PRCA Alumna Proves your Faith Doesn’t Stop Maturing after High School

Jen graduated from PRCA in 2002. Following high school, she went to GCU as a double major in theater and graphic design. Today, she works as a graphic designer for Redemption Church in Tempe. She loves the flexibility of the schedule and the church community. 

 

She loves her job because it enables her to be a present and involved mother to her four children. Jen and her husband of 13 years, Devin, have four boys: eleven-year-old twins, an eight-year-old, and a four-year-old. The youngest, she adopted after fostering.

 

She is the oldest of five, and the youngest two of her siblings were in foster care before they were adopted by her parents. Over the course of four years, she and Devin have fostered three kids and provided respite care to five kids.

 

This aspect of her life has always been important to her, and made it clear to Devin in the very early stages of their relationship that she wanted to adopt. Thankfully, he got on board right away.

 

Jen was always what she termed as a “goody-two-shoes” Christian. She had her deep convictions and stuck to them. She said she had very black-and-white views on Christianity and would view herself as a sort of know-it-all.

 

However, as she matured in her faith over time, she began to realize that there was grace and mercy in God’s sovereignty.

 

When asked what her high school self would be most shocked by, she said that she has a large tattoo up her arm, a nose ring, and, believe it or not… she’s friends with Democrats! One of these friends happens to be a close and trusted friend, and the closeness of that friendship is what would have shocked her high school self the most. They have been able to build a deep connection and relationship and learn from each other despite political differences.

 

Now, although she is stronger in her faith in the Lord than ever before, she is just a little softer around the edges.

 

Jen has also struggled her whole life with depression and anxiety. For so long, she has struggled with shame and guilt, unable to find a community that accepts her and loves her instead of telling her that it’s something to be ashamed of.

 

Today, she found friends and a community in her church in Tempe that offers acceptance and empathy, one that views her struggles with depression and anxiety, as not a thing to be ashamed of, but has shown her the love of Jesus when she needed it most.

 

Jen says, “God is just as steadfast and trustworthy as he says he is.” Since high school, she has maintained her personal convictions about her faith but has matured and grown into the woman she is today.