Sarah Draves
Position: New Life Team Leader
Email: sdraves@umich.edu
Phone: 734.262.4494
Birthdate: July 9
Facebook: Profile
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Tell us about your family.
I am the oldest of 3 (read a book on birth order and Firstborns if you want to know 98% about my personality). I have a younger brother, Erik, who's 3 years younger than me, and my sister Bekah is 6 years younger than me. My dad is a junior high science teacher in Ann Arbor, and my mom does a little bit of everything relating to volleyball in Washtenaw county. They live in Milan. We also have a senior citizen golden retriever, a 100lb 2 year old Newfoundland puppy, and a gray cat who is best friends with the puppy.
Finally, I am only the 3rd tallest in my immediate family - both my dad and my brother are taller than me. No one will sit behind us at church, and I apologize.
How did you end up at New Life Church?
I started coming with my friends from Athletes In Action, back when New Life was still in the MLB. I loved being surrounded by people my own age all worshiping the same God even though we came from different denominational backgrounds. I really connected with the messages from the Pastors, and I loved the music even though it took me awhile to get comfortable with the clapping and hands raised kind of thing. :)
Why are you still here?
Through Athletes In Action, God totally changed my relationship with Him and the Church. He made me passionate about authentic community and the difference it can make to have transparent relationships where students can experience the love of Christ as they seek out Truth. My senior year, I came to New Life alone one Sunday and Pastor Steve Hayes introduced himself to me after the service. When he found out I felt called to ministry but didn't know where God was leading me to serve, he told me about New Life's need for women on staff, and here I am!
What do you do here?
I do women's ministry with the lovely ladies of West and North Quad. I believe God powerfully uses community to help us understand Him and experience His love, and that God's love will change everything! I get to mentor women, equip them for a lifestyle of courageous leadership, and facilitate genuine community through small-groups in our WestSide family.