Where I've Spoken

Over the past several years, God has been quietly preparing us for a new season of ministry. Looking back, we can see His hand guiding us every step of the way—even when we didn't fully understand where He was leading. Many of you know that I left a ten-year career in banking to become a full-time missionary with Women At Risk, International. Since then, I have had the privilege of teaching children, teens, and families how to recognize grooming, exploitation, and other difficult topics through a program God placed on my heart called STAND. What began as live classroom presentations soon revealed a greater need. Parents, grandparents, churches, and homeschool families kept asking the same question:

"Can we take STAND home with us?" Last year, while speaking at one of the nation's largest homeschool conventions, dozens of families asked if STAND was available as a curriculum they could use in their own homes. Their questions confirmed what God had already begun stirring in my heart.

After returning from a mission trip to Thailand with Women At Risk, International, Roger and I spent much time praying about the future of this ministry. Around that same time, I shared the vision for turning STAND into a book series and home curriculum with Becky McDonald, founder of Women At Risk, International. Her response was immediate: she loved the vision and even offered to carry the books through the WAR Chest Boutique. The vision for these books is unique. They are not books written only for parents. They are written for children and teens, using age-appropriate language they can understand, while inviting parents, grandparents, teachers, and mentors to read alongside them. Our hope is that these books become conversation starters—creating safe spaces where families can talk about difficult topics together with confidence, wisdom, and a biblical foundation.

At the same time, God was working in Roger's heart. For nearly a year, Roger had been pursuing an apprenticeship as a lineman. It was a wonderful opportunity and the result of months of interviews and preparation. Yet as the opportunity became more certain, neither of us had peace about it. We couldn't explain why, so we prayed. The more we prayed, the more it became clear that God was calling us in a different direction. Roger has spent years building a successful career detailing vehicles, but he has long desired to invest his gifts in something with eternal impact. As we talked and prayed together, a simple question changed everything: "What if we served together?" For the first time, we began to imagine what it would look like for both of us to serve full-time through STAND—writing, speaking, teaching, discipling families, and traveling together wherever God opens doors. Our dream is that our two young boys will grow up watching their parents faithfully follow God's calling.

Not long ago, my mom shared something that deeply encouraged us. She told us she has been praying that by the time we turned forty, Roger would be able to leave his job so that we could serve in ministry together full-time. We smiled as she said it because we believe God may already be answering that prayer. Today, we are stepping forward in faith.

We believe God is calling us to launch PROJECT KNIGHTSTAND, the first book series and curriculum under the STAND ministry. Our desire is to equip families with engaging, age-appropriate resources that help children and teens understand difficult topics while giving trusted adults the opportunity to guide those conversations with biblical truth and hope.