Life Story

I grew up in East Texas hearing about Jesus from my parents and at church. He was as much a part of my life as my grandparents were. When I was 8, my mom asked me if I wanted to “invite Jesus into my heart.” This seemed like the most natural thing to do, so I did. I prayed with her in our car on the way to school one morning. I met with our pastor to talk about what faith in Christ meant and was baptized not long after. I was always involved at church. I attended services and Sunday school, served on mission trips, participated in youth group, and sang in the choir. I am forever grateful that I had the privilege of growing up in a church that loved the Lord, others, and me well. Despite my involvement in church, I was far from perfect. It was more often that I experienced the sweetness of the gospel in my failures than in my achievements.

I met my husband, Matt, in the summer of 1997. We were married two years later. Throughout college, I led worship at our church and at a Bible study where Matt was the lead teacher. I graduated from Hardin-Simmons University with a degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2001. Matt became pastor of The Village Church in late 2002, and we welcomed our first child, Audrey, only a few months after he accepted the pastorate. Our other two children, Reid and Norah, came in 2005 and 2009.

In November of 2009, Matt was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. I walked alongside and supported him during the 18 months of treatment that came after a craniotomy. In the fall of 2010, I was invited to teach the women's fall retreat at TVC. The Lord led me to Psalm 107 which eventually became the focus of my first book, Steadfast Love: The Response of God to the Cries of our Heart, which was published in early 2016. I also recorded songs written during that season of uncertainty on a project called The Narrow Place (2012).

We have been at TVC for almost 18 years now. I have served in Recovery, Women's Bible Study, Little Village, and the Worship Ministry over our tenure here. I've also had the delight and privilege of discipling younger women, loving our neighbors, and leading others to Christ. I have led worship for and spoken to various groups of people all over the country. I've also written two Bible studies with LifeWay and a children's book. I am eager to see what the Lord has in store for the next season of life as I serve TVC's Worship Ministry as a deacon, especially developing and training leaders.

Hope for The Village Church

My hope is that our people would be equipped, supported, and activated to be the church in our community and beyond. That they would love God, love others, and make disciples. I pray that we can be a church that worships in freedom, Spirit, and truth, not just on the weekends or in small gatherings, but in our everyday lives.