IDENTITY Brand New 2016-2017
IDENTITY Brand New
THEREFORE, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION. THE OLD HAS PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, THE NEW HAS COME.
2 Corinthians 5:17
The
JOURNEY LETTERS 4
Don Lough Mark Strout OUR STAFF New York Florida OUR STUDENTS New York Florida MORE THAN JUST ACADEMICS Opening Weekend Worship in the Adirondacks Youth Pastor Summit Missions Conferences Snowcamp Pursuit Lift Tour Esco Cutz Missions Reality THE BEST SUMMER OF OUR LIVES Youth Camps Family Camps PUTTING OUR KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION Open Air Evangelism Reverb Magi Tours The Unseen Bands LCM Teams
6
20
60
94
104
Drama Teams Sports Teams Yeabook Contributors
DON LOUGH, JR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CHANCELLOR
Dear Class of 2017! Who are you anyway? It has been my constant prayer and hope that this would be an amazing year of discovering and fleshing out your true identity in Jesus Christ. There’s no doubt that my prayers have been answered. It has been a joy to watch you take courageous steps to live like the “new creatures” you really are in Christ. Your eager response to the Word of God, consistent witness and positive spirit all year long has been a source of blessing to me and to the entire Word of Life team. As you continue to hold forth the Word of Life to this lost and identity-challenged generation, you will no doubt face flak and pressure. Be assured of our prayers that you will remain “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Consider us your friends for life. You are always welcome back to Word of Life. We love you and believe that God has great things ahead for you.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
4
THE JOURNEY 2017
MARK STROUT EXECUTIVE DEAN & PROFESSOR
Dear class of 2017! Congratulations on completing a year or two at the Word of Life Bible Institute! Tell me, would you prefer to own a brand new cell phone or a refurbished old one? How about a new car versus a patched-up clunker or a freshly picked piece of fruit compared to a rotten one that’s been spray-painted to look nice? The answers are obvious to most. God’s amazing gift of salvation is no different. It’s not a patched-up, spray-painted makeover of what we once were but a radical rebirth into a brand new identity. That’s been our theme this year and what a great one it’s been. Never forget that being in Christ means that you’re a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). What you once were in Adam has been put to death on the cross and you’ve been raised to newness of life in Jesus. The enemy would love nothing more than to cause you to forget this, or worse, to get you to believe the lie that it’s all just a mind game; that nothing really changed
when you placed your faith in Christ except maybe your eternal destination. If you buy that, the result will be discouragement, defeat, and eventually disillusionment in your walk with God. So as you journey on from here, I encourage you to continually walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Listen to God’s assessment of who you are now. Trust Him when He tells you that you are a saint indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Get to know Romans 6-8 and ask God to deepen your practical understanding of what it means to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). It’s far more refreshing and liberating than continuing to yield to the pitiful call of the flesh that is bent on your destruction (1 Peter 2:11). Sin no longer suits you, whereas righteousness does; so breathe free! It’s been a privilege to share part of the journey with you and we pray that you’ll go from here putting Christ on display for the world to see!
5
STAFF OUR
6
THE JOURNEY 2017
7
New York BI STAFF
8
THE JOURNEY 2017
Michelle Alexander Academic Sectretary/ Grades Julia Amesbury Student Life Administrative Assistant Ryan Arnold Music Coordinator Alex Baird Financial Aid Administrator TC Barrs Men’s DC RJ Borja Men’s DC Bill Bowman Athletic Director Seth Bracelin Transportation/PE RL Matthew Burnside Admissions Counselor Mike Bush Alumni Director Alan Cappella Librarian Adam Cook Registrar and Title IX Coordinator Randy Curtis Dean of Men Joey Davis Tech RL Tom Davis Academic Dean Dick Dray Associate Executive Dean Chris Dreger Assistant Dean of Men Craig Dreger Culinary RL Sylvia Eger Computer/Logos, Help Desk Daniel Faitsch
Brittany Good Transportation/ PE RL Charlotte Good Admissions Counselor Uriah Harvey BSLC Custodian Tom Headlee Dean of Admissions Cristy Henson Bookstore Jim Henson Financial Aid Director Ashley Hescott Women’s DC Tricia Hoganson Admissions Counselor Abraham Howell Men’s DC Tricia Hood Assistant Dean of International Students Daryl Jackson Chef Manager Heather Johnson Culinary Aaron Kelley Culinary Abbie Kuhne Admissions Counselor Evelyn LaBarr Housekeeping Matt Landry Athletics RL Matt Layton Ministries Coordinator AJ Lewis Assit. Dean of Ministries Hope Lewis Spring/International Admissions Counselor Evelina Libbette Culinary RL Jon Louvis Admissions Counselor Heidi Mahon Culinary Scotty Matthews Assistant Dean of Off-Campus Students Amanda Mank Academics RL Shelby Manchester Health Center RL
Micah Melville Dean of Ministries Rachel Patterson Women’s DC Daniel Pinckard Recruitment Coordinator Tim Pruiett Recruitment Representative Shirley Richards Academic Secretary Josiah Rineer Culinary RL Steve Roskidany Maintenance Sydney Schake Service Assignments RL Ethan Schenke Culinary RL Joe Schenke Dean of Students James Schloss Culinary RL Janessa Schuring Women’s DC Glenn Slothower Health Insurance Karen Smith Dean of Women Laurie Strout Admissions Data Entry Mark Strout President/Executive Dean Anna Stursberg Call Center Supervisor Brittany Tanedo Admissions Counselor Caroline Tompkins
Student Services RL Chris Tompkins Student Accounts Administrator Hannah Trudell Housekeeping RL Debbie Wallace Executive Assistant Paul Weaver Associate Academic Dean Alyssa Webber Ministries Administrative Assistant and Service Assignments Coordinator
Maintenance RL Justin Finn Campus Nurse Kirsten Finn Nurse
Bethany Frazeur Admissions Counselor Jenny Freebern Admissions Counselor Bob Gray Business Manager Carla Gray Assistant Dean of Women
9
Dick Dray Associate Executive Dean
THE JOURNEY 2017 10
A friendly and familiar face around campus, Dick Dray is a crucial part of the atmosphere and ministry of the Bible Institute.
