Rachel McDaniel

Rachel (left) with her roommate, Sabrina

What’s your name?

Rachel McDaniel

How do you spend your days? (family, work, hobbies)

In the mornings, I work at First Baptist Preschool as a teacher in the two-year-old classroom. In the afternoons, I work at Saint Christopher's School as a first grade Extended Day Teacher. My parents currently live in southwest Virginia, but my brother and sister-in-law live right behind me in the Fan. In my spare time, I enjoy being with my friends, drinking coffee, and exploring the city.

What part of town do you live in?

I live in the Fan, right on the Boulevard, and I live with Sabrina Porrata.

How long have you been going to City Church?

I have been attending City Church since August 2020.

How are you attending City Church these days?

I have been attending City Church in person.

What did you expect from 2020 when it started?

When 2020 first started, I was living in my college house in Blacksburg, Virginia. I was enjoying my last semester living in Blacksburg with my friends and roommates. At the time, I was working for Young Life as a staff associate intern. I was working with students at Blacksburg Middle School, and I was loving my time serving the school. I was coaching cheerleading at BMS and was leading my team of volunteers. I was expecting to continue on with Young Life and move to a different city in Virginia after my internship completed. However, due to COVID, my internship was cut short and so was my work at BMS. I was expecting to spend my last semester at BMS caring for the students, subbing at the school, and coaching my third season of track and field. All of that was cut short, and I suddenly was unable to see any of the students in person. It was a tough ending because I had been leading at the school for three years. Due to COVID, my job switched to mainly Zoom, many of my roommates decided to move home, and I was left trying to figure out what I would do next. I made the decision to move to Richmond and not continue with Young Life staff. I was not expecting either of these decisions. I began looking for jobs in Richmond and stumbled across Saint Christopher's. I then moved in July 2020 and began working as a teacher. I started attending City Church because of my roommate, Sabrina Porrata. None of what has happened in 2020 would have been what I expected, but I have seen the Lord's hand leading it all and leading me to exactly where I need to be. I am ultimately thankful Richmond is where I landed and this is the community of people I get to be a part of.

Rachel with her WyldLife Team.

If you could describe 2020 in three words, what words would you choose?

Challenging, unexpected, and growth

What did the events of 2020 reveal to you about yourself and about Jesus?

I think the main thing 2020 taught me is that in the midst of everything changing Jesus is consistently the same. Hebrews 13:8 took on a whole new meaning to me this year. In the middle of a lot of things in my life suddenly changing, I was looking for consistency. I started to feel like I was losing part of who I was because everything around me was taken away. I had to remember and remind myself that first, who I am is wrapped up in who Jesus says I am. During 2020 it felt like the world was changing day by day, but Jesus remained the same beginning to end. Our world needs consistency, and I personally need it. I am so thankful Jesus is perfectly consistent and caring.

How have the events of 2020 pushed you to reimagine your story? How have they pushed you to reimagine your faith?

I think 2020 has taught me that I can create goals and hopes for the future, but I can't decide every move I will make. I love to dream with the Lord about what my life can be like, but my story is truly written by God. I am happier, more free, and more me when I let the Lord be the author. I know I said it earlier, but where I ended up this year is not at all where I would have expected. However, it has been so freeing to watch the Lord be the author of this year and to trust him in the process. This has pushed me to really trust the Lord in a more deep way about the places he will lead me to next.

What is your biggest hope for 2021?

My biggest hope for 2021 is that I will feel more at home here in Richmond. I want to become more involved in the City Church community and continue to find my place in Richmond.

Rachel and her boyfriend, Ben, who is also new to City Church.