Meet Trailblazer Sarah Faith Miller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Faith Miller.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Sarah Faith. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The best thing that has ever happened to me started by accident. I was at a church conference as a teenager and my pastor asked me to attend a worship leader workshop, so I could come back and teach our band what I learned. I agreed happily, even though I thought it was strange that he bypassed the worship leader and asked me, the back-up singer. I have never been good with directions, not then, and definitely not now. As I was looking for the workshop I got lost and walked into the wrong door. It took me 45 minutes to realize the room I waked in wasn’t a worship leaders’ workshop, it was the mission’s workshop. I sat and listened politely because it would have been far too embarrassing to admit my mistake now. A few days later, I got a phone call that changed my life. They offered me a position on the soonest missions’ trip they had and I jumped at the chance with tears rolling down my cheeks. I raised a third of the cost of my trip in three minutes and somehow made it into Mexico without a passport (shout out that weird law that I happened to meet all of the requirements for).

When I came back from that trip, I felt like I couldn’t recover from what I had experienced. I don’t think I ever have. It changed every part of who I am. I continued to go on a mission’s trip almost every six months for the entirety of my high school career. I pushed off going to college and all the logical advice people gave me and moved to Africa for two years when I graduated. I have had the privilege to travel to twelve countries living out the faith I hold dear and doing what I love. I am 23 now, and though life looks a lot more normal than it used to, I am forever marked by my experiences abroad. I am currently pursuing my degree in Social Work to help survivors of human trafficking and return to the foreign lands I love.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Never smooth, but always worth it. Fundraising is always a challenge when you first start. I raised $35,000 towards missions as a high school student, relying only on my part time job and a lot of grace. I’m a big fan of God and if there’s anything I know it’s that He takes care of His kids – that goes for my finances and my emotions. Moving back from Africa has been the biggest challenge in my journey so far, even though I liked to pretend I was okay. My first year back was the loneliest year I have ever lived. I longed to share my story with someone and have them look at me and say “me too”. If I have any advice to give those who know what deep loneliness feels like, it would be to feel your grief. Own your story. Don’t deny yourself from feeling your emotions, and let yourself be seen, even if the onlookers don’t understand.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about your business – what should we know?
I currently work at a coffee shop called Dutch Bros. where we are known for our ability to build relationships with our customers. We like to say we are a people business, and coffee is just what we do on the side. We get to know our customers stories, their kids’ soccer schedules, their dad’s health complications, you name it. Its wild what a complete stranger will share with you if you make them feel seen. I have never felt more supported and challenged to grow at another job than I do now. Coming to work feels like going to therapy, except they pay me.

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
The most significant experience in my childhood was being diagnosed with Leukemia. At the age of 4, I was taken to the hospital for severe leg pain, but it was brushed off as normal growth or attention seeking behavior. I am forever thankful that my mother kept getting me tested. I got diagnosed by an incredible doctor on a Friday, and it was determined that if we didn’t come in, I would have been dead by Monday. I was rushed into emergency surgery and quickly began chemotherapy that I would have to endure for the next two years. It was a long and difficult journey, and even after I was deemed “cancer-free”, I still had to see specialists for the following 12 years. I don’t take it lightly that I am now on the other side, in remission, with no relapses in my story.

Because of my age and my illness, I spent most of my childhood being treated as fragile. I can see their point, not many kindergarteners have a life-threatening disease. But if the cancer didn’t make me feel weak enough, the way people treated me when they found out did the trick. If I’m honest, I developed a lot of unhealthy coping strategies to give me the illusion of strength that I’m still trying to break today. I can’t say my sickness is what made me successful, but for better or worse, it is the most identity shaping event that made me who I am. In the last year, I have learned to leverage my illusion of strength, to an authentic one. I developed an obscure grit from a young age and I am foolishly bold because there just isn’t much that scares me anymore. I can’t say I’d pick the same path if I had any choice in the matter, but I am forever grateful that redemption exists. How incredible that our dark chapters can turn into our rocket fuel?

Contact Info:

• Email: sarah_faith_miller@yahoo.com
• Instagram: @sarahfaithmiller
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.f.miller.5

Image Credit:
Hannah-Jayne King

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