If you are receiving this/seeing this, then you are special to me, either through my church family, my chosen family, or my close cousins.

When I first started really considering being a pastor, I said no for many reasons. It is too expensive, I was born Jewish, it takes too long, it seems unreasonable, and it just did not seem to make sense. I also did not have a way financially, as my savings had gone into self-care, healing, and surviving in this world. Yet over time, all of that started to take on a different color.

Pastor Hines was the first person to say that I had a calling, and my therapist was the first person to suggest seminary almost four years ago. But really, I have been on this journey for over 12 years. For more than 3 of those years, I have been asking myself how I could best share God’s love in this lifetime.

Year after year, my desire to lift people up and share God’s love became bigger and bigger, bigger than me.

I got a spiritual director, Beth Bunnell, and worked with her for over a year, meeting every two weeks. I lectored for years, done children’s sermons, sung in the choir for over 7 years at Emmanuel Lutheran, and have taken on other church responsibilities. Then one day, it all clicked into place.

I am going to be a pastor.

Those who know me know that this has not been an easy journey, and that my life has not always been easy. But that has never changed the love in my heart, my desire to do good work, or my perseverance.

Normally, I would not reach out and ask for help. It is difficult for me. But there is also humility and gratitude in recognizing that I cannot do this entirely on my own, and trusting that God will help find a way through the people willing to walk beside me in this calling.

So, I have made a GoFundMe page. I need over $15,000 to help with:

If you feel moved to help, thank you. If not, a prayer, good thought, or encouragement also means a great deal to me.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for your kindness and support.

God bless you.