PTM provides the opportunity for urban ministry training through its LEAP Year Fellowship. This year trains young adults to walk-alongside PTM students as they discover and live their God-inspired dreams. For one year LEAPER’s work  in a full-time role at PTM, living with their co-hort, and are fully immersed in the PTM community. Former LEAPERs have gone on to succeed in a number of roles and careers across the country! Recently, we had the chance to connect with Rachel Knox, a member of the 2016-2017 LEAP co-hort on what she’s been up to since her time at PTM!

Where are you from and where are you now: I am from Orlando Florida and just moved back here this fall.  

What year where you a LEAPER and what was your role:  2016-2017. I was the resource coordinator and assistant site director  

What are you doing now: currently am getting my masters in speech language pathology at UCF.  

What is your favorite PTM memory: After breakfast and bible study, I would drive some of the 4th graders to school. I’d let them DJ, we’d all be singing along and just having fun. Honestly, some of my best conversations with students happened in those 5-10 minutes in the car.  

If you had to choose one food that defined your LEAP year what would it be and why: Probably the spinach and egg breakfast sandwiches because I accidently ordered hundreds of them and none of the kids liked them and we spent forever trying to get rid of them.  

What smell always makes you think of your LEAP year: Peppermint essential oils- I used to sit in the room with the social work interns when they had their diffuser.  

What advice would you give a LEAPER: Get involved in the community, even more than just PTM. My favorite memories include going to the neighborhood thanksgiving meal and the Skyview apartment events.

What do you think LEAP stands for: To me, LEAP is about taking a “leap” of faith. It really was just that for me. When I decided to accept my spot as a LEAPEr I had been going back and forth and finally quickly sent an email saying ‘yes’ before I could change my mind again. It forced me to slow down, and trust in God’s plan for my life.