Who Am I?

My name is Jordan Piper. I'm 21 years old and currently residing in Raleigh, North Carolina. I grew up sporadically attending "Southern" Baptist Church services with my family and going to "Vacation Bible School" every summer. Although I have been a believer in Christ for the majority of my life...I did not truly start asking questions and growing in my faith until my wonderful mother, Jackie, introduced me to Crossroads Fellowship in Raleigh about 4 or 5 years ago. I was "hooked" by the end of the first service. Throughout the entire time I had been attending Crossroads, I never attended a single high school or college service. I stuck to my "norm" and was hidden among the crowds of the main service in the Great Room. Our senior pastor, Chuck Milian, is the sole reason why I fell in love with Crossroads. I knew God had brought me to this church for a reason.

I had the privilege to meet the college & young adult ministry director, Ken Hester, in the later weeks of December 2010. We chatted back on forth via internet and text messaging, where he told me about the ministry he leads, called "Catalyst". Ken immediately came off to me as a genuinely nice and welcoming person. He informed me that this ministry was starting Wednesday night classes, "Faith Steps" in January. I knew that this was the perfect opportunity for me to connect with other people my age and to expand my boundaries as a Christian.

After attending Faith Steps a couple times and meeting tons of new people, Crossroads Fellowship started to feel more and more like home to me. I recall this day very easily....It was the day that changed my life. I was at work completing my routine tasks when I noticed that Ken was calling me. He started off the conversation with casual talk, and then informed me about the short-term mission trip to Haiti (to Nehemiah Vision Ministry) that Catalyst was going on in June (2011). The deadline for applications was already past due...But Ken saw something in me that I possibly didn't even see in myself...And asked me to join his team on this trip. I was beyond ecstatic. Within 24 hours, I faxed Ken my application and notified all of my family and friends of this wonderful opportunity that God had blessed me with.

It is now September 2011. Our short-term mission trip to Haiti was everything I expected, plus some. This was my first overseas mission trip...And my first time overseas, period. I stand firm in the fact that week of June 11-18 changed my life, forever. It was among many things, a confirmation that God had placed Crossroads, Ken Hester & Catalyst and this opportunity to serve the Haitian people, for a reason. I applied for a 6-month internship with Nehemiah Vision Ministries in August 2011. I knew God was calling me to do more work for these people....and I received that confirmation in September with the staff at NVM accepted my application. I will be completing an internship there from January 2012 until July 2012.

I will be working with the Nehemiah Vision Ministry staff, as well as other short-term mission teams. I will be assisting to guide these teams with their group tasks; such as giving food, clothes and eyeglasses to families, making airport runs, and providing general help to those in need. There are several construction projects that I will be helping with; a large hospital, two children’s homes, a new office and intern housing. I will also have the opportunity to instruct intern classes and speak to groups of youth. The nature of mission work is always a new challenge.

I will be reunited with Catalyst in July, as they are going to be completing another short-term mission trip at NVM!

If you have any questions, PLEASE visit the "Contact" tab at the top of the site and shoot me an email! I would be more than happy to answer any questions regarding my life, the internship and any other questions you might have!