My mother's side of the family is Episcopalian, but my father, an agnostic, always taught me to be skeptical. Thus, I didn't really take Christianity seriously until junior high, when I received an introduction to Christian theology, the Trinity, and God's plan of Salvation. This happened due to my involvement in the AWANA program, which is focused on Biblical study and memorization. Through my constant study of scripture, I became enraptured with the message of the Gospels, and with the promise of forgiveness and transformation through the blood of Jesus Christ.
During my college years, I took a large number of religious studies courses at nearby Claremont McKenna College, which gave me a broader perspective of world religions and a more academic understanding of my own religion. My studies included textual analysis of the Gospels, the Apocrypha, and other historical documents such as The Jewish Antiquities. My professors often questioned traditional interpretations of scripture, and I appreciated this influence because it allowed me to look at the Bible from other points of view. I believe that the Bible is divinely inspired, but that it cannot always be read like a modern-day book. It must be understood in the context that
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At first, I was resistant to the idea of taking significant time away from my graduate studies in order to do manual labor in 3rd-world countries. However, I eventually realized that this was a perfect opportunity to act out my faith, and allow God to take me outside my comfort zone. This was an eye-opening experience, to work alongside the poor of the world. In the summer of 2011, I worked as a carpenter in Haiti (a year after the devastating earthquake), and was shocked to see the hopelessness that enveloped that nation. The problems I saw could not be simply solved with money; the people needed the love of Christ to wake them