My Story
My Testimony
I grew up going to a church in eastern Washington and heard the gospel at a young age. By the time I was 8 years old, I realized I needed to trust in the Lord for salvation. I knew this was a decision that would change my life, but I felt confused when I didn’t feel any different after praying to God and asking Him to save me. For a short time, I wondered if I truly understood the Bible or whether I had enough faith, and I kept thinking through the verses I had learned. One verse God brought to my mind was Acts 16:31.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”
Acts 16:31
It was the simple truth in this verse that assured me of my faith. I concluded that since this is what the Bible says, then this is what I will choose to believe, no matter how I feel. Even in my early years, I can clearly see how God’s Word has been a foundational part of my life, and this truth continues to transform me.
A Heart for Missions
I didn’t see it clearly then, but God began cultivating a desire in my heart towards missions while I was a student at Maranatha Baptist University. I had little intention of becoming a missionary at the time because I felt I lacked the right skill set and personality for such a role, but I participated in a mission trip to Asia and studied Spanish and cross-cultural studies. These experiences influenced me to consider how I could use my unique skills to support missionaries.
In the years following college, my interest in languages continued to grow and I began exploring the field of linguistics. I soon discovered that many language groups in the world still have no completed Bible – not just a handful of languages, but thousands! I was astounded to learn about the many complexities that often slow translation projects and overwhelm the translators. Many languages have no standard way of writing (some don’t even have an alphabet). Plus, the people must first learn to read their language in order to use their Bible, which is often the first piece of literature published in their language. Soon I began to see how my growing interest in linguistics could be used within Bible translation work and missions.
First Step of Faith
The more I learned in those first few years, the more I saw a great need that few people are filling. I remember hearing a sermon on Luke 9:23, and I was challenged with the question – How am I participating in this calling with my life?
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
When in my life have I truly sacrificed to follow Christ? Through this and many other considerations, I decided to leave my job in 2021 and begin online graduate school through Dallas International University, studying linguistics and Hebrew. That first step of faith was taken with many uncertainties, but I concluded that I needed to keep moving forward to the next step as long as God kept the door open, and this is exactly what God has done. He has responded to each step of faith I have taken with faithfulness.
As someone who doesn’t ‘fit the mold’ of a traditional missionary, I think it’s important to note that God can use people of all gifts and skills to be missionaries. God also equips us in ways we often take for granted. For example, simply having been born with English as my first language puts me at an advantage to much of the world. Not only do I have God’s Word in my language, but I have access to many English translations and countless resources and education to help me understand it better. My circumstances also allow a greater freedom to choose my future than many people in the world. If I have the ability to do anything with my life and go just about anywhere, why not choose a more challenging path that few are able to go? I am convinced that God does not call us to take the path of least resistance.
Connecting with Bibles International
During my studies, I explored the possibility of several Bible translation organizations but soon landed on Bibles International (BI) as the best fit for me. After completing my master’s degree in 2024, I took part in an internship with BI to Africa to experience the work in-person. I was able to observe and participate in a Bible translation workshop in Benin and several linguistic workshops in Chad.
The Path Ahead
In July 2025, I was appointed as a missionary with Baptist Mid-Missions to serve with BI as a linguistics consultant. My sending church is First Baptist Church of Pasco, WA. As part of the Bibles International team, I desire to serve missionaries and local churches around the world in the effort to bring God’s Word to the millions who still need it. My specific role is to support Bible translators through linguistics and literacy. This involves studying the patterns of the language in order to determine how to best represent the language in written form. I will also assist with training the translators in linguistic principles, checking for inconsistencies in the Bible translation drafts, and producing literacy materials.
Any ministry of serving the Lord will not be successful without prayer and support of the local church, and this is true for me as well. I ask you to consider how you can participate in Bible translation with your unique gifts and skills.
- Will you commit to supporting me in prayer?
- Will you consider partnering with me financially?
- Will you pray that God will raise up more people to meet the many Bible translation needs that still exist today?