His role as the Associate Executive Dean comes with a broad range of responsibilities. On any given day, you could find Mr. Dray breaking into song mid-lecture or staying late to ensure that the lawn stays beautiful. Though students typically see him in a classroom setting, much of what he does is behind the scenes. Because of this, he has a special place in his heart for students who also work behind the scenes, such as ministry team drivers, housekeepers or students in the dish pit, and seeks to encourage them whenever possible. Mr. Dray loves serving with Word of Life because he knows firsthand the impact that God’s Word can make in the life of a young person. “I’VE NEVER GOTTEN OVER THE INDEBTEDNESS OF SERVING THE LORD. HE SAVED ME A MONTH AFTER I GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. WORD OF LIFE IS A VERY UNIQUE MINISTRY, WORKING NOT ONLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE PRIOR TO THEIR GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL BUT ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE COLLEGE AGE. IT’S A UNIQUE MIX THAT HAS ALWAYS DRAWN ME.” Working at the Bible Institute, Mr. Dray understands the many decisions that college students face. “MATTHEW 6:33 TALKS ABOUT SEEKING FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THE LORD’S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. THERE’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE DAYS WHERE SOMEONE IS WRESTLING WITH TOUGH QUESTIONS LIKE ‘WHAT AM I GOING TO DO; WHERE AM I GOING TO GO; HOW AM I GOING TO PAY FOR THIS?’ SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO PUT THE LORD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE, AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL YOUR NEEDS. NOT NECESSARILY ALL YOUR WANTS BUT ALL YOUR NEEDS. HE WILL PROVIDE AND DIRECT AND LEAD YOU.”
11
RYAN ARNOLD Music Director
THE JOURNEY 2017 12
The very first thing you may notice about Ryan Arnold is his fond affection for the color green! Stick around for just a few minutes and you’ll see very clearly that his love for the color pales in comparison to his love for serving the Lord. “I HAVE FOUR GREAT PASSIONS IN LIFE. NUMBER ONE IS GOD, TWO IS PEOPLE, THREE IS TEACHING, AND FOUR IS MUSIC. THIS IS A JOB THAT ALLOWS ME TO USE MUSIC TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT GOD, WHICH IS ALL FOUR OF THOSE PASSIONS IN GREAT AMOUNT.” Ryan has served as the Music Director at the Bible Institute for the past four years. While his role requires countless hours both onstage and behind the scenes, his favorite aspect of the job is having a platform for influence. “I LIVE ON CAMPUS WITH THE PEOPLE I’M INTERACTING WITH EVERY DAY AND GET TO TRAVEL WITH THEM. IN PRETTY MUCH ANY OTHER CONTEXT IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE ‘THEY HAVE THEIR LIFE; I HAVE MINE.’ WE INTERACT EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. MUSIC IS ONLY THE CATALYST INTO THE DISCIPLESHIP.” Ryan continually seeks opportunities to use what he has been learning to turn around and invest it in someone else, taking a dvantage of every teachable moment with his teams, students, and campers. “WITHIN MY POSITION, THE WORD, WORSHIP, IS USED A LOT. WHEN I’M TALKING ABOUT MUSIC WITH MY TEAMS, WHAT I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOU CAN HAVE MUSIC WITHOUT WORSHIP, AND YOU CAN HAVE WORSHIP WITHOUT MUSIC. TEXTS LIKE COLOSSIANS 3:23 AND 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 CHANGE OUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WORSHIP IS. WE OFTEN LIMIT IT TO SINGING TO THE LORD AND FEELING GOOD ABOUT IT, YET SOME OF THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF WORSHIP IN THE BIBLE DID NOT FEEL GOOD AT ALL. IT WAS OBEDIENCE IN SPITE OF PAIN, IN SPITE OF SACRIFICE, AND THAT WAS GENUINE WORSHIP TO THE LORD. IF WE UNDERSTAND WORSHIP THE WAY I BELIEVE GOD DEFINES IT IN SCRIPTURE, IT’S SOMETHING THAT INVOLVES EVERY SINGLE PART OF YOUR LIFE.”
