Where His Spiritual Journey Began
Joel grew up in Maryland and is now pursuing a degree in cybersecurity. From an early age, he was surrounded by faith both in his church family and at home. That foundation gave him the privilege of learning God’s Word in community and in personal devotion.
While his early years were shaped by the church, Joel says, “What helped me grow deeper with my walk with God is studying it on my time. I enjoy reading Bible history and literature that help bring us closer on that narrow road.”
Participating in Pathfinders also left a lasting mark on his spiritual life. “The community, the activities, and the bonds all built us to who we are today,” he reflects. “It gave me an outlook on faith that I would not have experienced elsewhere.”
There have been many moments where Joel felt God’s leading, but one of the clearest came when his mother surprised him with a plane ticket to Texas.
“My mom told me she had a flight for me to Texas, so I went—and that’s where I found Adventist Young Professionals,” he recalls.
AYP and the Power of Spiritual Friendship
From that first introduction, AYP became more than just a social group. It became a spiritual home.
“Seeing other people my age on the same journey was inspiring,” Joel says. “AYP showed me that I’m not walking this road alone—there’s a whole movement of young adults who are serious about following Christ.”
One highlight was meeting AYP Convention speaker, Dr. Calvin Kim, and learning about his pickleball ministry, which showed him how everyday activities can be transformed into opportunities for mission. “It inspired me to think differently about how I can do outreach too,” he shares.
Shaped for the Future
Through AYP, Joel has grown spiritually, found encouragement from peers, and gained a sense of mission for his career and personal life.
He feels God calling him toward greater outreach and service “out in the field,” while also preparing for the next chapter: starting his first cybersecurity job. His guiding principle?
“To chase the work ethic instead of the money, because the rest will follow.”
Encouragement for the Waiting Season
Looking ahead, Joel carries with him the encouragement of his peers at AYP and the promises of Scripture. One verse that anchors him is:
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” — Matthew 10:22, KJV
For him, endurance means staying rooted in God’s Word, trusting that God is always in control, and leaning into the community AYP has provided.
“AYP has been such a huge part of my life,” he says. “It’s shown me what authentic faith looks like in my generation and it’s given me the kind of community I prayed for.”
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