As a member of the Junior High Ministry’s hospitality team, Kim is one of first volunteers to greet and welcome students as they arrive every Wednesday evening and make a beeline to the snack table. Putting out popcorn, refilling lemonade cups, and making sure all necessary snack items are ready and available for students is just a small part of her role. Her favorite part, however, is getting to know the students better as they come back week after week. 

“We get to chat with them as they arrive and get them pumped up to learn more about Jesus,” she said. “It’s so fun to see the relationships and community that is formed on Wednesday nights.”Kim has been serving in Junior High Ministry for three years now. Her daughter had started attending and after hearing of a need for parking lot volunteers, Kim recruited her husband, Richard, to serve – and ended up signing up as well. 

“I continue to serve because I absolutely LOVE being a part of what God is doing through the JHM team,” she said. 

Kim said she was initially hesitant to put herself out there and sign up to serve, but once she did, she was so grateful to experience something beyond the initial “good feeling” she got from serving. She was surprised at the community that she immediately felt a part of that she hadn’t felt for the first few years of attending Hillside. 

“I communicated this to a friend and fellow volunteer and she put it into perfect words,” Kim said. “She said that once you begin serving, the big church turns into the small church. She was absolutely right.”

Kim said that for four years, she desired to be anonymous at Hillside, attending on Sundays and quickly leaving, but she can now see how stagnant her walk with God had been without community. 

“I would recommend anyone that is on the fence about serving to take that leap of faith because you never know the positive impact that you will have on others and that serving will have on you,” she said. 

Kim loves serving in JHM and seeing the kids – and adult volunteers – come together week after week and talk about what God is doing in their lives. Though the games, community and message are all incredible parts of the ministry, she said her absolute favorite part is watching students lead other students in worship. 

“It is such a special time each Wednesday when you can just feel God in the room,” she said. “It’s beautiful to see.” Junior High Director Sean Murphy said one of the special things about having Kim as a volunteer is that though she does an exceptional job in setting up snacks, creating a welcoming environment and caring for other volunteers, God has given her a gift for seeing students on the fringes. 

“She makes sure everyone feels safe and welcome on Wednesday nights,” Sean said. “She goes above and beyond serving these students!” 

In her free time, Kim enjoys being with her husband and their two daughters (one in junior high and one in high school), and reading. We are so grateful for Kim and the way she serves God’s kingdom by using her gifts of hospitality to love and care for our junior high students!