About me
I believe that regardless of your setbacks, or how bleak your future looks, you can have hope for today.
About Jenna
Finding myself in the deepest pit that I had ever been in, I didn’t believe that anyone would understand why I felt the way I did or that what I was going through was as big as it felt to me. I had lost all sense of peace. I had lost all reasons to breathe. I had lost all hope.
What you’ll read here are stories from the caves that I’ve lived in. You’ll hear my first-hand experiences from the hopelessness that surrounded me as I attempted to lead others to a place of peace and hope.
With nearly 25 years devoted to mentoring, management, and ministry, I am passionate about helping others encounter the hope of Jesus in a real, life-changing way. As someone who has answered the call to preach the Word in a practical and clear way, to speak to heart issues, and hurts, I would love to partner with you on any upcoming speaking engagements, conferences, retreats, adult services, youth services, as well as guest-writing or podcast appearances.
You can either email me directly at: jenna@hopefor.today, or click the button below. I am praying for your upcoming events and services that God richly blesses your ministry.
Full Bio
I was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. In middle school, I experienced the love of Jesus in a real way and made a decision to surrender my life to live for Him. In the same years, I felt a call to ministry. Back in the mid-90s, there weren’t many women in pastoral roles. There weren’t many women who were forging the way for young women to explore the idea that God could and would use them to preach the gospel of Jesus. So, I began to wrestle with understanding this call to ministry that burned inside my spirit.
After high school, I accepted my first full-time job as a department manager at a local Christian retail store. From there, I moved into various other department management positions, eventually accepting my first role on a church staff as a Youth Director. It was at that church where I met my husband, Ryan, and although the years haven’t always been easy or good to us, they have still been the best years of my life. We have experienced love and loss, joy and sadness, peace and turmoil.
Over the years, I have served in many roles in NextGen ministries: Middle School Director, Young Adults Leader, Youth Pastor, Kids Pastor, and NextGen Pastor. In addition to leading in NextGen, I have served as Mission’s Pastor and Interim Teaching Pastor. I currently live in Pittsburgh with Ryan, our three dogs, and our cat.