I am a KC native who first met Jesus the summer before my freshman year of high school and quickly fell in love with Christ and His Church. My “yes” to Jesus’s invitation to come follow Him has taken me places I never imagined I’d go! After high school I left the suburbs of KC behind for pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland for World Youth Day in 2016. I ran into a bunch of Ravens there and knew I’d made the right choice in making Benedictine College my next home.
My charming years studying at Benedictine in Atchison, KS brought about many adventures including studying in Italy for a semester. While abroad, I went on a mission trip to Albania to serve alongside some religious sisters in their homes of mercy for abandoned girls and women with disabilities. My experience on mission caused me to decide to switch majors from Nursing to Theology and stirred up my hunger to see souls encounter the love of Jesus!
After graduating college in 2020, I spent a short stint of time discerning religious life in Maryland and then found myself on mission back in KC serving families and children in need as an early childhood education teacher at Operation Breakthrough. Since my return to KC I've been blessed to be involved in several Catholic communities including Encounter Ministries, St. Paul’s Outreach, Desert Stream Ministries, City on a Hill, and the Young Adults of the Lamb. I am passionate about talking to strangers on airplanes, street ministry, Maverick City Music, rock scrambling, my family and friends, and most of all the Lord. I am so excited to be joining the campus ministry team at SPX and can’t wait to see what God has in store for this community. Come Holy Spirit!
Sam Arth
Hello Everyone! I was born and raised around KC in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Grew up going to Catholic school all of my life and during all that time I grew in my relationship with Christ as each year has passed. The first time I ever had a personal encounter with Our Lord was in the presence of the Eucharist in adoration the summer before my freshman year at St. James Academy. After that night I knew my life would be transformed forever and that I would be on a journey of continually pursuing the heart of Jesus.
After years of formation in high school and growing in the faith with my friends at our parish youth group, I soon attended Johnson County Community College for a very short time. It was there that I got involved with a college ministry called St. Paul’s Outreach (SPO) where I jumped into a community of men and women who are on fire with the Holy Spirit. I soon got involved in a small men's group with SPO and got the chance this past year to live in a household with some of the students and missionaries in the community. During that year of household I was continually encouraged by my roommates to keep up with daily prayer, pursue challenges that are uncomfortable, and to lead a small group of college students with the heart of Christ. Since that year in household I’ve continued to say “YES” to Christ in all that he calls me to do. Each “yes” has led me on a journey of service, growth in virtue, and pursuing the hearts of those who may have never encountered Christ. The unknown that comes with following God’s plan for my life at times can be scary, but I trust in what Christ has for me. I know that my time at SPX will be one of growth and transformation. I look forward to meeting all of you and am excited to be a part of the SPX family. May Jesus Our Lord be with us as we pursue to put him at the center of all that we do.