Gazillion

Rachelle has a background in grocery management that was taking her all over the country. As her family grew, she left that world to stay closer to home. Around the same time, she and her husband were looking for a church large enough to offer strong children and youth programs that would help shape and form the faith of their three children. "I used to work a gazillion hours at Target. I am not really a stay-at-home mom so I started volunteering all the hours at Easter," she shared. "Eventually, Easter asked me to consider 5 hours a week as an employee working with children and youth and it grew to full-time from there." 

Even though Rachelle works for Easter, her love for the ministry began with the relationships she and her family have formed and the faith her children have developed over the years. As a young parent, having other parents around was helpful and comforting. "We made friends through Easter church school that started when my daughter was in the 3-year-old class and continues to today. People who are near and dear to my heart." 

"Our families participation at Easter has helped form healthy relationships within our family," she shared. "I learned how to ask questions and how to listen to my children. We recognized and celebrated the steps of faith like first communion, getting their first bible, confirmation, and even when they got married." Her oldest daughter, 34 now, used what she learned as a child and youth at Easter to serve as a confirmation mentor. "She wanted to give back," Rachelle said. "My children are raising our grandchildren with the same faith practices. We do highs and lows with them. We bless them and make sure there is prayer at bedtime. The first book we pick up each day is the children's bible." 

Today, Rachelle serves full-time as the Children's Ministry Lead at Easter, and her goals for the program mirror what she hoped for when she brought her own children and family to Easter 20+ years ago. "I hope everyone who comes to Easter knows they belong. I want them to know they are loved and that Jesus is their friend forever. If people don't feel like they belong or feel safe, they won't come back, but they also won't learn or grow. So connecting them with other caring people around them will lift them up throughout life. My kids got that and I am grateful there are caring adults all around them because of Easter."