Jenaa’s Story
February 2025
Ignited By Faith!
At Kabod, our greatest joy is hearing the powerful testimonies of people of all ages whose lives have been impacted, transformed, and set free. Every story is a testament to the beauty of God’s work and the purpose behind everything we do.
One such story is that of Jenaa. Summer camp wasn’t just a place for Jenaa—it was the spark that ignited her faith and shaped her journey. Inspired by dedicated leaders like Ericson, whose unwavering commitment to Christ and the youth of Toledo continues to make a lasting impact.
"I remember my first real, face-to-face encounter with Jesus happening at the campgrounds. We were in chapel, and if I remember correctly, Pastor Lisa was reading a verse from Romans 8. Suddenly, I felt a warm embrace wash over me, and I started crying because, in that moment, I knew—without a doubt—that Jesus was real and that my life would never be the same.
Before coming to camp, I was a little nervous, but then I heard Rick on the mic joking around. I remember thinking, Well, this won't be so bad if I'm already laughing. I was twelve when I first attended, and something sparked within me—a fire for God that I didn’t even know existed. Every year, I returned to camp, and by the time I was sixteen, I knew I wanted to be a counselor and serve God. I had seen the dedication of the counselors before me and thought, I would love to do that.
When I became a counselor, I witnessed firsthand how hard Ericson worked. Leading seemed effortless for him, and I wondered if it was truly that easy when you have a strong relationship with God. He didn’t know it, but just by watching his work ethic and faith, I was inspired to be great in everything I did—especially when it came to serving the Lord.
Because of that inspiration, I have now been serving God for four years, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. If there’s one thing I can say, it’s that I’ve always admired Ericson’s consistency and perseverance.
When it comes to commitment and serving the Lord, he is one of the most dedicated people I know. Having a vision to see the youth in Toledo stirred up for Jesus—and actually putting in the work to make that vision a reality—is a huge responsibility. But I know that so many other kids have been inspired by Ericson, and it’s incredible to witness. MMT has always felt like a family, and it always will—because of amazing leaders like Ericson."
Jenaa’s story is a testament to just how much God values his kids, whether it be through summer camps, KSSM, mission teams or family fun days, God wants to ignite a wild passion in each of His kids. We all have the opportunity, no matter our lifestyle to inspire individuals to grow in their walk with Christ and lead others with the same passion, just as Jenaa does.