For six weeks this summer, I will be working and studying under 100-Fold Studio -- a faith-based architecture firm outside of Whitefish, Montana. Accompanying me are two fellow Samford students, and we will spend our time their in intensive study of both architecture and faith, how the two can coalesce, creating work that is both inspiring and serving.

Much of architecture these days focuses on serving the intellectual self rather than society: how one man, one woman, or a team of architects can rear their ideas and designs into something of personal confidence and pretentiousness -- which does no utilitarian good -- rather than for society at large. This aspect of design is not what I hope to learn, as an architect's goal is to dedicate themselves in a manner of good work ethic, quality of craft, and done so in a way that honors the Original Architect.

My own personal story with Christianity has been rocky: periods of faithfulness and servitude, times of anarchy and unbelief, moments of selfishness and intellectual elitism, feelings of hatred and hurtfulness, but honest nonetheless. The thoughts and realities of evils toward children and people groups, the consuming division amongst nations, and the hedonisms of self were my greatest struggles emotionally, logically, and spiritually. Even so, the Lord has molded my heart over the last five years... even in the two years since starting college where I was unfaithful and hated the idea of a god over man, and the other three (senior and junior year of highschool, and junior year of college) where the Lord "...drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God" (Psalm 40). I have many people to thank for this, always being with me during spiritual deliriums, but the Lord has been the ultimate blessing all this time.

I say all this to ask for your support. Architecture is a rigorous discipline and can be used in undeniably faithful ways, but just as much it can be used to serve one's own mind and creativity. God, as the original architect, created all that we see for us to first experience and then quickly look towards the wonders and complexities that make up such an infinite Creator.

If you would like to support in prayer or giving, please do so. Any amount is more than appreciated.

Thank you for taking time to read this. God bless.