13
Florida BI STAFF
THE JOURNEY 2017 14
Judy Jordan Culinary Services Shanekia Kelly Housekeeping RL Savannah Kessler Admissions RL Ron Lounsbury Grounds Jared MacKay Audio RL Andy Mater Associate Executive Dean of BI Kayla Miller Admissions RL Samantha Murphy Food Service RL Ginny Newton Academic Administrative Assistant Pam Pemberton Executive Administrative Assistant Lance Peterson Housekeeping Sara Picket Academic RL James Presley
Jordan Ahl Maintenance
Chris Vickery GP Producer Kinga Vickery Admissions (International Students) Ethan Warren Assistant Dean of Ministries Marshall Wicks Associate Academice Dean Verna Williams Librarian Ben Young Men’s DC Barbara Ziemer Service Center Robert Ziemer Maintenance
Lynn Andrews Assistant Registrar Rich Andrews Director WOL FL Brandon Arnold Drama/Praise Coordinator Keith Balsley Dean of Admissions Carol Bertoli Maintenance
Sarah Bubar Dean of Women Blu Chacon
Chef & Service Assistant Donald Chandler Ministry Representative to Cities Joel Corrales Outside Groups Jeremy Dame AV Tech Projects Brittany DeBouver
Camp & Ministry RL Matt Eldridge Admissions RL Daniel Fahning Men’s DC Aaron Gehart Tech/Media RL Sandi Gerhart Front Desk Ashlee Gormer Admissions RL Kyle Gray Dean of Ministries James Hartwig Maintenance Beth Hirzel Finances Doug Hively YRC RL Fran Ingersoll BI Nurse/ Administrative Assistant Gary Ingersoll Bible Survey Professor Hannah Jones SDR Hostess RL
Culinary Services Josh Proietti Info Tech & Phones Ben Roberston Transportation RL Troy Rynning Grounds Dee Sarlo Admissions RL Jodie Sewall Special Projects Sam Sewall Director of Operations Haleigh Sivavec Women’s DC Bill Steele Facilities Manager Mike Steinberger Culinary Service Manager Vicky Steinberger Registrar Hannah Tyson Women’s DC Micah VanZant Admissions Counselor
15
Micah VanZant Admissions Enrollment Coordinator
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. ” – John 13:35
What I enjoy the most about my job is seeing students who I tenaciously recruited to enroll in our school come and fall in love with what the Lord is doing in their heart here, and then seeing them go and passionately tell others about how the Lord is moving here on campus all because of His Word. It’s contagious. The best part of working for Word of Life is being able to disciple students and help them see the truth of God’s Word in regards to what trials they are walking through. A shout out to Nathan Gordon, Galen Esper, and Matt Borden! When I was a freshman in college at a university in Ohio pursuing a degree in Physical Therapy, the Lord laid on my heart that I desperately wanted to know His Word more. A friend who I graduated from high school with was a student at Word of Life Florida at the time and shared with me about this school and all the amazing things they were learning about the Lord. That was the first time I had ever heard of Word of Life. Later, my parents and I flew to Florida to check out campus, and we all knew this was exactly where the Lord wanted me. I’ve been here ever since! If the students only remembered one thing from me, I would want them to know that I was never too busy for anyone, and that the person the Lord placed in my path is the person to whom I am to show His love. I would also want them to know that I love them ALL so much!
THE JOURNEY 2017 16
17
Sam Murphy Food Service Intern
"The best thing I enjoy about my job is getting to work alongside the students and seeing them grow not only in thier work areas but also spiritually."
The best thing I enjoy about my job is getting to work alongside the students and seeing them grow not only in thier work areas but also spiritually. At Word of Life, I love being surrounded by people who have the same mindset as you and getting to know the students really well. I attended the BI two years ago when the Lord put a friend in my path who led me here. After my second year up in New York, I ended up as an intern back down here in Florida. The Lord gave me the desire to really want to work here after first year, and when I decided to go to second year, he kept that desire in my heart and then opened the doors for me to do so. One thing that I would want the students to remember about me is that I tried to be intentional with them as I interacted with them, taking an interest about how they were doing, and choosing love over any other attitude. Because in love and choosing to extend that joy that comes from the Lord is always a choice. It never comes from us but from Christ.
THE JOURNEY 2017 18
19
THE JOURNEY 2017 20
STUDENTS OUR
21
WORD OF LIFE BIBLE INSTITUTE New York Freshman
Tegan Bennett Jordan Bermudez Joshua Bodor Tyler Brady Daniel Brennan Christopher Bresnahan
Cody-Allen Brown Kristyn Brown Mary Browning Daniel Bubar Katie Byers Jacqueline Byrnes
Esther Cantlin Christiana Cappella Emily Cappella Joseph Carmona Elijah Carter Michael Castelli
Ye Chan Chae Tehya Chaffin Trenton Chaplin LaMercie Chaves Christabel Chen Lindsey Christa
Brian Araujo John Armstrong Sophie Azevedo Tessa Bailey Kristen Baker Hannah Bates
Ronald Aiosa Levi Alfred Jason Anderson Riley Anger Gabrielle Anthony Joseph Applegate
THE JOURNEY 2017 22
Morgan Daniels Joshua Davis Michael Davis Luiz De Carvalho Diniz Melo Brenna Deardorff Gordon DeLong
Cassandra Dickhof Lindsey Eaton Austin Eichhorst David Elliot Love Ellis Cassidy Espinoza
