MAY ALUMNI FEATURE
Sent into the Harvest Field
Posted on May 1, 2026
From established and growing to newly planted churches, graduates Zach Allen, Annelise Graves, Tori Appleton, and Briana Kyles are stepping into diverse roles with a shared calling to love God, serve His people, and build the local church.
In celebration of the first senior class of Highlands College, continue reading for a glimpse into how new alums are being sent to lead and fulfill the Great Commission.
Zach Allen
Collective Church — Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Zach Allen introducing guest speaker Pastor Chad Veach at Highlands College chapel.
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Highlands College has helped expose and refine the calling that I always knew was inside of me, shaping me into a more well-rounded leader.
I will be moving to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to help launch Collective Church in September. My role will be flexible, but it will primarily focus on college ministry while also supporting the overall needs of the Church, including Dream Team and setup and takedown. Pastoral care, church management systems, building teams, and communication all play significant roles in shaping what ministry truly entails, and I feel equipped to contribute in those areas.
Having experienced a life-giving and thriving college ministry myself, I am excited to step into Murfreesboro, home to Middle Tennessee State University, trusting that God will continue to grow that passion as we reach students in this city.
This generation carries a unique passion, especially in art, music, and creativity, and I believe that reflects the heart of our Creator. I am passionate about helping direct that creativity toward Jesus and empowering students to use their gifts for an eternal impact.
There is no point in going into ministry if I am not trying to fulfill the Great Commission. I think about it often. How many people would accept a meal if it were offered to them? How many would receive prayer? How many would accept an invitation to church? And how many would respond to the message of Jesus if someone shared it with them?
I am grateful to be part of something bigger than myself and to be connected to the broader Church. Highlands College has allowed me to build relationships with leaders, mentors, and people of strong faith who have invested in me in ways I could not have experienced otherwise. I am the result of many people choosing to invest their time, energy, and resources, and I carry that with me with deep gratitude.
As I look ahead, I believe that I will continue to fall in love with God’s Word, build relationships that challenge and sharpen me, and be surrounded by people who inspire me to grow. Most of all, I am praying that God’s hand would be on Collective Church and the city of Murfreesboro as we work to shine the light of Jesus and reach people in a meaningful way.
Annelise Graves
Daybreak Church — Carlsbad, California
Annelise Graves ministering to students at Highlands College chapel.
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As I was ‘helping’ in kids’ ministry in fifth grade, I told my mom that I thought God was calling me to do that as my job, and I haven’t stopped serving since then.
Now that I am placed at Daybreak Church in Carlsbad, California, as the Kids Ministry Coordinator and Ministry Support, I will coordinate classrooms and services while supporting the Church’s missions team.
I want to reach families in North County San Diego so they can have a thriving relationship with Jesus. I think about the kids who have not been taught how to read their Bibles or pray because their parents did not grow up in a Christian home. I am humbled by the fact that I grew up in a home that introduced me to Jesus at a young age, and I want as many kids as possible to have that same experience.
I am passionate about equipping parents to be the main agents of discipleship in their children’s lives and helping families be active in their faith so that they can discover life-giving relationships with God and each other.
My time at Highlands College has been the greatest four years of my life. I was taught the practical applications of family ministry, the heart behind what we do, God’s design for the family, and how to serve them well. Hands-on experience and real-time feedback allowed me to apply what I was learning in the classroom while under experienced leadership.
Jesus has called me to ministry, and there is nothing else I think about or dream about more. I know that in ministry, I am in the center of God’s will for my life, and I cannot imagine doing anything else.
As I begin this new season, I am praying for a sense of refreshing, rest, healing, and a strong, godly community. To the donors and ministry partners who made my journey at Highlands College possible, thank you. Because of your generosity, I can step into ministry doing what God has called me to do.
Tori Appleton
The Bridge Church — Ottumwa, Iowa
Tori Appleton encouraging the chapel team at Highlands College chapel.
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As I step into full-time ministry leadership at The Bridge Church in Ottumwa, Iowa, as the Kingdom Builders Coordinator, the Lord has confirmed my calling and readiness, showing me how He has prepared me well for this season.
I will partner with the senior pastor and the executive team, owning executional details, systems, and communications to advance Kingdom Builders, the Church’s missions and outreach ministry. I will also pastor the Dream Team and assist the Campus Pastor in organizing and executing various church activities and events, providing administrative support, and supporting communication efforts both internally and externally.
The Lord is already working in wonderful ways at The Bridge Church. I am most passionate about bringing joy, making an eternal impact, seeing lives change, and representing Jesus and His love as I help people on their journey.
At Highlands College, I have been surrounded by leaders who believe in me and push me to grow through accountability. I have practiced discipleship, pastoral care, mentorship, hard conversations, biblical knowledge, leadership, and personal development. I’ve been invested in, given opportunities, and provided feedback that has strengthened my ability to lead and communicate, and taught me to care for people well.
Jesus has changed my life forever. I have truly never known a love like this. I want to help others know God more deeply, as others have done for me. The Great Commission matters because it matters to my Heavenly Father, and it is a holy passion He has put inside of me to reach His people.
As I begin this new season, I am praying for a spirit of humility, openness, security, and faith over my life as I move across the country into this new promise, and I am believing for divine friendships, mentors, development, favor, and alignment with my new church.
Briana Kyles
Anchor Bend Church — Rosenberg, Texas
Briana Kyles enjoying quality time with women from her small group including Highlands College Chancellor’s wife, Tammy Hodges.
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God has called me to be a light, to reflect Jesus in every room I walk into and to every person I encounter. Highlands College gave this calling roots.
I am placed at Anchor Bend Church in Rosenberg, Texas, as the Office & Guest Experience Coordinator, managing the day-to-day operations of the church office while ensuring that every guest who walks through the door feels welcomed and valued. From greeting visitors and answering phones to organizing office tasks and assisting with daily needs, I have the opportunity to serve both behind the scenes and on the front lines of ministry.
Highlands College taught me that every detail matters because every person who walks through the door matters. I believe God is going to use my life to be a bridge between people and the Church, and ultimately between people and Jesus, and that the transformation He has done in me will overflow into the lives of everyone I serve.
So many people are walking through life without direction or purpose. I want to be in rooms full of people on the verge of discovering that their lives were always meant for something greater. I live for the moments when someone goes from lost to found, from purposeless to called, from unsure or unfamiliar to belonging, because when Jesus meets them, everything shifts.
The Church grows when people feel genuinely welcomed, not just greeted. I know what it is to be transformed, and I cannot keep that to myself. Jesus met me, changed me, and called me, and the only response I know how to give is to go.
Eternity is real. Every person I encounter carries eternal weight. The Great Commission is not just a biblical directive I agree with; it is the lens through which I see my entire life and calling. I want to live and serve with the awareness that every interaction has the potential to point someone toward something that lasts forever.
The belief that one life surrendered to Jesus can impact countless others is what drives me. Ministry is how I say thank you to God and honor what He has done in me by pouring it out for others. I am stepping into this season with open hands and full expectation, believing for moments I cannot fully anticipate yet, conversations, connections, and encounters that only God could orchestrate.
Over 1,400 Highlands College students have been sent to lead in 375 churches and ministries across 36 states, 23 countries, and 1 U.S. territory.
Each placement reflects a life shaped through holistic training and positioned to serve the local church. As these graduates step into their assignments, they carry the mission forward, strengthening the Church and reaching more people with the Good News of the Gospel.
Connect with Zach, Annelise, Tori, and Briana on the Alumni Network.