Why I Started Hope Voyage

Why did I leave a solid 9-5, good paying job? Why am I committed to this ministry?

This all began when I found myself at a point in life where I was living without hope. Yes—even as a Christian, I am sorry to say. I came to a place where my life was not turning out at all how I thought it would. Mixed with deep grief over the loss of my mother when I was 20 years old, it challenged me in great ways.

I can’t say the road has been easy. In fact, it has been a downright battle for my life. My foundation has been shaken more than once because I was placing it in people and circumstances instead of in Almighty God Himself.

Over the past 15 years—some seasons more difficult than others—it has been nothing short of a refining process. Though painful, God has been purging what needed to be removed in order for me to be used by Him. Just as gold is refined in fire and frankincense releases its fragrance only under pressure, so the trials of life produce a new, heavenward perspective. A perspective of hope:

“...which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…” (Hebrews 6:19).

Over time, my Lord has been revealing to me where my trust, value, purpose, and hope truly come from. And this process is not over—it continues in the way described in Romans 5:4–6:

“And patience, experience; and experience, hope; And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

If you're a born again believer reading this, let it be a friendly reminder to KEEP your eyes on Jesus. I know we hear it all the time, but it is worth repeating because if you let your guard down in where you fix your eyes on a daily basis, you'll get to a place of living without hope...and it's not a place you want to be. Nor does it help the cause for Christ! Everything in this world, including genuinely good things, are vying for your attention and commitment. My loss of hope had nothing to do with Christ "failing me" but everything to do with MY decision to let the things of this world, be it good or difficult, take my attention off of Him. Jesus Christ IS our hope. Nothing and no one can match that. Because of His great love for me it led Him to the cross of Calvary.

If you are not a born again believer reading this, let it cause you to ponder where you put your hope. Is it in the people around you? Your own family and friends? In your job title or career? In your financial status? Or perhaps, it's in your own abilities, accomplishments, self confidence or skills? Though all of those things can be good you'll find that putting your very hope in them is faulty because they change constantly. Sometimes, in ways you never saw coming that shake you to your very core. People fail us all the time, as we fail them. Jobs can be lost. Bankruptcy happens even to the most "successful" of people. Medical diagnosis' may change your abilities and skills to where you don't recognize your life for what it once was. You see, Jesus Christ - both the Son of God and the Son of Man - made a way for you to accept Him as your Savior, your only hope. That anchor of the soul that keeps you no matter what comes in life, because of who He is and what He did for you. You can become adopted into the family of God. Chosen, forgiven, accepted, redeemed and counted blameless!! (Look up Ephesians 1:3-7, KJV) You too can live with an undying hope! Because of Christ's death on the cross...His blood spilt for you and me, His burial and resurrection... Our Almighty God and Savior lives today having presented all of mankind with the free gift of salvation!

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6

"...behold, now is the accepted time (kairos) ; behold, now is the day of salvation."- 2 Cor. 6:2b

So, to get back to the rest of my "Why", I am simply acting in obedience to God’s call by combing my love for Christ and my love for the outdoors. By using Creation as a platform to point others to Christ it becomes a unique and yet powerful way to help people open their eyes to our Creator, our ONLY hope. Throw in a little adventure and Hope Voyage is born.

In addition to my personal story, I am here because God would not allow me to settle for comfort, shallow faith, or a life observed from the shoreline. The Lord placed in me a deep uneasiness with drifting—drifting through faith without dependence, through life without purpose, and through challenges without perspective. I have seen how easily people, including myself at times, settle into patterns of safety and familiarity that require little trust in God and produce little growth.

Through my own experiences—both in life and in the outdoors—I learned that faith becomes real when it is tested, that perspective changes when comfort is removed, and that God often teaches best when we are forced to rely on Him fully. These experiences and stages in life became classrooms where the Lord exposed my fears, strengthened my obedience, and made His presence unmistakable.

I am personally invested in Hope Voyage Ministries because I believe many people today lack resilience, direction, and spiritual grounding not because they are unwilling—but because they have never been taught how to trust God when things feel uncertain, uncomfortable, or out of their control. I carry a burden for those who desire meaning and truth but have been shaped by a culture that avoids risk, responsibility, and spiritual, Biblical authority.

God has used my passions, training, hardships, and limitations to show me that He does not waste experiences or pain. He equips His servants uniquely—not randomly—and calls them to steward what they’ve been given for His glory, not their own. Hope Voyage Ministries is my obedience to that calling.

At the heart of this ministry is a truth I never want to forget: hope is not found in circumstances, relationships, or self‑confidence—it is found in Jesus Christ alone. When life’s storms come, and they will, only a faith anchored in Him will hold fast.

I am here because I believe people need more than encouragement—they need perspective. They need to be challenged, discipled, and reminded that God is present, He is purposeful, and trustworthy in every season. I am committed to walking alongside others as they learn not just how to navigate hard seasons in life, but how to follow the Captain who never loses His bearings.

Even if the methods change…Even if the platform shifts…Even if the journey looks different than planned… I will remain faithful to this calling: To help people see Christ clearly, trust Him deeply, and learn to live anchored in eternal truth—no matter what waters they face.