I grew up in church my whole life, but it wasn’t until my adulthood and after multiple years of lay ministry that I finally began to understand the story of the Bible. Once I understood how it culminates in the life of Jesus, I wanted to help clarify the story for others who also had a hodgepodge of Bible knowledge.

I’ve served in public education for 13 years as a teacher and advanced academics specialist, and I’m also a seminary student in a Biblical and Theological studies program. I love designing lessons, resources and curriculum to help pave a pathway for growth. Through God & Neighbor, I work at the intersection of my professional role and my ministry role to help others!

Matthew 22:35-40 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Jesus has summed up the Bible for us - love God first and foremost, and love our neighbors as ourselves. What a massive help! With such a large book to read and a winding history to sift through, we’ve been told the gist of the story: love God and love our neighbors. If we ever pick up the Bible and cannot understand it or aren’t sure what to think about it, we have a foundation to return to: what does it tell us about loving God and loving our neighbor?