Elliott and Kessa

It is a good thing God designed our family the way that He did. Where I lack, my wife is abundant and where my wife lacks, I have the skills needed. We enjoy working together as a team and being around each other as often as we can. Our children bring that extra flavor into our family. The kind that brings joy, the need to smell the roses, and the reminder of God’s grace.

My wife and I both went to Bible college. I had the apartment below hers. We ended up passing each other ten times a day for a whole semester. Then the next semester all of our classes were together. That is how we got to know each other. By the end of that semester we were dating, and by the end of summer engaged. The next year we got married! Kessa studied christian ministries, interpersonal communications, and psychology. While I got my degree in Bible and theology. Now in 2024, I am half way through a Master of Theology.

After college we moved to Washington where I worked as a youth pastor. In Washington Abraham was born. After some time we moved to California to focus on seminary, be near family, and to see what God had planned next in our lives. That year we had our second child, Helena. As well as received the call to be missionaries in New York City. We spent a whirlwind year in NYC where we learned so much about ministry and missions. While in NYC I was the Communications Manager in charge of website maintenance, social media, email marketing, and a whole lot more.

It is now 2024 and we are back in California. Since accepting our role as missionaries we have lived in several states and driven through around 40 or them with our kids. We are presently working with YWAM through ministry and communications. Helping to fill the gap that so many YWAM bases find themselves in; having nobody with any media skills. We are filling that void by providing strategy sessions, support, and working on projects for YWAM all around the world while staying close to home.

Resume

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Bible and Theology 

Northwest Christian University - Eugene, OR

Master of Theology 

Liberty University - Online

In process.

Work History  

06/2023 to Current

Independent Missionary 

Faith Forum – New York, NY; Chico, CA; Cimarron, CO; Fresno CA

  • Build, manage, and train, website management. Squarespace, Wix, and Wordpress.

  • Photo and video editing.

  • Graphic design.

  • Brand Management.

  • Podcasting.

  • Email marketing (100-10,000 recipients)

  • Manage social media accounts (20-10,000+)

  • Fundraising through individuals and churches.

08/2022 to 01/2024

Communications Manager (Missionary)

International Project – New York, NY 

  • Lead communications team (~3 people)

  • Responsible for social media accounts including Facebook (1800 followers), Instagram (1000+ followers), Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube.

  • Email Marketing (5,000 Recipients)

  • Google Ads and Facebook Ads

  • Fundraising through individuals and churches.

  • Video Production and editing. 

  • Photo editing.

  • Copywriting.

  • Brand Management.

  • Website Management.

  • Google Ads and Grant management.

02/2022 to Current

Founder 

Chopped Marketing – Clovis, CA 

  • Provide social media management for small to medium sized businesses.

  • Manage 5+ contractors.

  • Created call center services, email marketing, Facebook advertising, and website creation.

  • Defined company roles and responsibilities to establish and enhance processes.

  • Direct market expansions to propel business forward, meet changing customer needs.

  • Created websites using WordPress, Squarespace, and BlueHost, for clients.

  • Met with content editors to plan post subjects and publishing schedules.

  • Created dynamic graphics to accompany blog posts.

  • Connected, and interacted, with readers via email or message boards to address needs and ideas of audience.

  • Implemented SEO strategies to optimize web content for search engines.

  • Researched topics to write, edit and create layouts for new articles and features.

  • Implemented Google and Microsoft Ad Grants.

06/2020 to 02/2021

Youth Director 

Cornerstone United Methodist Church – Covington, WA 

  • Prepared and preached sermons weekly (10-30 students).

  • Led weekly high school youth group in person and on Zoom.

  • Managed middle school coordinator and young adult's leader who were responsible for youth events.

  • Oversaw young adults' leader

  • Managed Facebook, and Instagram, accounts with a combined following of 600 people providing almost daily updates including event reminders, Bible verses, devotional videos, etc.

  • Managed MinistrySafe with 5 staff and 20+ volunteers.

  • Managed youth ministries budget of over $100K.

  • Assisted with vacation Bible School including daily setup and event planning to ensure fun for youth.

  • Led a Men's small group to discuss the Bible.