Mariah Evans Rachel Fabrick Caleb Farnsworth Derek Fisher David Fizzano James Flemming
Laurel Flegge Dahlas Forgie Yuriko Fujiwara Bryanna Giesen Kaylee Goad Colton Gockley
Martell Coleman Bethany Cooper Raelene Cordova Kelsey Crance Abigail Crowley Brooke Dahlmeyer
Kayla Chronister Nicole Clark Sadie Clements Lily Clever Lee Cliff Noah Colabella
23
Anthony Hancock Anna Hardt Emilie Harker Logan Harney Vanessa Harre Caralyn Harrigan
Anna Holloman Jacob Holman Aric Holmes Shiloh Holmes Claire Hopkins Cynthia Hosan
Thomas Hunter Alyssa Hyacinthe Audrey Illig Austine Irizarry Daisy Jackman Charlie Janho
Kaylee Griest Audrey Grocott Hanah Grooms Cameron Haines Ravena Hall-Sarpal Anna Hamblen
Nathan Goepfrich Matthew Gonyer Caleb Graham Elizabeth Green Garrett Green Katherine Gregory
Charisma Harris Chris Heirmerle Amy Hendrix Luke Heron Elisabeth Hess Joel Hoffsmith
THE JOURNEY 2017 24
Emily La Marche Hannah Labreche William Lambeth Ashley Lamoureux Leah Landry Joshua Lankford
Cyrus Lehman Sarah Leibold Joy Lenahan
Luke Matulis Gina Mayta Canalle Briana McAthur Mackenzie McCrum Steven McDougall Adrianna McGuckin
Abigal Kennedy Timothy Kessler Samuel Kostusyk Rachel Kroupa Meredith Kubacki Nathaniel Kuiphoff
Nicki Jimenez-Rob- ertson Sarah Johnson Joyous Joslin Alondra Juarez Hannah Kauffman Rachel Keiser
Timothy Long Logan Lovett Alexandria Lutz Hannah MacDonald Deneen MacLeod Jose Martinez Nunez
Danielle Lingle Jonathan Llane Joseph Lonergan
25
Leticia Nehring Hannahmarie Newhert Mikayla Nolt Brady Novak Matthew Obunde Andy Ontaneda
Luis Ortiz Christopher Page Josiah Painter Todd Palmer Eric Parke Chandler Parsons
Jonah Paulhamus Luke Perry Jedidiah Perterson Madilyn Petrovich Jenna Powell Oliva Prince
Kennedy Prutsman David Puskas Daniel Reda Mykayla Rehkopf Julie Rhoda Jessica Richards
Andrew Morales Benjamin Morgan Kealee Morris Samuel Mowen Alisha Mummau Anne Munger
John McLean Brittany Merritt Katie Miller Rachel Miller Biruk Moore Taylor Moore
THE JOURNEY 2017 26
Matthew Sieber Isabela Silva Kinsey Simos Jonathon Sims Evoni Sinclair Rebecca Sisson
Sarah Sleezer Madeline Snell Kyle Snyder Julia Spelter Olivia St. James Julia Stapleton
Hannah Stebner Joseph Stilwell Clark Stoltzfus Philip Stroup Joseph Stursberg Isaac Summers
Brenten Swanson Gregory Symon Emily Talento
Joash Sathyadass Madison Schake John Schuler Matthew Senior Caleb Sgambato Megan Shaw
Magdalena Riordan Emily Rishel Jonathan Risoldi Jordan Ross Ismael Santana Cameron Sardano
Luke Taylor Tyler Taylor Max Thivierge
27
Tyler Voland Anneke Vosburgh Madison Vrabel
Morgan Yarosh Janelle Zimmerman
Mariana Wesner Caleb White Keri White Nicholas Wieder Stephanie Williams Jeffrey Wish
Jordan Thomas Deja Thomas-Bass Carlee Toal Abigail Todd Jenna Tullo Carissa Urschaltiz
Katherine Valcourt Jacob Van Essendelft Brooke Vandevelde Minerve Vanegas James Vecchio Elke Velz
Shay Walker Jakob Webel Alyssa Wells
THE JOURNEY 2017 28
“ Real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us. ”
Warren Wiersbe
29
WORD OF LIFE BIBLE INSTITUTE N ew York Sophomores
Dongin Choi Aaron Cliff
Rebekah Bove Amber Brayman Maggie Brower Jacob Buhler Ally Burtis Bernadette Su- zanne Cabrera
Max Davis Megan Davis
Rebecca Dwinell Caleb Eckhart Jonathan Eggert Joyce Eleutheriou Heather Elliot Michael Escobar
Kelia Bascur Jennifer Beauchamp Camryn Berna Alyssa Beth
Ashleigh Adams Garrett Agans Yeji An Jonathan Armijo Rebekah Baca Katelyn Barone
Amelia Clifford Rusty Compton
Grant De La Paz Angela Dennard Heidi Dennison Daniel Dortch
Judy Cottier Katelin Davis
Carolyn Bidding Lauren Bidding
THE JOURNEY 2017 30
Paul Hussey Kevin Hutchins Masanori Imai HyunJin Jang Elizabeth Jernigan Jacqueline Jimenez-Robertson
Laura Jones SeiHyun Kim Timothy Kitchen Aleah Kringle Abigail Laudig Emily Leach
Won U Lee Janella Leger Brittany Leverich Yarnu Li Alyssa Linderman Abigal Lynch
Caralina Gwartney Janaya Hall Sarah Hamblen Thomas Hamblen Brittany Hand Nathanael Harker
Stephen Harness Jonathan Hayes Kelsie Henderson Matthew Henton Rachel Hively AJay Horace-Tyson
Samuel Fanus Derek Forry Jennah Frazeur Josh- ua Giaquinto
Amber Grayum Tommy Grooms
31
Eleaya Oswald Jonathan Paolano Melissa Paris Tessa Parker Chris Parsons Gabrielle Parsons
Nate Peace Shane Peck Abigail Peront Josh Perry Brandon Phillips Jonathan Pladsen
Jacob Potter-Rivera Ben Powell
Mark Redmond Autumn Rees Daniel Reider
Clayton Moore Kirsten Morrow Chelsea Muir Katie Needham Carleton Newell Michael Noakes
Hope Marrah Ashley Martinez Joshua McIvor Jacob Mendez Brittany Mickie Corey Millett
Corey Powell Mia Quinones Rylie Rasberry Lara Ratschat
Tyler Rhoda Hannah Rice Charles Richardson
THE JOURNEY 2017 32
Caleb Tanguay Courtnie Teta Julianna Thompson Lynelle Thrush Elsa Tiemann Sarah Ueberschaer
Paige Willard Taryn Williamson Fei Yang
John Sellers HaRam Seo Elisabeth Skillman Shay Smith Jennica Stoltzfus Elizabeth Sumpter
Joel Richner Jade Ringleka Emmanuel Rojas TJ Salvador Jesse Schuring Jason Seevers
Makaila Upchurch Anna Van Horn Jeremiah Walker Kiri Weaver Sophia Weiss Natalia Wesner
33
P aul H ussey
THE JOURNEY 2017 34
IDENTITY The Search For
“This year the theme of the Bible Institute is identity, which is something that speaks to me a lot because I searched for that in a lot of places before I found it in Christ. Really, it’s almost as if I didn’t find Christ, He found me.”
