Angelica Cerda
Resident Church: Discovery Christian Church
Audience: Students
Skill Set: Mentoring, Empathic Relater, Intentional Creator, Growth Developer, Detailed Solutionist, Communicator
Focus: Youth Ministry
Education History: Nebraska Christian College, Bachelors of Arts in Next Generation Ministry - Valedictorian
Certifications: Mental Health First Aid, The Center for Relationship Education - Real Essentials
About Angelica
I have felt called to ministry ever since I was a child, but it wasn't until my junior year of high school that I began to take that calling seriously. Around that time, God began creating within me a passion to work with students. My senior year of high school I became a middle school girls small group leader and I have been in youth ministry ever since. My freshmen year of college I continued to serve at my home church, Faith Community Church in Red Oak, IA. I served in the fifth and sixth grade ministry and middle school ministry. My sophomore year I did an internship at Bridge, a church in the inner city of Omaha, NE. I led in their fourth and fifth-grade ministry and youth ministry. My junior year of college I was a Community Missions Resident at First Christian Church in Decatur, IL. I helped lead Club 305, the church's after-school program. I led and developed the Sixth Grade Jr. Leadership Program. During my time there I volunteered in their youth ministry. My senior year of college and currently, I work at Discovery Christian Church as a Youth Resident. In addition to my role as a resident, I have developed a children's program for our Foster/Adopt Support Group that is primarily led by students. I have served on Discovery's Young Adult Ministry launch team and currently lead a life group of young adults.
In the past six years, I have served at four different churches in four different states. The churches have varied in sizes and contexts. I have had diverse ministry experiences and loved each and every one of my endeavors. My heart, however, is and has always been to work with students. Many people view teenagers as a burden, an age group to be tolerated until they grow out of it. I believe, however, that teenagers are deeply loved by God and are in desperate need of that knowledge. When a teenager believes that they are known and loved by God and by caring adults, they can do great things within the church and beyond it. My desire is to one day work with youth on the staff of a church or nonprofit.
