My name is Erik Mendenhall.
I have a beautiful wife, Amanda, who is crazy talented and creative, and she has
a passion for photography. We have one child, Elijah. He is a very outgoing and
creative toddler and loves to explore. Amanda and I have been married since
2012. My wife was born and raised in Sherman, and I have been here since I got
out of the military. I was born in Grand Prairie and have been in the Texoma
area since high school. I went to Grayson College for two semesters and then
served in the Army from 2008 to 2013, spending most of that time at Fort Hood, Texas.
I started following Christ
at the age of 16 and loved student ministry ever since. I became president of
the Fellowship of Christian Athletes my junior and senior years of high school
and took on a role as student leader at the church I attended. When I joined
the Army, I knew I wanted to have an impact on the lives of the soldiers so I
became a chaplain assistant, and that was my job during my military career. It
excites me knowing that God can use my testimony to help even one person and
knowing no matter what that Jesus loves me and has paid the ultimate sacrifice
so that I may live. I enjoy seeing the students every week and showing them
that following Christ is fun, and loving people should be something that we
strive to do. I also get excited when I see something click within the young
men that are in my small group, whether that be in worship, in listening to the
Word be taught or in our small group time.
I
pray that our students come to know Christ in a real and intimate way this
year, that vulnerability comes at the right time for our small group and
ultimately that they grow in maturity in their walk with Christ.