I oversee a ministry to high school students which includes training and equipping other adult leaders to come alongside and mentor kids while encouraging them in their spiritual journey. I teach from the Bible, help coordinate program aspects of ministry, including weekly meetings, retreats, mission trips and service projects. I also counsel families.

EDUCATION | I earned my B.A. in Religion with an emphasis in Bible from Azusa Pacific University. I have worked toward, but not yet completed, my Masters Degree in Theology.

HOW TO GET STARTED | First you need to plug into a youth group setting by volunteering or interning with that ministry. If you then feel that this job is a fit, get a Bachelor of Arts degree. You don't have to major in Biblical Studies, for example, but you will need to take Bible and ministry classes. Make sure you get involved in a youth ministry somewhere and understand what it is you're getting yourself into. Make sure you connect with kids. You won't know if you can do this until you actually do it! Find someone who is good at it that will mentor you and let you try out the different aspects of the job.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Good communicator, people person, organized, visionary, thick-skinned and creative.

how I got started | I began volunteering in the junior high ministry at my church when I was 19 years old. I wanted to work with junior high students because of my love for God and the empathy I felt for kids and what they were going through in early adolescence. I went through a lot of the same struggles regarding my self-worth, fear, etc. I fell in love with this ministry and spending time with the students. As I continued to volunteer, I decided to go on to college to get my degree in Bible. While in school I interned at a church and kept a very busy schedule, juggling my studies and my work with the youth group. After graduating, I was hired as the youth pastor at a church. I was in charge of their junior high and high school ministries. I've been "doing" youth ministry now for over 25 years.

why this job?| Like I said, I can empathize with and relate to students. I know the hope there is in the message I have to offer them.

why I love this job!| I love seeing lives transformed as kids find purpose and meaning in their relationship with God. Seeing other adults learn to journey with young people is a thrill. Also, I love being a part of helping parents learn to connect with their teenagers and become better at their "job" of parenting.

my typical day| I get to work around 8:00 a.m. I spend some time most days meeting with other staff members, volunteers and/or counseling with parents. I prepare my talk for our weekly youth group program which takes place on Sunday nights. I also research and prepare for future mission trips and retreats. In the late afternoon, I may meet one-on-one with a student, (I would typically take him to Jamba Juice or Starbuck's) or go to a sporting event to cheer on students from our group. I get home around 5:30 p.m. Sometimes I have phone calls to make/take once I am at home.

what they are | Seeing the brokenness in kids' and families' lives is heartbreaking. Also, I juggle a lot of different responsibilities. I have a lot on my plate at the same time and I need to stay organized and one step ahead.

all about growth | The growth in this line of work has nothing to do with climbing a "ladder". The growth is becoming more in tuned to how to reach families and incorporate volunteers to get involved in the lives of teenagers.

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