After a short pause, he continues on, “We consulted with friends outside of Word of Life and asked them to pray. Lynn and I also intensively sought the Lord, and by maybe the fourth or fifth day of prayer, it became clear that God was leading in that direction. After the week was over, I met with Don, and I agreed to take the position.” “It’s kind of cool,” he muses, “a key part of all this happened years before it was a thought in anyone’s head.”
“I’m really looking forward to strengthening and culti- vating a culture of spiritual growth and strong relation- ships with students, faculty, and staff. If we can keep our focus on God, pray inten- tionally, and depend on Him, the sky really is the limit.” I can hear laughter in his voice when he says, “I still think we’re the best kept secret out there.” As the conversation tapers off, he muses, “You know, being a youth ministry, one of the big things we aim to do is connect with the next generation. As we seek to connect, however, we must be very careful to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word. We’re dedicated to that.” He pauses, before saying, “Maybe some alumni can relate, but as a 46-year-old
Interesting. So, what was that key piece?
He shakes his head and says, “About seven years ago, a close friend encour- aged me to go back to school to get my Master of Divinity degree, and after a bit of deliberation, I decided to do so. I wasn’t even sure why—I never wanted to go back to school, that’s for sure.” I smiled, and he went on, “But God was preparing me for this—right here, right now.” When he finishes, I ask him what he’s most excited about in this new position. His response is instantaneous.
Brian speaking at a youth group retreat in 2012
"As we seek to connect... we must be very careful to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word."
Before I leave, I steal a glance out the window and see a few more students braving the icy wind, and it all clicks into place—whether they’re students, staff, alumni, or members of a local church, it’s clear to see that Brian is passionate about people. And, you know, I don’t think it’s North Carolina’s southern charm that’s made him this way. There's only one reason people care about others like that—it's due to the transformative power of Jesus Christ in their own lives. So, I smile and wave goodbye, and head out into the cold. Somehow, though, the campus seems a little warmer, despite the frosty air.
man, not everything we do is my pref- erence.” As he speaks, my mind drifts to the wild games and flashing lights at camp rallies, the antics of the program team at mealtimes, and the late, late camp nights. His voice is a bit wry but becomes more serious before he says, “But, I have to remind myself that the goal of every- thing we do is to reach the next gener- ation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t really matter if it’s not my cup of tea. It works.” As I stand and gather my things, I mention a few thoughts about The Experience magazine, and Brian shares that he’s really looking forward to meeting more WOLBI alumni, whether that’s here at the Bible Institute, at an alumni event, or even at their home church.
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The Experience
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