There’s a lot of energy within our OVERFLOW Youth Ministries and I have the privilege of leading our volunteers & students. As the pastor of OVERFLOW, my role is to guide the ministry in a way that builds a solid biblical foundation into the lives of students and leaders.  Each week I work to prepare lessons that teach these truths and seek to present them in a way that is interesting and relevant.

Grade of the small group you lead: Freshmen... (But technically I oversee all girls and leaders)

What do you do for work: Grace Fellowship Church (Female High School Associate) and REI (customer service).

Describe your pterfect day: I would say hiking a mountain or sitting at the beach with good friends. Maybe a picnic thrown in there and a good long distance run. As long as the sun is shinning it will be a good day! Or an adventure overseas! I love traveling!

Tell us a story of something you have seen God do through your ministry with HS kids: I had been working overseas with high school students for the past 2 years. Coming home I knew I was going to have to start over with fostering relationships and building trust with new high schoolers. The Lord has been faithful to slowly develop these new relationships. I have seen girls be able to ask questions and I have seen girls branch out towards one another. We have to learn to be vulnerable with one another to get past the barriers.

iPhone or Droid: I prefer my dumb phone! But I feel like the iPhone makes more sense.

Country or Rock: Easy question. Country!
Beach or Mountains: Tough question! can I have a house in both locations?!?!
In-in-Out or Chipotle: In-N-Out because that is what a hamburger is all about.
Games or Small Groups: I prefer playing games in small groups!
Everyone should read: The Bible because that is how we can find the counterfeit parts of the world that try to distract us from our faith... Oh and The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers!
In the next 5 years, I will: Be just as confused as the present. Maybe working overseas doing ministry or in southern California doing ministry. Hopefully, I will have my counseling degree and will be doing that to foster community (community development is something the Lord has placed on my heart as well as serving people who are serving and displaying the REAL love of God to people).

Grade of the small group you lead: Freshman
What do you do for work: Construction
Describe your perfect day: Riding ATVs, getting stuck and shooting guns at my parents place in Washington.
Tell us a story of something you have seen God do through your ministry with HS kids: It's been really rewarding to see the engagement level in worship increase and stabilize. I love seeing kids whole-heartedly give themselve to God in worship. It's a process that we have a great head start on!
iPhone or Droid: DroidX
Country or Rock: Rap. (imagine that!)
Beach or Mountains: Tear me in half! They're both great. I miss the mountains being here in CA. So..... Mountains
In-in-Out or Chipotle: In-n-Out. I ate too many Chipotle burritos and got burned out.
Games or Small Groups: Hmmmmmm...  Both? Small groups I think. Yea, that's it.
Everyone should read: ...The Bible on MP3....  Is that reading?
In the next 5 years, I will: Go to Israel.

Grade of the small group you lead: 8th grade boys...Joshua 1:9.
What do you do for work: EMT full time, substitute teacher part time.
Describe your perfect day: Climbing/mountaineering on a snow covered peak in the beautiful state of Alaska!
Tell us a story of something you have seen God do through your ministry with JH kids: The Lord is in the process of taking my 8th grade boys and transforming them into men of God.  Every week they are diving deeper into their faith and asking questions that go beyond the surface.  The Spirit is moving in them and motivating them to take the gospel to their friends at school, their sports teams, and their families, as they do their best to live as examples of light in such a dark world.  God has created a bond of brotherhood amongst these guys, with Joshua 1:9 as our core verse: "Have I not commanded you?  Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
iPhone or Droid: ugh, iPhone. I'd prefer no-phone however...
Country or Rock: PLAY ME SOME COUNTRY!  You can't go wrong with a little Johnny, Hank, and Garth.
Beach or Mountains: Mountains, mountains, mountains, sunset at the beach, mountains, mountains...
In-in-Out or Chipotle: That's what a hamburger's all about...
Everyone should read: Call of the Wild
In the next 5 years I will: Either be married and working as a full-time firefighter/paramedic in the awesome state of Colorado, or busy guiding backpacking and climbing expeditions throughout the himilayas... haha, I don't know.  "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails" Prov. 19:21.

Name: Erica Ann Matulich (soon to be Merrihew)

Hometown: Huntington Beach

What do you do for work: Disneyland Parade Performer, Entertainment Stage Manager

Describe your perfect day: My perfect day would start by waking up, having quiet time with the Lord and prayer. From there I would stop at Starbucks..(Venti Iced Black Tea, no water, extra soy milk, sweetened). Next stop is Forever 21 to buy an outfit for the day. Chad and I would then meet up for a day at Disneyland where the wait time on every ride would be no more than 5 min. After Disneyland, we would go home so that we could take a sunset walk along Balboa Island and talk about the highlights of our day! This perfect day would then end relaxing in the house next to the fireplace with dinner, rain pouring on the windows, and watcha movie that was recommended by our friends!

Tell a story of something you have seen God do through your ministry with JH kids: Hana peterson, a 16 year old who was adopted into an amazing family in Orange County for the first time 2 years ago has touched my life in more ways then she knows. She was born in Ethiopia and lived there the majority of her life. She joined the jr high group last year and barely could speak a word of English. Her dream was to move up to the high school group and be around kids her age, but her English wasn't ready for high school. During summer camp this past year, her and I prayed together that she would pass her test to get into a public high school and be around kids her own age. After many months of surrender, she passed her test and it's no surprise that the Lord came through and blessed her with a lifestyle that we take for granted. Her dream was to live a life that we were born into, and to watch her relationship with God grow through this whole process has been an assurance to me that He has our lives perfectly fit in the palm of His hand.

iPhone or Droid: iPhone

Country or Rock: Frank Sinatra

Beach or Mountains: Beach

In-in-Out or Chipotle: Chipotle

Games or Small Groups: Small Groups

Everyone should read... Crazy Love

In the next 5 years, I will... Be a wife, a daughter in law, a best friend, a sister, and hopefully mommy!