NMC Students Past: An Ongoing Blog Series

Austin Gerber
Class of 2005
Currently Attending Medical school at IUSM/ND
Derry's Thoughts: Austin could serve as a case study for our mission to see students move from Religion to Relationship to Spiritually Reproducing. I shared many experiences with Austin (from Syracuse, to New York City, to the jungles of Peru). I watched him make his walk with God his own, and then I saw Him share that walk with others. there are many seeking to advance God's Kingdom today because Austin impacted them while he was a High School student. Austin met one of my favorite people in the world, Tiffany, at NMC. They served as an awesome example of a Christ-Focused High School dating relationship. They were married in 2008.


WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU SAW GOD'S MIGHTY MOVE WHILE YOU WERE A PART OF NMC STUDENT MINISTRIES?

• Saw several close friends come into relationship with Christ who are still living for Christ today.
• Personally led someone to Christ for the first time and then watched them lead others to Christ over the past 6 years.
• Reignited my own faith and saw changes in my own life and the lives of my family members.

WHAT ASPECTS/ PROGRAMS WERE SIGNIFICANT IN YOUR SPIRITUAL FORMATION AT NMC?

• SMALL GROUPS! one word: irreplaceable.
• Making Wednesday night worship service/youth group a priority was key to growing in my own walk and maintaining accountability
• NYGO, IMPACTS, summer camps were all times of revolutionary movement in my spiritual walk.

IN WHAT WAY WOULD YOU CHALLENGE CURRENT NMC STUDENTS TO SEE "A YOUTH GROUP THAT SAW GOD MOVING IN MIGHTY WAYS"?

• Keep first things first. put rivalries, conflict, and personal gain aside and focus on the big picture at hand. The stakes are incredible and span far beyond our time here on earth. The old "I'm 3rd" rule really does work wonders (Christ first, others second, you last)
• The whole many parts/1 body thing is huge. Everyone needs to find their niche. Figure out what you're good at, and then use it to make an impact for the Kingdom.
• Leave no one out. Everyone counts equally in the body of Christ.
• Have a goal. Make a list of things you would like to accomplish together. Stretch yourself collectively as a youth group. Engage in relationships outside of the body of Christ and pray for those people daily.