IN
my heart and I had no answer from science for why that was wrong- it was just a hundred billion neurons, trillion synapses, and elec- trons, why does it matter? But eventually, it hit me that something about this is wrong, and it scared me. A lot of anger and hatred that I had started turning inward, and I end- ed up in hospitals. I remember the first time I was hospitalized, I was in Boston Children’s Hospital sitting next to a man named Lloyd. I remember this guy really well because he was the first person that I remember reach - ing out to me and telling me that Jesus was more than just some guy and that the Bible was more than just some book. And I didn’t really understand it then and wasn’t ready to accept it, but I couldn’t really argue with this guy, even with everything I thought I knew, because his job was to sit there with me and make sure I didn’t kill myself or anyone else. And after that, God started reaching out into my life in a crazy way. It was like every- where I went, these crazy Christians were everywhere sharing the gospel with me. I lived across the street from a family of be- lievers. One man was an engineer that had a stack of Answers in Genesis videos. This was very helpful for me to see that there’s this real logic and order to God. I also saw the love and joy of this family that I knew I did not have. I eventually started reading a historic book about the Da Vinci Code, writ- ten by a Christian author, and I didn’t realize that until I got to the back. It talked about church history and all of a sudden the author just decided to include this very clear gospel message, right out of Romans 3:23. Reading Romans 6:23 just hit me. This is the begin-
ning and the end of everything I’ve searched for, God just continually pursuing and loving me. God really loved me, Jesus really died for me, and it was out of that weird little book that I trusted Christ. Things didn’t get easier after that; I’ve seen some weird and really terrible things since then. But God provided a local church and they would give me rides, and as I would pursue Him in the Word I grew in prayer and in faith, I realized when I would get crazy phone calls like my mother’s walking around the street with a knife, or some crazy thing like that, I had this peace that I couldn’t explain in any other way than that it had been given to me by Christ. The grace that God has shown me really blows me away.” Paul heard about the Bible Institute through that same family that lived across the street. They had numerous connections to Word of Life and invited Paul to check out the school during a Campus Preview weekend. He enrolled the following year. “I had no idea how much I had to learn. I came here already having a lot of knowledge about things like theology, and academically I didn’t find it too difficult, but I had to grow a lot in person - al discipline. [Before coming to Christ] I was the cynic making fun of people going out and evangelizing. I was the person who hated God and everybody, so the love that He’s shown me, the grace that He’s shown me, I don’t even know how to describe it. The opportuni- ties here that He’s presenting me with now are crazy. If you’re still trying to figure out where it is exactly that God is leading you and your not sure what’s next, which is where I was, Word of Life presents you with so many opportunities to figure that out, but also learn what the will of God actually means in your life every day.
6th grade, I quickly read through my entire textbook. I was bored with my teacher. I’d often go to the library and check out quantum physics and astrophys- ics textbooks. I remember doing things like finding a college psychology textbook and sitting down and reading it as an 8th grad- er. I had this lust for knowledge that no mat- ter what I read, no matter how many hours I spent pouring over these books, I could never be filled. And ultimately, it didn’t mat - ter when my cousin died and I was staring at her body at her Wake, and it didn’t mat- ter when my mother grabbed a bottle of pills and tried to kill herself in the bathroom above my room. Nothing I knew about the structure of an atom really mattered that day. After my parents got divorced, I felt hopeless. Nothing I read in a psychology textbook made any difference. My Mom started making some bad decisions, which involved having some abusive boyfriends. So the next place I tried to find my identity was in fighting. I would spend around 15 hours a week in the ring or on the mat. Fighting totally consumed my life. I remember that no matter how hard I fought I could never beat this rage that was building in my heart about what was hap- pening. It got to the point where I just hated everybody. 1 John 3:15 says ‘Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer’, and [by that standard] I murdered the world. I would walk through the hallways at school and all I could think about was just killing everybody I saw. There was such a dark and scary murder in
35
G ina M ayta
THE JOURNEY 2017 36
[ FROM PERU TO NEW YORK ]
“I don’t want to see the Bible as just a textbook, I need to enjoy the Lord. Being here has shown me how wonderful God is, and I can’t get used to it.”
WHILE
passion for the Lord, their passion for Peruvians, it was unbelievable. I want to be like that. It was very encourag- ing to meet them!They were very sick because of the food and everything, but they continued. I was afraid because it was my first time translating in my city, and they told me ‘We can do this! We have the Holy Spirit’, and it was just so encouraging.”Now that Gina is a student, she is soaking up everything she can learn about God’s Word and minis - try. She grew up doing “Hora Silencio”, the Word of Life Quiet Time Diary that is used around the world. “Word of Life is a place for someone who wants to be challenged, and for someone who really wants to know the Lord bet- ter and better, no matter if you become a missionary or a lawyer, I think this year is essential. I came to deepen my faith. How can you serve a God if you don’t really know Him?” Now, as she sits through five hours of Bible teach - ing each day, she is seeing Scripture in a whole new way. “I don’t want to see the Bible as just a textbook, I need to enjoy the Lord. Being here has shown me how wonder- ful God is, and I can’t get used to it.”Pure joy overflows into everything Gina does, from her job washing dishes to evangelizing on the streets of New York City. “This year has been a crazy, wild, wonderful adventure. It has been amazing. God has taught me through every single class, every single teacher, every friendship, every book, and through His creation. It is so much more than I expected.
this is Gina’s first time at the New York Bible Institute, she is no stranger to Word of Life. The directors of the Word of Life property in Peru are close friends of hers, and they often spend holidays and quality time together as a family. She grew up going to Word of Life camps and conferences in Peru, and when she was a senior in high school, decided to look into attending the Bible Institute. “I grew up in a Christian environment, I had a Christian home and Christian school, and when I was 4 years old I realized the magnitude of sin. I realized it was a problem and that Jesus paid it all, and I knew I really wanted that in my life, but my life was good. It was through different trials and difficulties in my life that I experienced God’s love and comfort in amazing ways. Alejandro, he is the director’s son, studied at the Bible Institute in Argentina, but he passed away in 2011, so that was very hard for our family. He had such a relationship with God and intimacy with Him, he walked with the Lord and was so passionate about God and His people, and I thought ‘Wow, I want to be like that’, so he was one reason [that I wanted to study God’s Word].” Then, last April, a group of students from the New York Bible Institute came to Peru on a missions trip. “When that group came, I had the privilege to translate for them. They are really one of the reasons I’m here. Their
37
B ecca B acca
THE JOURNEY 2017 38
The Girl WHO HAD NOTHING
“Your life is not your own, and until you come to realize that, you won’t experience the full and abundant life that the Lord promises us.”