  • Recruited, developed, and encouraged volunteers and parents to provide fellowship and faith building activities for youth.

  • Raised congregational awareness of needs and contributions of youth to church life and operations.

  • Led integration of youth into worship and other ministry areas at church and church events.

01/2020 to 06/2020

Youth Leadership Intern 

Springfield Faith Center – Springfield, OR 

  • Participated in regular preaching rotation with youth and middle school groups, as well as Sunday morning combined group with over 30 students.

  • Collected community resources to highlight available resources to parents and youth to teach philanthropy.

  • Created team building games.

  • Managed and organized volunteers for Church projects.

  • Participated in youth retreat planning and execution.

01/2019 to 06/2020

Facilities Employee Leader 

Northwest Christian University – Eugene, OR 

  • Set up and Tear down Chapel twice weekly to convert the gym to a chapel and back to a gym.

  • Managed 5 student employees and volunteers in proper procedures of auditorium and worship set-up.

  • Monitored safety compliance to maintain strict standards and protect team members from harm.

  • Oversaw a team of 10+ service professionals focused on maintaining the campus in a pristine condition.

  • Contributed to development, implementation, and execution of maintenance programs.

  • Managed priorities and liaised between maintenance team and management, delegating tasks to complete on time.

  • Monitored product quality and communicated necessary improvements.

06/2018 to 06/2020

Gardener Employee Leader 

Northwest Christian University – Eugene, OR 

  • Maintained campus Gardens encompassing over 20 acres.

  • Managed 2 employees

  • Helped create beautiful spaces allowing for reflective meditation for students and faculty.

  • Maximized water conservation, checking sprinkler spray angles, and testing digital controller performance.

  • Followed environmental regulations and best practices in pesticide application to lawns.

  • Performed fall and spring cleanup to clear brush and debris from landscaped areas.

05/2015 to 08/2017

Summer Staff 

Gleanings For the Hungry YWAM – Dinuba, CA 

  • Participated in daily preaching rotation to over 200 people.

  • Summer position for 3 months over 3 consecutive years.

  • Lead weekly leadership strategy meetings for over 20 summer staff.

  • Taught hundreds of youth how to operate electric saws and drills safely to build and repair pallets and destroy unusable pallets.

  • Educated foreign backpackers from South America, Africa, and Asia on Christianity.

  • Lead 20+ summer staff in leadership training and operations in the running of a peach plant.

  • Provided clear instruction to activity and program participants to deliver fun and maintain safety.

  • Factored-in abilities, needs and interests of participants in development of events and programs.

  • Transported and escorted program participants to and from activities and on field trips.

01/2016 to 01/2017

Youth Leadership Intern 

LifeSong Church – Stockton, CA 

  • Participated in ministries of the church performing functions such as: men's Bible study, preaching, maintenance, security, flag honor guard, Children's ministry, middle school ministry, youth group, college group, and more.

  • Directed 200+ youth volunteers and adult volunteers.

  • Volunteered with Helping Hands Homeless Ministry performing food preparation and serving.

  • Preached daily on a 14 day preaching trip to India.

01/2012 to 01/2019

Technician (Part Time) 

Overland Communications – Stockton, CA 

  • Installed cameras, TVs, internet, and phone systems, etc. for banks, homes, and office buildings.

  • Managed 2 employees.

  • Attended professional development technology courses to increase knowledge base and learn new information.

  • Installed and configured new devices and system components.

  • Responded to service requests during, and after, business hours.

  • Read blueprints and schematics to correctly place equipment.

Volunteer Experience    

Twin Oaks Christian Church

  • Led children's services monthly.

  • Assisted church in holiday decoration setup.

Accomplishments    

  • Mental Health First Aid Certificate

  • Completed Introduction to Programming and Computer Science Course.

  • Responsive Web Design Certificate in HTML and CSS.

  • California Real Estate Principles

  • California Real Estate Practice

  • Legal Aspects of Real Estate

  • Published in Delta Winds/San Joaquin Delta College Magazine

  • Completed Boy Scouts of America Youth Protection Training

  • Achieved Junior Leadership Training Academy Certificate (similar to Eagle Scout)

  • Over 50 certifications and courses in marketing, photography, videography completed.