How a graphic designer found her ministry through Christian Challenge

Brittney Barnett arrived at Northern Arizona University the fall of 2020 with plans to become a graphic designer in agricultural communications.

God had other plans.  

 As a freshman, she became involved in Christian Challenge at NAU. While there, she attended a weekly Challenge Community (missional Bible study) and participated in evangelism, discipleship, leadership and missions activities offered by Christian Challenge and Challenge Church.

Barnett was raised in a Christian household and received Christ at a young age but had never been baptized. After a semester at Christian Challenge, Barnett made the decision to get baptized at her home church in New Mexico.

“After getting baptized and continuing to attend Challenge events, I began to grow in my faith so much,” she said. 

During this time, she became involved in evangelism and began leading her own Challenge Community. 

“Leading a Challenge Community was so impactful for my faith today,” Barnett said. “It helped me grow in my own relationship with the Lord and realize just how important it is to help others also grow in their faith.”

After college, Barnett felt called to use her degree in graphic design overseas through the International Mission Board’s Residency program. 

“I was always so fascinated by missions and missionaries growing up and have felt called to serve internationally but was always too scared,” she said. 

After college, she knew it was time to respond to that call. An art class influenced the destination. 

“After taking a Buddhist art class, I remember my heart just breaking for Buddhist people after learning what they believe,” she said.  

After looking through the International Mission Board’s website, Barnett decided to serve on a creative team in Thailand for four months. 

“I was on a creative team that provided support to local churches and worked to create materials to share the gospel with Thai people through social media,” she said. “We also got to be a part of several different ministries which included teaching English classes and sharing the gospel through those classes.”  

Brittney Barnett teaches English while serving in Thailand. Barnett spent four months serving in Thailand on a creative team with the International Mission Board. (Photo courtesy of Brittney Barnett)

When she returned from Thailand, Barnett was unsure of her next steps. She spent a lot of time praying and applying for jobs. After getting turned down by seven jobs, she received a call from Lainee Pegelow, the missions and communications catalyst for Christian Challenge, inviting her to join Challenge as a graphic designer. 

“After talking with Lainee and spending some time in prayer, I knew I was supposed to return to the ministry that had helped me grow so much,” Barnett said. 

In October of 2025, Barnett began raising support to join the Christian Challenge staff full time. Now, she not only uses her knowledge and talent of graphic design, but she also serves on the communications team that works to share God’s story of Christian Challenge. 

Christian Challenge is one of seven areas of ministry that receives support from the Arizona Mission Offering. The goal for the 2026 offering is to raise $225,000, with $32,142 going to each category of ministry, including Christian Challenge. The theme for 2026 is We Connect, based on Galatians 6:2. 

When you give to the Arizona Mission Offering, you help provide for students and young adults like Barnett as they engage in the Great Commission.

“It has been amazing to see how the Lord has used graphic design and the skills I learned in college to help me serve Him and help others come to Christ,” Barnett said. 

Learn more about the Arizona Mission Offering at azmn.org/amo

Lainee Pegelow, a freelance writer and photographer, is the missions and communications catalyst for Christian Challenge AZ. She is a member of Challenge Church, Flagstaff.