Kat

Kat grew up in Bowie, Maryland in a Jewish family that believes in Jesus. She was raised going to church and celebrating the Jewish holidays at home. Kat went to college for Adventure Sports Management, feeling that God was leading her into outdoor ministry. The Lord began to prick her heart to reach the Jewish people, a few years later, while she was attending a discipleship training school with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in New Zealand (NZ). She committed to three years on staff with YWAM to help pioneer a new outreach location where she hosted Israeli travelers. This ministry was such a blessing. The first summer she was there she helped host over 200 Israelis in her home.

While in NZ, Kat worked alongside Celebrate Messiah New Zealand, Chosen People Ministries’ New Zealand branch. After she finished her three-year commitment with YWAM, she eventually volunteered with Celebrate Messiah for one season, managing a campground to host Israelis. She fell even more in love with the ministry as she integrated outdoor ministry with Jewish ministry. She spent time with the Israelis during the day going on hikes and rock climbing. This time spent away from distractions in some of the most beautiful scenes of nature, brought about opportunities for deep conversations about life and God. Kat felt like all the pieces of the puzzle of what God had called her to were coming together. While volunteering for the season she was invited to apply for a staff position. She applied, interviewed, and was accepted to join on staff with Celebrate Messiah.

Kat then went back to the States to get some Bible training in preparation for this ministry. She spent four years at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and graduated with a degree in Jewish Studies. Kat now spends half the year in NZ traveling between the hostels where Celebrate Messiah hosts Israelis and she takes the Israelis rock climbing. She loves building deep friendships with the Israelis she meets and having the opportunity to hear their stories and to share her testimony and the love of Jesus with them. During NZ winters she has the great privilege to travel to Israel for three months to learn Hebrew and reconnect with the Israelis she met in NZ. Kat hopes to continue to share God’s love with them and to introduce them to the Chosen People Ministries staff in Israel and more of the Messianic Community in their neighborhoods. God is doing incredible things in New Zealand and Israel and Kat is grateful to be a part of it!