Our journey began with a deep desire to serve and share God’s love. My wife, Tracey, was raised Baptist, while I grew up Catholic. When our son was five, we sought a church that preached the Bible with conviction. That search led us to a new church in a converted Walmart, where the passionate pastor and spirit-filled worship immediately felt like home.

As part of this faith community, our lives were transformed. We committed ourselves to discipleship, stewardship, and spreading the Gospel. Our church encouraged every member to go on a mission trip within three years. True to form, my wife ensured we were on a plane to Panama just in time—two years and ten months later.

That trip changed everything.