My Journey Into Ministry

            I remember the day I realized I did not belong in teaching anymore, that it was time to pursue my true passion – music ministry.  I was driving home from work, talking to my sister on the phone (hands-free, of course), and I made the statement, “You know, what I really want to do is…”  

I had always known music ministry was my calling, but in many ways I was already doing it – through playing the piano at my church, leading worship for various ladies’ retreats, and teaching children music at my elementary school job.  But this “revelation” of sorts was different; I needed to move away from education and pursue ministry full-time.

            The amazing thing is, my husband was also feeling called to leave his current high school teaching job at Dripping Springs in pursuit of a different path – perhaps still in education, but somewhere different.  We had been living in our house in Briarcliff for thirteen years, content with our jobs, in love with our Marble Falls church, so why did we suddenly feel the need for change?

            It can only be explained in terms of God’s perfect timing.  He was at work in our lives, shifting our focus and prompting change.  We talked about options and we prayed, and in April 2018 we both resigned from our respective schools and soon put our house on the market.

            Fast forward to today.  I am the music minister at First Baptist Church Eastland and Brad is teaching high school geography in Comanche.  My son, Reed, just finished his third grade year at Siebert Elementary.  We will be moving into a house in a few weeks, but for eleven months we have been in a tiny apartment (a far cry from our beautiful hill country home), most of our stuff is still in storage, and we couldn’t be happier.

            We love Eastland.  Having grown up in Stamford, I adore the feel of a small town, and I am thrilled that my son is going to school in a small town.  My drive to work is maybe two minutes, as opposed to the fifty-mile roundtrip I was making every day.  But the greatest thing is that I am doing exactly what has been in my heart to do since I was a child: music ministry.  I am leading a congregation in worship on Sunday mornings, working with an incredible staff, and getting to know some wonderful people.  

            After graduating from Stamford High School in 1997, I majored in music education at Baylor University.  Piano is my primary instrument, but I also play a little guitar, and I love to sing. I’ve also been composing Christian songs for over 25 years and have two CDs to show for it.  God has been preparing me for this moment pretty much my whole life, and I am in awe that a decision my husband and I made a year-and-a-half ago has led us to this town, to this church, to these people.  We did nothing to merit His blessing and provision; we simply took small steps day by day, praying fervently for His guidance.

            As music minister, my prayer is to lead the congregation of First Baptist Church to a place of true worship every Sunday morning, to be a servant, and to form relationships both within the church and out in the community.  I am here for a purpose, and whatever that might be, I pray for God to guide my steps and guard my heart.

            February of 2018 I had no idea where my family would end up.  We have learned to walk in faith day by day, one step at a time; to see God work in the midst of our uncertainty has been amazingly wonderful.  In the words of the Gaithers, “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand. But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.”