a simple but bold question: “What would it look like if we moved into a travel trailer?” I sat in stillness, waiting for His answer.

Then it came—clear and unexpected: A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. I had come across their posting on coolworks.com before during the time we were researching, and it immediately came to mind again. My heart got so excited. It was a beautiful merging of the things we care most deeply about—serving God and experiencing His creation.

But even with that clarity, I hesitated. Fear crept in. What would my parents say? What would my employer think? What would others think of this path? Still, I knew in my spirit that this opportunity, ACMNP, was an intersection—where our love for the Lord and our love for His creation meet in purpose. It was no longer just a good idea; it was a calling.

October 2024

My brother and I received an invitation to attend the ARC Gather conference, and we drove to Ohio to Rock City Church, to meet some of our church family there. It was at this conference that I finally felt the push to apply for the Christian Ministry opportunity.

Throughout the event, there were powerful speakers and an overwhelming sense of encouragement. “Never stop building Gods house.” “You will never do anything significant for the Kingdom of God without being discouraged or opposed.” "Who are you trying to please—people or God?" There was a sharp conviction in my heart when hearing this.

That’s when I made the decision. Enough was enough. I was done trying to please others and trying to fit into their expectations. I was going to choose to please God, no matter the cost. I knew and know God’s plans are perfect and good. I could expect opposition, but I was ready to face it. So, on the road home from that ARC Gather, I applied. Mason applied shortly after.

We were eagerly waiting our placement offer. It came in December. We were overwhelmed with excitement, we would be spending our summer in Grand Teton National Park.

Our ultimate goal: making heaven crowded. Let’s do the Work to build the kingdom of God and save the lost. Small seeds we can deposit. God will make them grow.