Maria's Stories
Today, Maria's deep passion is to live out the stories that God has written for her, stories of faith, healing, justice, unity, and thriving. With her incredible nine jewels and husband, she lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Maria currently leads Global Healing and Unity for Hillsong Church focused on ethnicity and race and works part-time as a counselor.
Maria's personal journey to today is nothing short of inspiring. Maria grew up in a stunningly beautiful country, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, where she spent most of her time playing in the mountains. As an eleven year old Maria left the country she loved, immigrating from the Faroe Islands to Canada. Maria experienced intense loss and grief and began the process of learning to speak English.
Despite these challenges, that lasted into adulthood, Maria's life has developed into a beautiful mosaic of stories. Stories deeply rooted in faith. Maria discovered hope in the promises of Jeremiah 29:11, and her personal passion for thriving was born.
During university, Maria spent two life-changing summers in Camden, New Jersey, USA, with an inner-city ministry called Urban Promise. These experiences birthed her ministry, professional, and clinical passions. Passions for trauma, justice, diversity, mental health, and healing. After completing her BA in Psychology, Maria created Ray of Hope, a program for kids from hard places in Washington, USA. Two years later, Maria began her Clinical Masters Degree at Rutgers University. Since then, 24+ years ago, Maria has dedicated her life to helping others, working in a diversity of settings as a therapist, school counselor, social worker and director; and volunteering in a diversity of roles as board member, volunteer, mentor, and ministry leader. Maria is passionate about every human thriving.
Alongside her husband, Sam, who has his own remarkable story as an adult adoptee from South Korea, they are a beacon of faith, hope, and love. Maria calls herself a precious jewels mamma as she & her husband have 9 precious jewels, 2 biological and 7 adopted; as well as one adorable grandson. Maria's passions are deeply personal because of the beautiful diversity of her family; as trauma interfaces her every day; as her jewels have varying special needs and mental health needs; and as she and her husband have both a multi-racial and multi-ethnic family, with five different races and seven different ethnicities represented. Maria has jewels adopted from the USA, China and Ghana; and are also former foster parents. Their family is a testament to the stories God writes.
Maria and Sam have been recognized for their unwavering commitment to their faith and community, receiving the prestigious TWU Alumni Distinction Raw Edge of Faith Award.
Maria currently leads Global Healing and Unity for Hillsong Church focused on ethnicity and race and works part-time as a counselor.
Maria's personal journey to today is nothing short of inspiring. Maria grew up in a stunningly beautiful country, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, where she spent most of her time playing in the mountains. As an eleven year old Maria left the country she loved, immigrating from the Faroe Islands to Canada. Maria experienced intense loss and grief and began the process of learning to speak English.
Despite these challenges, that lasted into adulthood, Maria's life has developed into a beautiful mosaic of stories. Stories deeply rooted in faith. Maria discovered hope in the promises of Jeremiah 29:11, and her personal passion for thriving was born.
During university, Maria spent two life-changing summers in Camden, New Jersey, USA, with an inner-city ministry called Urban Promise. These experiences birthed her ministry, professional, and clinical passions. Passions for trauma, justice, diversity, mental health, and healing. After completing her BA in Psychology, Maria created Ray of Hope, a program for kids from hard places in Washington, USA. Two years later, Maria began her Clinical Masters Degree at Rutgers University. Since then, 24+ years ago, Maria has dedicated her life to helping others, working in a diversity of settings as a therapist, school counselor, social worker and director; and volunteering in a diversity of roles as board member, volunteer, mentor, and ministry leader. Maria is passionate about every human thriving.
Alongside her husband, Sam, who has his own remarkable story as an adult adoptee from South Korea, they are a beacon of faith, hope, and love. Maria calls herself a precious jewels mamma as she & her husband have 9 precious jewels, 2 biological and 7 adopted; as well as one adorable grandson. Maria's passions are deeply personal because of the beautiful diversity of her family; as trauma interfaces her every day; as her jewels have varying special needs and mental health needs; and as she and her husband have both a multi-racial and multi-ethnic family, with five different races and seven different ethnicities represented. Maria has jewels adopted from the USA, China and Ghana; and are also former foster parents. Their family is a testament to the stories God writes.
Maria and Sam have been recognized for their unwavering commitment to their faith and community, receiving the prestigious TWU Alumni Distinction Raw Edge of Faith Award.