I first got connected to Campus Focus during my freshman year of college. I walked across campus from Grant Residence Hall and nervously snuck into the back because I didn’t know a soul. Little did I know how much my life was about to change! That was back in 2001 and I am still grateful to call Campus Focus home. Not only was the CF community the catalyst that helped me make sense of God and where my faith came alive, it is also the place where I met my wife and decided to go into ministry. I joined the team in 2005 and I would not trade it for anything. I got married to my amazing wife Liz in the summer of 2010, we added our first daughter in May of 2013, and a son in 2016. My heart is to help connect people to God so that they can experience the fullness of life that He has for them!

I transferred to The University of Akron my sophomore year. I didn't know anything about CF, but I knew I needed to get involved in a community that loved Jesus like I did. I came in late and sat in the back, but immediately knew it was where I wanted to be. CF felt like home before I even decided to call it my home. A couple weeks later, I got involved with the worship team and my heart grew with a desire to see people truly love Jesus. I love leading worship, but more than that I have fallen in love with who Jesus is. My life drastically changed when I decided to follow Him. Because of that, I am passionate about helping people really know Jesus, know their worth, and embrace the life that He has called them to live.

I lived in Grant Hall my freshman year of college. I had a roommate that invited me to this thing on Thursday nights called Campus Focus. I repeatedly said, “I don't think that stuff is for me.” While in my head I was thinking, “it is the lamest thing ever.” Well a year later I found myself in a not so favorable place with school, life, and relationships. I thought to myself, “I'll give this Campus Focus thing a try.” When I learned what believing in Jesus really meant, my life radically changed. What I found to be true is that life with Jesus is the farthest thing from being lame. Especially when we live this life in a community of believers. My heart is to share and spread this exciting life I live with Jesus to everyone I know!

I started at the University of Akron not knowing what Akron had to offer along the lines of Christian community. I knew I needed one in order continue to grow closer with God and have a good community around me, and eventually settled in to call Campus Focus home. I attended a small group and felt so welcomed and loved as we talked about God and the bible, and found this time with friends to give me such joy throughout the week. I’ve been involved with CF since then, continuing to be a part of this community and serving through worship even after I graduated college in 2014. My college years shaped a lot my relationship with God, so I have a passion to help college students see the immeasurable love God has for them and to seek Him with all their heart!

I first heard about Campus Focus as early as my very first visit to campus, where I saw the A-frames set up next to the Student Union. Despite this early interaction with CF, it took me a while to get involved. However, once I finally started attending consistently with a group of friends and invested myself in this ministry, CF got a hold of my heart and would not let go. My involvement with Campus Focus has grown from worship, to small group leader, to intern. Campus Focus has helped me grow my relationship with Christ so much, and I am excited to get to be a part of that and reach other students.

I heard about Campus Focus my freshman year of college but was reluctant to go. It was something my sister encouraged me to attend and get involved with but at the time it wasn’t for me. Fast forward a couple years, I found my way to CF. Once I started to attend consistently, I knew it was something that I could no longer avoid. I went on my first CF trip and realized the importance of being surrounded by a community of believers. God used this community to ignite my faith. My heart is to connect students to God and share the immeasurable joy in knowing Him.

My first two years at Akron were not God-centered at all. I felt overwhelmed being at the University of Akron and not knowing anybody. Like most people, I still had that desire to fit in and feel that sense of belonging. Unfortunately I began seeking to fulfill that desire in the party scene and furthering myself even more from how God intended for me to live. It wasn’t until the beginning of my junior year that I was invited by a friend and began attending Campus Focus. It took about a semester to dive “all in” with this ministry. I was encouraged to attend the Winter Trip to Florida and being around hundreds of believers was life changing. It showed the error of how I had been living and the true sense of belonging that is found in Jesus Christ. My heart is to be someone that God can use in this ministry to help connect the students of Akron to God and showing the hope and love found in him.

When I first came to The University of Akron I was not living a Christ centered life. I heard of Campus Focus my freshman year, but I didn't think it was a place I could fit in. During my junior year I began attending Campus Focus through a small group. I met some amazing people who were all on fire for Christ. I learned very quickly that no matter what stage of my relationship with God, this community would welcome me, encourage me, and help me dive deeper into that relationship. My passion for this ministry has encouraged me to take this opportunity to connect with other students on a real and practical level. To show them the love of Jesus and to help them build a stronger relationship with God.

In 2013, I came to the University of Akron with a desire to make friends and earn a degree, but God had so much more planned for me. I quickly learned that He had plans for me to follow and develop a relationship with Him, to develop a passion for college students, and to develop a heart for furthering His kingdom. Four years later, here I am, in a place that I would have never thought I would be and that is because God used Campus Focus to bring me closer to Him. Because of Campus Focus, I was given the opportunity to see and learn about God's love through community. I graduated from UA this past May and I am very excited to be a part of the CF staff as an A2 Intern for this year. As an intern, I want to do the same for students at UA - show them God's love for them through community.