We
plans.” Counseling at the very camp where her life had been changed was easily the highlight of the year. “That was the first time I really saw lives change, and not because of me, but because of what the Lord was doing. You could just see the Lord’s hand all over it. One of my campers had the same story as me and it was so encouraging to me that I could encourage her.” When Becca began praying about attending her sophomore year of the Bible Institute in New York, there seemed to be too many factors fighting against her. Yet again, the Lord met each need and reminded her of His power to provide. “I knew if it was the Lord’s will, it was the Lord’s bill. I really had to step out in faith, but I prayed, ‘If you provide, I’ll go.’ I checked my account and had just enough for a plane ticket to New York. It was the night be - fore I had to be back on campus, and I was still unsure if I was going because so much was up in the air.” That night, the devotional passage that she read made it extremely clear that it was time to take another step of faith. I really had to step out in faith, but I prayed, ‘If you provide, I’ll go.’ That night, Becca bought her plane ticket to New York and chose to trust the Lord with the next step of her journey. Since being at the Bible Institute, she has grown in more ways than she ever imagined. “Everything has increased- my prayer life, my faith. Even looking at God and who He is. I used to look at God like He was in a box, I’ll put Him in my pocket and take Him out when I’m ready.” She continues to see the Lord teach her more about who He is and how He loves to provide for His children. Although she has no idea where He will lead her next, she is confident that her time at the Bible Institute has set her up well for the future. “I thought I knew the Bible [until I studied it]. This gives a great foundation for your whole life. Your life is not your own, and until you come to realize that, you won’t experi- ence the full and abundant life that the Lord promises us.
grew up very, very poor, to the point where sometimes I would go to the store and the cashier knew my face. One time I had to steal something because it was just so hard, we didn’t have any food. We’d go weeks on end without any food, but God still put people in our lives that gave us things. We didn’t have a car and walking back and forth every day was an embarrassment. It was hard going to a private school [and being known as] “the girl who had nothing”, who didn’t do sports just because she couldn’t afford it. I remember praying and just testing it out- I prayed ‘Alright Lord, if you’re real, I just pray for a car.’ And He an - swered a few months later. Then, during my eighth-grade year, my life completely changed.” That year, Becca’s mom reconnected with an old friend that she hadn’t spoken to in 15 years. This friend began inviting the family to a dif- ferent church across town where they ultimately ended up moving a few months later. At church, Becca was invited to go to a Word of Life youth camp in Florida. “As soon as I was there, I knew Word of Life was for me. I had all these doubts, like I can’t leave my mom with everything, and I didn’t have money or anyone to support me, but I applied anyway. I worked two jobs and saved enough money for the deposit and I put the deposit down at the very last minute. I applied for a lot of scholarships and most went through, to the point where I almost went for free, other than my loans. Once Becca got to the Bible Institute, even though she had seen the Lord provide in big ways, there were still looming expenses throughout the year, like books, laundry, and school supplies. But every single time, for every sin- gle need, the Lord provided. Throughout the year, Becca learned to continually rely on the Lord as He was directing her life. “I had to learn that I can’t plan on my own plans. I always thought, ‘Oh, I’m going to do this or that.’ I can say these things but the Lord ultimately puts me into HIS
39
J ordan B ermudez
THE JOURNEY 2017 40
WHEN GOD INTERRUPTS YOUR LIFE “God calls us to be disciples and to make disciples, and this year is a huge training ground for that and for the future.”
know them throughout the week, he began to see that it was not a facade; they were not trying to impress anyone. “This is innately who they are. They just love God and love people and it overflows into everything they do, everything they talk about and think about. It really struck me.” Pas- sion like that is contagious, and Jordan knew he had some decisions to make. “Before that trip to Word of Life, I had some things going on in my family that shook my founda- tion. I always told people to rely on God, don’t hold onto anything temporary. I thought I [understood that] until my foundation started to shake. I realized how much I leaned on the temporary when I needed to lean on the eternal. It was like God said, ‘Look Jordan, I love your drive and motivation, but let’s see if you can actually trust me for once and take it one step at a time without knowing what the next five steps are. And it’s stinkin scary.” A few weeks (and a lot of prayer) later, Jordan took a huge step of faith and applied to the Bible Institute. “Basically, I knew God wanted me to draw closer to Him. And I couldn’t think of a better way than by coming to a place with no distractions, where [the main] focus is studying Scripture, surrounded by people heading in the same direction.” Once he was accepted, he began working through the details of moving from Florida to New York to spend a year at the Bible Insti - tute. Two specific needs became clear: tuition money and a car. The drive from Jordan’s hometown of Jacksonville to his new “home” at the Bible Institute was approximate- ly a 20-hour drive, and time to purchase a car was run- ning short. One Saturday, just two days before he had to leave for New York, a family friend called Jordan to tell him that they wanted to bless him with the gift of a car. A few weeks later, his first tuition payment was due. Though he had been working hard to raise money and had received some scholarships, he brought the payment before the Lord in prayer. “God just kept making it clear ‘Trust me, I’m leading you here, I’ll provide.” That day, he received a text message from someone who wanted to give him $2000 to put towards his school bill.“I knew the Lord was saying. ‘Jordan I’m here. Trust me. I will provide in my tim- ing’. All I have to know is that He’s in control- apart from Him I can do nothing, but with Him, I can do all things.”
