Pastor Sanders and Valentina Poe were friends in high school but started dating in college. Valentina was born in Medellin, Colombia and Sanders was born in greater Atlanta.
God brought two cultures together and they got married in 2018. Valentina is a graduate of Georgia State College of Law and is a practicing attorney at a law firm in downtown Atlanta. They Just welcomed their first child, Annalia Poe who was born this past July.
They love all things Atlanta and their doodle Honey! Sanders, Valentina, and Annalia live in a little house they call La Casita in Grant Park and couldn’t be happier!
Sanders Attended Liberty University and received a Bachelors degree in Pastoral Leadership and Biblical studies. He then went on to get a Masters degree in Christian Apologetics from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He was also ordained as a pastor in 2017.
Sanders served as a missionary in the Middle East and Central Europe for six months evangelizing to the Muslim people there. He then served as a pastoral resident at 12Stone Church, until he was hired as a Student Pastor (9th-12th grade) for 12Stone Hamilton Mill campus.
After leaving 12Stone, Sanders wanted church planting experience, so he left his job in full-time ministry to be a staff volunteer at a church plant in Atlanta. While in that season he led and co-led the children’s ministry, young adult's ministry, and apologetics ministry. Then God called Sanders and Valentina to begin the journey of starting Awaken Atlanta.
