where are they now?
ARTHUR C. WOODS ’96
I was a “Brooklyn boy” - born in the great state of New York - until we moved to Pennsylvania when I was only four years old. My father accepted a position at Camp Orchard Hill as the Executive Director. Living at a camp? That’s a big change from the New York life I was accustomed to. Growing up on a 125-acre camp is pretty much as cool as you think it is. I could not have asked for a better backyard. I loved the excitement of camp. . . retreats every weekend during the winter and youth camp all week throughout the summer. I frequently heard the Gospel from numerous speakers and teachers. And like many people who have given their life to Christ, I became a Christian at age five during one of the camp programs. We eventually moved again, and my father became a pastor. I became an obnoxious pastor’s kid (you know the type). I liked to push boundaries and to push buttons. . . but I always kept the faith decision I made at age five close to my heart. As I entered high school, conversations about college plans became more prevalent. Where would I go? What would I major in? Who was going to pay for it? I looked
at many schools and did several campus visits, but I was not convinced where I wanted to go. My dad mentioned a school in Schroon Lake, New York (where in the world was that?) called Word of Life Bible Institute. He said that while he had never been at the school himself, he had become a Christian many years before I was born at a youth rally led by the founder, Jack Wyrtzen. Ok, let's check it out! We did! I loved it! Spend a year studying only the Bible? No science? No math? No social studies? Yes, please! My year at the Bible Institute flew by, but it was filled with memories of learning from incredible Bible teachers, of late-night study sessions, and of stuff I won’t write here publicly (after all, I was still an obnoxious pastor’s kid). The Biblical foundation I received was priceless. The opportunity to spend a year studying God’s Word was a blessing that would continue to be fruitful in the coming years. Because of my time at Word of Life Bible Institute, I am now serving Christ as an advocate for orphaned and vulnerable children and teenagers. I regularly speak, teach, and write on issues related to orphan care, adoption and foster care. Over the past year I have had the opportunity to partner with churches, camps, Christian schools, adoption agencies, and conferences to spread a message of God’s heart for the orphan. Recently I released my first discipleship curriculum - an eight- session video series called Trusting The God of The Gospel (Helping You Disciple Your Adopted and Foster Teenagers) . I am exceedingly grateful for my time at the Bible Institute. It was formative; it was growing, and it was foundational to who I am today. May God continue to bless the work begun by the late Jack Wyrtzen who was responsible for bringing my very own father to Christ.
Facebook: Trusting the God of the Gospel www.arthurcwoods.com trustingthegodofthegospel.com/shop Arthur Woods
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