Friday 5 +10 Years In: 5 Boo Yas!

Last Friday I shared 5 heartbreaks. With "5 Boo Yas" I'm highlighting students I've seen live out our mission of moving from "Religion to Relationship to Spiritually Reproducing". These are 5 of many stories, in no particular order:

1. Brad, Chad, and Justin: These three Fairfield boys came through our ministry. They were a hanful. Brad is currently the lead pastor at NLF Church (our Lagrange Video Venue), Justin is a youth Pastor in Dodge City, and Chad is the Youth HCC (our Mishawaka video venue). Here's their story on video we shot in May 2007.
   
   
2. David and Andrea: They met in our youth group, fell in love, and got married (after college, of course). What's more important is that these two loved Jesus before they fell in love. They still love Jesus and are living out the Kingdom here on earth in countless ways. Dave is ridiculously intelligent. Andrea is one of the most compassionate people I've ever met. Currently they reside in Mishawaka and are actively involved with Keller Park Church in South Bend where they are seeking to be agents of transformation in that community. I'm sure the path ahead will include a length of time in another culture as well.
3. Ben: Ben always doubted himself and his salvation, yet he continued to dive in with us during his High School years. Driving from Bourbon, he brought a lot of new students along with him by the time he graduated. Several of those students encountered Christ in a major way. I got a message from him on Facebook the other day letting me know he is working with a wilderness camping ministry, and may be heading to New Zealand in order to work with a Christian Environmental group.
4. Sara: Sara is currently ending her Sophomore year at Purdue. She is going into clothing design. As she's been at Purdue, she has gotten very involved with Navigators, a fanastic descipling ministry. She also is diving into the lives of students through Young Life. I just got a message from her on Facebook two days ago, that was very cool. She's pursuing God as she goes forward.
5. Alyssa: Alyssa is heading into her Junior year at Bethel and she currently works with our Junior Highers. This post she recently put on her blog got me fired up, and as I read it, I said to myself, "That's what it's all about!"
   

That's just 5. There are many more that could be highlighted, and that's what it's all about. Not just changed lives... but changed lives who are now reaching out to see more changed lives. I love what I do. I look forward to 10 more years!