I knew I wanted to be involved in Children's Ministry as a fourth grader. It might seems odd to most considering I was still a participant in my church's children's ministry program then but I am confident that this call was placed on me at this time. Since then, I have taken advantage of many opportunities to serve and work in these capacities. From kids summer camps, to weekly small group leading, internships at churches, vacation Bible school, and various other capacities - I have been involved in it all. This involvement has brought me immense joy as it is a space that I full feel alive in. I see deep, inherent value in the life of a child, while others can struggle to navigate that as children are learning what it means to regulate their emotions and responses. As Christians, we are called to serve, shepherd, love, and teach children the things of God. I believe that my role in that is to think deeply about the things that we are instructing children and the approach we are taking as we enter that space to ultimately show them that God loves them more than anyone and God wants a relationship with them. This perspective is largely why I am pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation and Leadership. My goal through this program is to research concepts surrounding the truths that children need to learn and grasp to help them build a resilient faith. At the same time, I believe that this must be woven through a lens of correct child development theories and mental health practices that consider the spaces that children are entering from. In an age where the deconstruction of many young people is occurring, I feel burned to understand the context of why that is happening, to better develop curriculum, strategies, and trainings to support the spiritual growth of children. I believe this will deeply impact the churches as it will also change the ways that adults and families relate to who God is in their life. This shift can affect the health of a church as it will be a greater integration of knowing and trusting the character of God while also knowing that the church is a hospitable place for believers of all stages to grow deeper in their faith. This is a picture of the church that I see as the best avenue to disciple kids toward a long lasting relationship with Jesus.