Next Steps for the Class of 2014

This August, the Bible Institute’s alumni family will grow by about 521, as students from the teaching sites in New York, Florida, Owen Sound, and Jeju graduate and head to their next step. While much of the Victory Journal’s mission is connecting alumni who have been away from Word of Life for a bit, we also want to welcome the newest members of the group and look back on a great year of ministry and growth.

Click here to read or watch what a few of our soon-to-be alumni from the Class of 2014 had to say.

Alumnus of the Year: Dennis D’Augostine

Dennis D’Augostine, Class of 1999 and 2000, has been honored twice with the C. Sumner Wemp Award in Personal Evangelism. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Baptist Bible College and master’s degrees in both ministry and divinity from Baptist Bible Seminary. Dennis and his wife, Kelly, have two sons, Michael and Matthew, and live in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

If you’ve visited Word of Life recently, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed a few changes. The attire at the Bible Institute has gone from the long-ago class coat-and-tie policy to more T-shirts and jeans in free time.The Word of Life Inn is now the Inn & Family Lodge, and rather than a population of primarily young students and older instructors and elders, Word of Life hosts more and more alumni of all generations.

It’s an exciting time to be part of the Word of Life family, as Alumnus of the Year Dennis D’Augostine saw firsthand during Homecoming weekend this spring. His visit was his first chance to return in 14 years, and he welcomed the changes. Dennis says he feels his generation of alumni, from 1995 to 2005, has been disconnected from Word of Life since leaving the Bible Institute, and he’s encouraged to see the efforts to reengage former students.

“When I left, I felt like Word of Life was just for 18- and 19-year-olds, and if I wasn’t lucky enough to stay and work on staff, I wouldn’t have a ministry connection unless I was bringing kids to camp,” he says.

Dennis himself came to know the Lord as a camper at the Island, and after visiting this past Memorial Day weekend, he says he realized even more the immense impact Word of Life has had in his life — from that first meeting with Christ at camp to his life-changing Bible Institute teachers and relationships with fellow alumni still in his life and work today.

“Word of Life has so much light — such excitement and passion,” Dennis says.

He says the depth of faith and fire for evangelism he developed at the Bible Institute, along with his own entrepreneurial spirit, are what fuel his current ministry as a church planter. After leaving Word of Life, Dennis attended Baptist Bible College and later Baptist Bible Seminary. Through the seminary’s Project Jerusalem initiative, he eventually planted Steamtown Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He now pastors the church with three of his close friends and fellow Bible Institute alumni Peter Fox, John Wilson, and Matt Miller.

Dennis says his desire to plant churches comes from his “heart for tethering evangelism and faith to a visible thing — to making disciples.” He’s planted several churches and seen much progress in Scranton. Dennis baptized 12 new believers on Good Friday, his church recently purchased a new cathedral, and he’s started a Spanish-speaking ministry through Steamtown Iglesia.

This exciting growth is a testament of Dennis’s faithfulness to his calling — creating a flourishing ministry in Scranton was no easy task. In fact, Dennis says jokingly that anyone looking to plant a church in the Northeast “better have a handwritten note from God.” Steamtown Church ministers to Scranton’s inner city, where addictions, abuse, and alcoholism are rampant. It was difficult for Dennis to convince suburban families to join his congregation, and the diversity of the area made it hard to build a cohesive church community early on. But he, Peter, John, and Matt kept the faith, and their church is thriving. Dennis says the urgent message of grace Steamtown Church shares is worth the hard fight.

“In the inner city, today really is a day of salvation, because there might not be a tomorrow,” he explains.

As Steamtown’s ministry and network continue to grow, Dennis hopes to develop a church planting movement — and with Word of Life’s focus on evangelism, he anticipates Word of Life’s role in church planting will expand with new generations of faith leaders and with Don Lough, Jr. at the helm.

“Homecoming weekend reignited my heart for Word of Life,” Dennis says. “There’s a new vision focused on growing churches, and it will resonate with those of us [alumni] now leading ministries of our own.”

The Classroom Goes Digital

By Mark Strout, Bible Institute Executive Dean

“I wonder where all my Bible Institute notes ended up?” Have you ever asked yourself that question? Truth be told, many of us would find that our notes ended up in a box tucked away in some forgotten corner of the house — or worse! Well, we’d like to change that.

