Rachel was born and raised in Oregon on a small farm about 20 minutes from Canby. While in Southern California attending college, in between hanging out at the beach and going to concerts in LA, she grew in her faith, was baptized, and decided to commit her life to following Christ. She’s thankful for God’s grace and love as He placed specific people in her life who discipled her at a church that valued God’s word. It was also during this time that she met her fellow Oregonian husband, Jeremiah, and they were later married in 2012. After living in Portland for several years, they moved to Canby in 2018 and have loved the small-town feel and are truly at home, thanks to the amazing community and friendships they have found at Canby Christian Church. They have three young children—Sydney, Caleb, and Lucas. 

Throughout her life, Rachel has always loved working with kids and has extensive training and experience working with children with special needs from her time in the special education public school setting as well as an autism therapy center. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from California Lutheran University and a master’s degree in teaching from Concordia University. Since having kids, she has stayed home with them and considers being a mom the greatest, most valuable, and sanctifying job she will ever have…although the hardest! 

She’s excited to serve the church in this position by using her gifts and experience in conjunction with her passion for providing families more than just childcare but a place where children will be nurtured in the faith and shown Christ’s love. 

Some of the things that bring her joy are reading books with her kids, thrift shopping, country music, watching musicals, and exploring the outdoors.