Hey there! My name’s Jabriel, and I’m a 13-year-old middle schooler gearing up for the wild adventure known as high school. (Pray for me, y’all.)

Life hasn’t always been easy, but through every challenge, I’ve leaned on the strength God’s given me — and He’s never let me down. I live with my amazing mom, Portia. She’s a single mom and an absolute superhero. I see how hard she works and sacrifices to make sure I have everything I need to grow, learn, and become the best version of myself. She’s my role model in every way.

I like to think of myself as kind, caring, and definitely talkative — I’m almost never without a smile or something to say. I love playing the drums and singing at my church; being part of worship fills me with so much joy. There’s something special about using my voice to share God’s love and glory with others.

When I’m not making music, you can usually find me on the football field or the wrestling mat — I guess you could say I like staying busy (and maybe a little competitive).

All in all, I’m just a guy trying to do good, stay positive, and follow the path God’s laying out for me — one beat, one smile, and one step at a time.

My mom helped me set up this GoFundMe because I’ve been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I’m beyond excited about! This summer, I’ll be traveling with my awesome church family — Next Door Church of the Nazarene — to Salt Lake City, Utah for the Nazarene Youth Conference (NYC). Thousands of teens from all over the U.S. and Canada will be gathering there to worship, serve, and grow in faith together. And guess what? This only happens once while I’m in high school… so I’m trying not to miss my shot!

While at NYC, we’ll be teaming up with a local ministry for a Ministry with Others project — basically, we’ll be rolling up our sleeves and serving the people of Salt Lake City in love and action. I’ll also get to hear from some incredible speakers who will challenge and inspire me to live out what it really means to Love God and Love Others.

I would love for you to be part of this journey with me! First and foremost, would you join me in prayer? Please pray for me, our team, and the people we’ll meet — that God would use us to make a real difference and point others to Jesus.

If you’re able, I’d also be so grateful for any financial support to help make this trip possible. I’m raising $2,100 to cover travel, lodging, and expenses. Every little bit truly helps — seriously, even skipping one coffee or drive-thru meal could help me get one step closer to serving this summer.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for cheering me on. I can’t wait to see what God does through this experience — and I can’t wait to share the stories of how He moves in Salt Lake City!

With gratitude (and excitement!),

Jabriel