• Preaching the Word of God as authentically as I can.  This means courageous honesty and lots of research on Scripture. Jesus doesn't need me to fluff my ego in a sermon--he needs me to be a truth-teller and grace-sharer. 

• Helping the suffering & sick. As the body of Christ, we are only as strong as our weakest member.  We are meant to live in community--to care for one another's emotional, physical, mental and spiritual needs. 

• Striving for justice. Jesus was a radical advocate for lifting up the oppressed. As his followers, we are called to do likewise.  We need to pay attention to what is going in our communities, government & world so that we can also advocate for the oppressed.  In my context, I do this by 

  • supporting the efforts of organizations that rescue girls from sex-trafficking.

  • connecting with nonprofits that support immigrants and advocate for fair treatment at detention centers.

  • leading antiracism book studies and helping efforts in supporting Black Lives Matter.

  • keeping in mind our nation's historical abuse toward the Native Americans and people of color.

  • being an ally to the LGBTQ community.

• Loving the people of God (that's everyone!)​ to the best of my ability. Somedays, I'm better at this than others. It's equally important that we care for the spiritual needs throughout a person's whole life. 

• Advocating for science.  The gifts of the scientific community should never be overlooked or deemed incorrect because it conflicts with our beliefs. 

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