Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

Back in the summer of 2010, I had the opportunity to work as a East Asia policy intern at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom on Capital Hill in Washington, DC. During those three months, I ended up attended Capital Hill Baptist Church, and what began as a simple visit to a Wednesday night worship service with other young adults who had come to the city on various internships became the most impactful and formative months of growth for my faith. I began taking core seminar classes on Sunday mornings, attending Sunday Worship in the afternoon, returning Sunday nights for prayer and coming on Wednesday nights for worship.

After serving full-time as a pastor’s assistant for 7 years, the opportunity came to begin seminary studies towards ordination and there was no other school I wanted to attend other than the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary due to the influence of Pastor Mark Dever and the ministry of Capital Hill Baptist Church and specifically 9Marks Ministry. Their ministry of “equipping pastors to build healthy churches” continues to influence and impact my life as I continue to build up the local church, raise disciples and join God’s mission.