Before losing my mother in 2007 to cancer, I was given an incredible gift, my mother’s journals spanning 35 years and her beloved Bible. It only took me 15 years and going through a global pandemic - to finally discover the true gift that she left – a blueprint of a Kingdom legacy. This discovery changed the trajectory of my life and my family. In 2023 we went all in with Jesus leaving our jobs and home to attend a YWAM Discipleship Training school. 

During our DTS I felt the tension between missions and filmmaking bubble back up. Was I supposed to walk away from filmmaking and into full time missions? As I wrestled with questions like, “What does missions mean?” “Is art frivolous? “Can you really use art in missions?” I listened to Andy Byrd during one of our lectures sharing the story of Count Zinzendorf, the father of the modern day Moravian missions movement. Andy mentioned the Count saw a painting of Jesus on the cross with an inscription underneath that said, “I have given everything for you. What will you give me?” In that moment, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “Art is not frivolous. I use it to change lives.” Seeing the painting was the catalyst that changed the trajectory of Count Zinzendorf’s life and in turn the millions of lives that were touched by his YES!

God redefined my dream of what both AND means for missions and storytelling. I am dedicated to telling stories of hope, training and equipping the next generation of storytellers to know Jesus and make him known through their craft. 

My missional mindset and creative identity has taken many forms over the years, but my goal remains the same to leave a Godly legacy that impacts the next generation of Christian creatives to run their race well.  

I grew up in the South, where porches are sacred and churches are at the heart of every community. My love for Jesus and the desire to live a life “on mission” was shaped by my parents’ faith, missional call into YWAM and their personal commitments to invest in their four children's lives as well as their community by serving as pastors of a multi-cultural, non-denominational church in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

My faith and creativity have been the through-line of my life and career which has put me at the intersection of storytelling, leadership, motherhood, mentorship, and missions. I went on my first mission trip to Kazakhstan at the age of 11 years old. I was marked for missions from that point on. 

I went on to serve with other missions organizations throughout high school and college while studying filmmaking at the University of Chapel Hill. One day, while in the back of a pickup truck in Thailand on my way to help the victims of the Tsunami with my camera gear in toe, I was reminded of a quote from Rick Warren, “Your capabilities match your calling.” It hit me like a lightning bolt. It was never missions or filmmaking, it was both AND.  

Armed with a unique perspective and a diverse background, I went on to travel the world with a camera making award-winning documentaries; served in a refugee camp; competed on a reality show - On the Lot- searching for America's next big film director; worked as a creative director for several fortune 500 brands, created mentorship programs and curriculum for female leaders, published articles in Truly Magazine, spoke at conferences like Content Marketing World and STORY - oh, and let’s not forget the most important roles like mom, wife, Bible study leader, missionary, friend, and tea aficionado! 

Hannah

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