Joey & Jenna: A Passion to Serve
It’s taken nearly 10 years, but Joey Woestman’s dream to work full-time with students is nearing reality. “Why do I want to be a youth pastor? Because my life was changed by a good youth pastor,” said Joey. “I have a passion for introducing teens to Christ and discipling them along their journey.”
Joey’s passion springs from his own experience. He grew up the eldest of five brothers in the small town of Monroe, Iowa. He grew up in a nominally Catholic and morally upright home, but his background didn’t include a personal relationship with God. However, Joey’s family lived right across the street from a Baptist church, and as a child, friends invited him to Awana. In second grade, Joey understood for the first time that although he was a sinner, God had sent His own Son, Jesus, to pay for his sins. That night Joey placed his faith in Christ. Unbeknownst to him, the Awana leader who led him to Christ began to pray weekly for Joey. Over decades, this faithful man’s prayers for God to use Joey in a mighty way impacted Joey’s spiritual walk.
Through the ministry of that church, Joey continued to grow in his faith. In particular, his youth pastor took a strong interest in Joey, and a friendship began to form. Joey started hanging out more and more at the youth pastor’s home, and slowly, became more involved in youth group. Mentored by his youth pastor, God began working in Joey’s heart and softening him toward ministry. In the summer before his senior year of high school, he attended a Christian summer camp where, after a particularly challenging talk, he felt God’s call to youth ministry. On that evening more than 10 years ago, Joey committed himself to pursuing youth ministry. This pursuit would first take him to Faith Baptist Bible College, where he graduated in May, 2005 with bachelor of science degree in Pastoral Ministry (Associate Pastoral Major, Youth Minor).
While in Bible college, he met his soon-to-be wife, Jenna. Although they were friends for a while (Jenna was dating someone else!) they began dating in 2004 and married the week after they both graduated from college in 2005. Although seminary was next in Joey’s journey, he and Jenna decided to take a year off from school to focus solely on their new marriage. The following fall, Joey began seminary.
Jenna also has a heart for ministry and majored in Biblical Studies & Local Church Ministry in Bible College. She also grew up in Iowa in a solid Christian home and placed her faith in Jesus at a young age. The oldest of three, Jenna always wanted to be a pastor’s wife. Through a series of mission trips, God burdened Jenna’s heart for the world. Although Jenna says she hates math, during their seminary years, she worked as an Operations Accounting Bookkeeper. (A job she actually enjoyed). Both Joey and Jenna are very excited to welcome their first child into their home in November.
Although free time in seminary might not be as plentiful, Joey has developed several new hobbies while at Dallas. One of those is video editing (we’ll see more of his video skills soon). He also enjoys a good book or spending time in the great outdoors. Both Joey and Jenna love camping, canoeing, hiking, cycling, and taking their dog, Henry, for walks. Joey also likes playing video games (especially with students) and solving puzzles. He claims he can solve a Rubik’s cube in under a minute (Shall we test him on this one?) Jenna enjoys cooking, entertaining, gardening and traveling.
It’s taken 10 years, but Joey is finally ready to embark upon full-time youth ministry. “I’ve done youth ministry for so long in addition to school, it’s so exciting to finally be trained and ready to focus soley on ministry.”
Want to Learn More? Read Joey & Jenna: Gifted to Serve