JORDAN
had all sorts of plans for his life. Starting a fam- ily lawn care service at just twelve years old was just the beginning, and his love of business took off from there. “I’ve always been a big vision, big picture kinda guy. I’m always thinking 5 to 10 years down the road and planning the steps to get where I need to be to make it happen.” After the lawn service job, he began learning the ways of business by buying and selling cars. This past spring, he graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus in management. While he was still in school, Jordan began working at his dad’s used semi truck dealership. “I learned a lot and gained a lot of experience. I had a lot of oppor- tunities for growth and could have been making decent, stable money, but I didn’t feel at peace.” Unsure of what to do next, he decided to spend the summer exploring his options and seeking wisdom from men that he looked up to and respected as husbands, fathers, businessmen, or ministry workers. One of those men was Matt Losee, the former Assistant Dean of Men at the Word of Life Bible Institute in New York. “We grew up together in the same cul de sac, literally four doors down from each other. He actually taught me the correct way to throw a football. We would play together all the time in our neighborhood. I hadn’t talked to him in 2 years, since his wedding day.”Jor- dan called him up out of the blue and asked to come visit and catch up, hoping to shadow Matt and see what life in full-time ministry was like. At the time, Matt was working as the Counseling Coordinator at the Word of Life Island Youth Camp. “I showed up at The Island and was able to meet all the leadership and hang out with the Unit Leaders, who were all handpicked Bible Institute students that were really seeking out God and diving into His Word and just loving people.” Because of the way these students talked about God, Jordan questioned whether or not they were just “extra religious or trying to impress me.” As he got to
41
THE JOURNEY 2017 42
5one1 Gaming + Fellowship We try our best to create a fun, upbeat, and positive environment for our peers to enjoy spending time together, encouraging one another, and ultimately glorifying God in our friendship and fellowship. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another.”
43
THE JOURNEY 2017 44 60 THE JOURNEY 2017
45
55
WORD OF LIFE BIBLE INSTITUE Florida Freshman
Hannah Dowden Eric Ebrahim Jonathan Edwards Gabe Encarnacion Gavino
Linda Espinal Rob- ert Farell Abigail Folmsbee
Billy Cronin Nicole Cunningham Mira Currie Zuzia Cygan Melyssa Dawson Angie Dennard
Kylie Bush Heather Calhoun Lexi Canfora Ben Cole Kaiti Cothern Tyler Critchlow
Jack Boland Caiti Bonifacious Matthew Borden Alyssa Bowser Chris Bowyer Bobby Brown
Jim Abear Dan Aquino Callie Bartels
Ana Frank David Gold Nathan Gordon
Lindsey Bennett Jeremy Bishop Grace Boland
Liana English Galen Esper
THE JOURNEY 2017 46
Anny Martinez Camillo Richard McCollum Jared McCombs Justin McCombs
Jonathan Taylor King Elizabeth Koehler Ashtyn Kreider David Laurens Esteban Lella Fernando Liriano
Jesse Graham Jesse Harris Westin Herr Colby Holt Ethan Horton Aaron Johnson
Josue Daniel Lopez Raquel Lourenco Rodrigues Da Silva Kaytlinn Louth Denise Marquez Michael Marshall Mariah Marti
Mikayla Metzler Jessica Monzon Manuela Napoleao Sampaio Shelby Osborne
Jordan Johnson Paulina Kaminski Joshua Kelly Lindsey Kent Morgan Kessler Lindsey Keys
Isaac McLean Tyler Medemar
Mary Owen Dina Paoloni
47
Marley Slay Sam Smith Jesse Sowa Malachi Sproles Natalia Stout Tory Tanner
Emily Tarasiuk Peter Tindle Taneesha Under- wood Gaby Villeda Michael Williamson Riley Winter
Tyler Worsham Daniel York Corina Ziemer
Emily Parke Austin Patrick Tyler Peck Jonathan Perkins Mariah Phillips Jocelyn Reeder
Julia Schmidt Jared Sellers Mitchell Shetenhelm Patrick Shores Trevor Sias Jack Simons
Melody Rivero Rikki Rosario
Michael Rouskey Ricardo Sanchez Vasquez Cassie Sanchez Katrina Scheiern
THE JOURNEY 2017 48
“ Faith is the art of holding on to things in spite of your changing moods and circumstances, ”
C. S. LEWIS
49
Learning to love Ministry by Cassie Sanchez
THE JOURNEY 2017 50
Going forward, I am planning on furthering my ministry education by attending second year. In the future, I would love to be able to do full-time ministry with at-risk girls.” “
B efore Word of Life, I was struggling in my faith in believing that God really loved me. While I grew up in a home where I knew the Bible and attended church on Sundays, my life the rest of the week was lived how I wanted. I heard about WOLBI campus days through my sister and it sounded like a fun weekend so I attended even though I didn’t know that it was even for a college or anything. I absolutely fell in love with the environment, campus and teaching. It was intrigued by the love for the Lord everyone seemed to have. I wanted my questions answered and so Word of Life seemed like the next logical step after high school. My year at the BI has been full of ups, downs and in-betweens. I’ve wrestled with what I believed and why I believed it, and have learned so much about the Lord’s love and faithfulness in the process. I was blessed by having an amazing discipler, an RA and friends all who pushed me to discover my faith for myself and to finally live what I said I believed. WOLBI has changed my life and I wouldn’t take back a single second of this year. Going forward, I am planning on furthering my ministry education by attending second year. In the future, I would love to be able to do full time ministry with at risk girls.
51
Breaking down Pride
by Jessica Monzón
THE JOURNEY 2017 52
from breaking pride issues that I didn’t even know I had, to building up my confidence in the Lord and trusting what He says about me is true.” “
B efore the BI, I had a reputation as the “good Christian girl” that was innocent and never really did anything that was classified as “bad.” But I also hardly ever got in the Word for myself and that really didn’t bother me as much as it should have or as often as it should have! My dad had gone to the BI in Brazil for two years so growing up I was very much encouraged to come to the BI! And I actually had a desire to come since I was little but as I got older I just fell in love with Word of Life even more! This year has honestly been life changing! The Lord broke me to my very core then built me back up even stronger than before! From breaking pride issues that I didn’t even know I had, to building up my confidence in the Lord and trusting what He says about me is true. Everything has led me to where I am now and prepared me for the upcoming camp season and for life beyond that. Next year I will be joining the Revive band with Word of Life based at the NY campus. I will be traveling and singing the whole year and I couldn’t be more excited or terrified!
