In October 2011, our family embarked on an incredible adventure and … WOW, it has been exciting! We moved from our home across town to Oakmont Square, the apartment complex adjacent to Oakmont Baptist Church, to serve as a pastoral presence in this apartment community. In 2007, Oakmont Baptist Church purchased Oakmont Square Apartments, knowing that God had a plan, but kind of fuzzy on the details. After our congregation went through a season of coaching and discernment we were able catch a glimpse of that direction. First, it was to be good stewards of the property and to provide safe, affordable housing to working-class folks. Second, it was to use the apartments as a hub of ministry, as we are intentional about providing holistic care to at-risk families, college students and senior adults by attending to the spiritual, educational, vocational and medical needs of this community.
Now I have the most incredible job of all! I get to spend my days loving on folks around Oakmont Square Apartments as I practice being the Presence of Christ! Every day is different. In the morning, I might collaborate with community leaders about our free monthly medical clinic; play kick-ball with the kids in our after-school program; and in the evening pull weeds with my neighbors in our community garden. The next day I might meet a new neighbor while folding clothes in the complex laundry room, study for a discipleship class I am teaching, strategize with church volunteers who serve in our homeless ministry, then, after dinner, sit with a neighbor who needs someone to listen.
My husband, Ken, works as a Farm Bureau Insurance Agent in Ayden, NC. Together we have 3 children: Patrick, 22, works in food service and lives in Greensboro, NC; Savannah, 19 is a student at Lenior Community College and lives just 4 doors down in the same apartment building, and Ethan, 17, a junior at South Central High School, lives at home.
The kids have always played sports so I spend a lot of time chasing them around ball-fields and gyms and I love it! Every chance we get, we head to the river or beach. When we can get away for the weekend; we go to The Pond, my family’s farm in SC, where we spend a lot of time “doing nothing. “
Cheraw, SC is where I grew up and where my parents still live. I came to Greenvillle in 1986 to study at East Carolina University and graduated in 1991 with a BS in Hospitality Management in. Shortly after graduation and marriage, Ken and I visited Oakmont Baptist Church and have been here ever since.
In 1996, Oakmont called me to serve as Minister of Youth and College while I pursued a master of divinity degree from Campbell University. After graduating in 2010, my role transitioned to include missions education and missions involvement for the entire congregation.
My ministry changed directions in 2003 as I pursued chaplaincy, ministering in institutions outside of the church. I served as a hospice chaplain for 8 years, prior to rejoining the Oakmont staff in 2011. For professional development and accountability I am a member of the Goldsboro Chapter of the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP) where I am recognized as a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor. I am endorsed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as a Chaplain and serve on the Leadership Development Council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina as chair-elect. I’m a naturally curious person, so I love to spend time learning. My current obsession is emerging Christian spirituality and church culture; simple living and modern homesteading.