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 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 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 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!

The summer after I graduated high school I worked at a summer camp and some of my closest friends suggested that I go to the University of Akron and join Campus Focus. At that point I hadn’t decided where I wanted to go to college, so I applied to Akron. I had no idea what God had planned. I started coming to CF when the fall semester started and was kind of skeptical at first, there were a lot of people that I didn't think I would ever actually get to know. The more I got involved the more I really grew to love this community. I stayed involved for several years & the opportunity of being an A2 Intern came into play and I knew right then that was my next step. Now I am on staff with a crew of people who love this community as much as I do. We all get to work together to bring more people in with hopes that they will eventually lead this in community as well!

It was the first week of classes in the fall of 2011 and I only knew a few people at the University of Akron. A student living across the hall from me invited me to Campus Focus. I really did not know what it all entailed, but there seemed to be a lot of people going and that is what initially drew me in. Little did I know the impact it would have on my life. Through the Thursday nights, small groups, and group trips, I slowly learned what it truly means to be part of a community of believers in the pursuit of Jesus. Years later, it has had such an impact on my life that I could not think of a better way to spend my time than to come alongside students the way they had for me. My simple venture of trying to make more friends turned into changing the way I viewed the world, the way I walked with Christ.

I grew up being very involved in church, but as soon as I got to college, I became caught up in the allure of success and wealth that came from working. After two years, I fell away from my faith and felt like I was too far off from God to go back to church. One week, I forced myself to go to Campus Focus, and found a genuine and welcoming culture that I hadn’t found anywhere else. My small group leaders welcomed me in, included me in their family and showed me the love of Christ. Since then, I have become a completely different person! God has showed me how to use my skills in business for His purpose rather than my own. In May, I graduated with a degree in Sales and Marketing and decided to put my career on hold to give back to Campus Focus and invest in college students for a year. I’m so excited to be a part of what God is doing here at CF. If you can relate to my story or want to talk more, email or message me on social media below!

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.

While I grew up in a church environment my whole life, I entered college at the University of Akron with a lot of misconceptions concerning what it means to follow Jesus. As I got more and more involved in Campus Focus, I learned what being a Christian was all about, and my life changed dramatically for the better! The community in Campus Focus is genuinely caring, and I'm thankful for the meaningful, lifelong friendships I've made. I desire to see other peoples' lives impacted by God and Campus Focus in a similar way, so I'm very excited to have the opportunity to serve on staff as an A2 intern!