53
Dependence through LEADERSHIP
by Daniel Lopez
THE JOURNEY 2017 54
having a good, deep and rooted understanding of God’s love for us can help us see past the acceptance, attention and approval of our performance before man.” “
B efore this year, I was serving as the chaplain of my middle school and high school and was simply thought that the place I was spiritually was enough. I knew about my faith but I had never made it my own and never drew closer to the sphere of who God really is. I heard about Word of Life through a WOL missionary that worked at my school in Honduras. He connected me with the ministry so I could help out as a translator for their mission trips. But soon enough, I got involved in Bible clubs and different activities that lead me talking about attending the Bible Institute. I had never heard of the Florida Campus until I saw camp videos and I said, “yes!” I knew it was going to be a place to stretch my comfort zone. It wasn’t easy getting here but the Lord has always been faithful. Life here at WOLBI has been crazy, and definitely in a good way. The Lord has challenged my life in every single aspect. He made me realize that it is never enough to just settle for who I feel I am or what I have accomplished. He has put me in leadership positions over and over again to show me that it is no coincidence that He has called me to lead. He has shown His grace and mercy by putting me in situations that always lead me to a place closer and of more dependence on Him. While I have been at the BI the Lord has shown me through Scripture, ministry, friendships, classes and my own personal quiet time that having a good, deep and rooted understanding of God’s love for us can help us see past the acceptance, attention and approval of our performance before man. I have invested in friendships that I’m more than sure will last a life time. My life at the BI has been unbelievable. My plans after the BI is to pursue the completion of the program and go to second year in New York. After that I believe I want to take the path of the CCI internship program and help with the Word of Life ministries back in my country, Honduras.
55
Growth through and obedience surrender
by Tory Tanner
THE JOURNEY 2017 56
I loved the fact that everyone loves Jesus and I could tell it in everyone I met there.” “
B efore the BI, I didn’t really know what it was like to surrender my entire life to Christ and live in obedience. I had gone to a Reverb event where Word of life offered a free shirt to everyone who filled out an application to the BI. I didn’t even know what the Bible Institute was, but when I got home from the event I did some research on the school. My admissions counselor called me all the time. I decided to attend campus days in May and I fell in love with the atmosphere. I loved the fact that everyone loves Jesus and I could tell it in everyone I met there. My final decision to come to Word of Life wasn’t until 3 days before registration. My experience at the BI has been unforgettable. I was able to build a stronger relationship with Christ, and during the missions conference, I decided to serve God wholeheartedly. I have gained lifelong friendships and I wouldn’t trade this year for anything! My plan after this year is to continue on to second year and, Lord willing, eventually be a part of the CCI program. Long term, I want to get my nursing degree and become a medical missionary.
57
THE JOURNEY 2017 58
59
MORE THAN JUST ACADEMICS
THE JOURNEY 2017 60
61
Opening weekend—what a whirlwind! We all came to the BI not knowing what to expect or how we were going to handle it (except for the second years, of course—they all knew what they were getting into). There were lots of new experiences like seemingly never ending orientations, constantly having people around, and food that is a lot different from what Mama would make us. For many of us, this was our first time truly being on our own without the reliable cushion of our parents to fall into. Initially, it all seemed quite a bit daunting, but also exciting for this new set of challenges that was before us. But no matter how anxious we might have felt, we knew that this year was meant for spiritual growth. That is what pushed us then and is still pushing us now. opening weekend
THE JOURNEY 2017 62
63
Worship In The Adirondacks Worship in the Adirondacks was a brand-new experience for many of us. With several great headliners like Sidewalk Prophets, Jeremy Camp, and even a surprise visit from Jamie Grace, this festival was definitely worth the admission price! This festival helped me to get spiritually ready to receive what God had for me the upcoming days of Opening Weekend. It was a tremendous blessing to me, and I cannot wait to see what next year’s festival will be like!
THE JOURNEY 2017 64
65
THE JOURNEY 2017 66
The Youth Pastor Summit was such a good experience. While none of us are in full-time ministry yet, it was great to be a part of a conference that worked through the good and bad sides of Youth Ministries. God definitely worked on the hearts of the students through the amazing worship led by Liberty Worship Collective and all the men of God who taught the Word! We were able to sit alongside full-time youth Pastors, volunteers, and educators who continually impact the lives of students. This conference was a great reminder that ministry is not an easy thing, but it will always be rewarding!
67
“You will never extend grace and love by instinct, until you understand the depth of Gods love in the gospel.” - J.D. Greear
THE JOURNEY 2017 68
was an intense three days of over seventy different countries coming together for the cause of Christ and how to best bring souls to the foot of the Cross. Attendees had the opportunity to learn of diverse missionaries from around the globe, different mission’s opportunities for Word of Life students, and various ways to pray and support missionaries and ministries. During the conference, it was an honor and a privilege to hear from Harry Bollback a commission and a prayer for the students and the missionaries in the audience. Every speaker delivered an eye-opening presentation that left those in attendance inspired and excited to serve the Lord in prayer and ministry. The Cross-Cultural Internship (CCI) graduation and announcement of the next group of students that would be participating in CCI was motivating for students considering participating in CCI. Lives were changed at this conference with an entire stage full of students that dedicated their lives to serve the Lord whatever the cost. Overall, the Word of Life’s Missions Conference was incredibly instructive and encouraging to everyone that had the opportunity to attend. New York Missions Conference
69
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Page 140 Page 141 Page 142 Page 143 Page 144Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker