08/05/2026
See you soon!
đź“Ł And another one!
In May, I attended my first Prison Ministry conference over at Wheaton College in Illinois. Correctional Ministries and Chaplains Association absolutely knocked it out of the park with this conference. Not only was it my first time in Wheaton, first prison ministry conference, first time meeting my friend Gen, in person, from Emmaus, but it was also my first time leading a workshop at a conference — ever. It was so overwhelming and exciting in the best way.
While at the conference, I got to meet Michael from Florida whose church prison ministry also uses Emmaus Worldwide curriculum a ton. The three of us hit it off immediately. Before long, we'd jokingly become the "Three Musketeers" for the rest of the conference.
When it came time to present my workshop, I was so full of nerves. Of course, you wouldn’t have guessed that because I was keen on exuding confidence. LOL! Gen was such a trooper for listening to me rehearse the night before in our hotel room. She couldn’t stop singing praises about it. And Michael jumped right in to support that next morning by showing up to it and cheering me on from the back right next to Gen. God really blessed me with a little community that felt like family instantly.
We shared plenty of laughs, tasty food, evening walks downtown for ice cream, and countless conversations about the ways prison ministry continues to evolve. Not just in our own ministries, but nationally and even globally.
Seeing so many people committed to this work was incredibly moving. It was another reminder that there is nothing stopping the Holy Spirit from reaching, redeeming, and restoring lives. What an honor to play even a tiny part in that story.
So listen, it was at this conference that I learned Michael and I would be leading the workshop together at the Emmaus Worldwide conference happening later this year. Before this trip, I had never heard of Michael, met Michael, or spoken to Michael. Looking back now, I truly don't believe that our time there would've been the same without him. I actually feel like a better person for having met him.
We’ve since met to discuss an overview of this upcoming workshop, and today my flight has been booked making this all the more official. I'm so grateful to have met such a genuine, encouraging friend that I now get to have in my spiritual corner.
If there's one thing this season has reminded me, it's that God writes better stories than we ever could. I never could have planned the friendships, opportunities, and doors He's opened this year. One conference led to another, strangers became friends, and now I get to partner in ministry with someone I didn't even know existed a few months ago.
Well Texas, I’ll be seeing you next month — let’s goooo!!
