WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY

Jaclyn Oden-Peace (from left), Marissa Bucklew, Mady McColm, and Bianca Holley

---

On Friday, August 24, four young adults — Mady McColm, Jaclyn Oden-Peace, Marissa Bucklew, and Bianca Holley — walked through the doors of Union Avenue Christian Church to begin a potentially life-changing, 10-month adventure. They will be seeking ways in which to discern their way forward in the world through spiritual formation, interpersonal growth, simplicity, shared commitment to community and self-sufficiency. They are the fifth cohort of young adults to reside in XPLOR House at Union Avenue Christian Church.

We pray our residents will sense the gravitational pull of their faith, develop hearts for care, and discern how to focus their life’s work. This Sunday, September 9, the congregation of Union Avenue Christian Church formally welcomes Bianca, Jaclyn, Marissa, and Mady into the life of our community. Welcome home!

---

BIANCA HOLLEY joins us from the DFW metroplex, where she hails from McKinney, Texas. In May she graduated from Jarvis College in Hawkins, Texas, where she received her BA in History. While at Jarvis, she served as president of her senior class and president of the student ministry association. Bianca has a deep and abiding love for her home church, Eternity Community Church — working with the youth, leading the praise dance ministry, and lending a hand in whatever way she can.

Bianca loves to dance, cook, and spend time with her two handsome nephews. She is embracing the opportunity XPLOR will offer her to challenge her comfort zone while experiencing diverse cultures, backgrounds, and a totally new environment. She hopes to become a counselor and some day manage her own nonprofit organization helping young girls and young women. She will be serving at iFM Community Medicine.

JACLYN ODEN-PEACE is from Pasadena, Texas, in the greater Houston metroplex. She is a lifelong Disciple, and she is currently a member of First Christian Church of Pasadena, where she has held many youth leadership roles at the area, regional, and general level, including serving as Moderator of the General Youth Council. Jaclyn loves the arts, and is passionate about singing, dancing, piano, and theater. She loves animals, and has worked in the grooming department of a dog grooming, boarding, and daycare facility.

Jaclyn knows that her talents and previous leadership experiences were not given to her just for her own benefit, but, rather, to help build communities of care and develop leadership opportunities where others can engage their gifts for ministry. She will be serving at Prison Performing Arts.

MADY McCOLM is from Fort Scott, Kansas, and a May graduate of Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where she studied theatre, writing, and English. She has attended National Avenue Christian Church in Springfield. Mady has worked as a resident assistant, staff writer and page editor for the student newspaper, and served as president of the theater honor society. She also has worked at the Academy of Hair Design, and she plays the ukulele. As an only child, growing up in the country, she spent most of her childhood reading, writing, and playing make believe.

During her XPLOR time, she plans to complete her Fulbright application. Mady hopes to one day contribute to the arts that have inspired her throughout her life. She will be serving at DOORWAYS – Interfaith Housing.

MARISSA BUCKLEW is a native Virginian from Lynchburg. She stayed home and graduated in May from the University of Lynchburg with a degree in Human Resources Management and Leadership. Marissa found her passion for leadership while serving in the Bonner Leadership Program, which emphasizes community service and leadership development, and her outdoor recreation campus job.

Marissa is looking forward to her XPLOR experience to help her regain her focus on faith, and she sees this as an opportunity that does not often come along for people her age. Her home church is Bedrock Baptist Church in Lynchburg. Marissa is a sucker for fresh produce and handmade crafts. She will be serving at VOICES for Children.

---

The Union Avenue XPLOR Host Team works in collaboration with staff of the National Benevolent Association to create a constructive, nuturing environment for our XPLOR residents. Union Avenue’s XPLOR Host Team consists of Cheryl McNeill, Karen Tye (who serves as the Spiritual Companion for our residents), Britani Chase, Georgia Kuss, Debbie Stinson, Michael Riggs, Ron Lindsey, and O. Dan Smith.