Ten years ago, I visited Togo, West Africa for the first time on a mission trip with my church. What I experienced there changed me in ways I never could have anticipated. I was confronted with both the depth of poverty and the incredible faith, resilience, and dignity of the people I met.

At the end of that trip, I sat on the beach with a local missionary and asked a question I couldn’t shake: What am I supposed to do now that I’ve seen this? When I pressed him on where real change begins, his answer was simple but powerful: educate the children—in the classroom and in faith. That moment planted a seed in my heart that I carried with me for years.

In the time that followed, I continued returning to Togo, praying for clarity and direction. What started as a desire to fix a problem was slowly transformed. God began to change my heart—replacing pride with humility and shifting my perspective from seeing myself as the solution to recognizing the importance of dignity, partnership, and long-term impact.

Eight years later, during my sixth trip to Togo, that calling was reaffirmed in a way I’ll never forget. A pastor who knew nothing of my story spoke directly to the dream I had carried for years and told me it was time to step into it. In that moment, I was reminded that even when I felt like I had let go of the dream, God never had.

Renew Global is the result of years of prayer, persistence, and faith. It exists because of God’s faithfulness and serves as a reminder to never give up on the dreams He places in our hearts. I believe education is one of the most powerful ways to break cycles of poverty while also equipping the next generation to know and follow Jesus.

I’m deeply grateful for every person who has prayed, supported, and partnered with me along the way. Whether you realize it or not, you are part of this story—and I wouldn’t be here without you.