This September, Word of Life Bible Institute is taking a bold step to better equip students with 21st-century study tools they can use for years to come: We will be transitioning our first-year classrooms in New York and Florida from paper notes to computer-based note-taking. All incoming freshman students will receive a customized Logos Bible Study software package containing a digital library of more than 450 books, including nearly all their required textbooks. Resources will include multiple Bible versions, commentaries, encyclopedias, devotionals, reference works, Greek and Hebrew lexicons, and dozens of maps, photos, and media resources. The Logos package will be included in school fees, and students will have very minimal additional textbook expenses (paper notes will be an option for one more year at an additional cost). We anticipate making the same transition in the second-year classroom in fall 2015.

In addition to the Logos package, class notes will be delivered in a format that will allow students to fill in blank spaces and add their own notes using laptops or tablets in class. Upon completion of each course, the notes can be imported into Logos. Then, as students use Logos for future Bible study, their Bible Institute notes, including both the content provided to them and the notes they type in themselves, will be a fully searchable resource that is electronically linked to all other resources in their Logos package. For example, if former students search a particular Bible text or topic, relevant material from their class notes will appear alongside all similar material from the hundreds of books in their digital library. Bible references appearing in their course notes will be hyperlinked to their preferred Bible version, allowing them to be opened alongside their notes with a simple click. Other hyperlinks will be possible as well. Students also will be able to purchase hundreds of additional digital resources to add to their collection in the future.

As we transition to a digital classroom, we anticipate taking advantage of other potential benefits, including computerized testing, which would deliver different versions of the same exam to each laptop or tablet. We also could gather questions from students during class without having to interrupt the speaker. Professors could distribute additional notes, articles, or web links.

We are excited about this enhancement to the Bible Institute program and believe it will contribute to the fulfillment of our mission to educate 21st-century students within a rigorous academic and structured discipleship atmosphere, preparing them to live lives of maximum effectiveness for the Lord!

Where Are They Now? Dr. Joseph Stowell

Dr. Joseph Stowell is an internationally recognized conference speaker who has written several books and works with a variety of Christian organizations. His ministry began in the 1970s, though, when he not only pastored churches in the Midwest but also was an early guest lecturer at the newly founded Bible Institute in New York.

Dr. Stowell taught Philippians and Genesis, and he also gave special separate devotions for the guy and girl students on dating and personal relationships.

After 17 years pastoring in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, Dr. Stowell served as the president of Moody Bible Institute from 1987 to 2005. He also preached at churches and conferences and wrote books, booklets, and magazine articles. He’s been the president of Cornerstone University (Grand Rapids, Michigan) since 2008 and also has an Internet ministry with Radio Bible Class Ministries. He and his wife, Martie, have three adult children and 10 grandchildren.

What was your first connection with Word of Life?
As a boy growing up in Hackensack, New Jersey, I would often go to the Word of Life meetings held in Times Square in New York City. Later, I asked my girlfriend to marry me on the beach in Schroon Lake. She was a waitress at the Inn.

What are some of your memories from teaching at the Bible Institute?
I loved the interaction with the students and the teaching atmosphere (in Council Hall).

Whose life has impacted yours the most spiritually, and why?
My father, my wife, Howard Hendricks, and Haddon Robinson. My dad, for his character and faithful service to Christ. My wife Martie’s godly life and wise perspectives. Howard Hendricks, for his love of God’s Word, and Haddon Robinson, for teaching me how to preach. Plus many others who have influenced me along my journey with Christ.

How do you want to be remembered?
As a faithful servant of Christ whose life and ministry reflected well on Jesus and brought glory to His name. As a good husband, loving father, and faithful friend.

What one thing would you like to communicate with our alumni?
Love God! Love others!

Dr. Stowell will be speaking at next spring’s Founder’s Conference (March 27-29).

Refresh: Real change.

By Hayley J. Miller

Do you believe in change? I mean, beyond a quick “yes.” That one sin, bad habit, tendency you or I have — do you believe it can change? Do people really change?

We can get discouraged at times by the lack of change in ourselves or others. The truth is that most of us are actually resistant to change even though we act like we seek it. We celebrate the face of change but can get defensive when it poses a threat to us or our preferences. Christians see a life changed as something good — as long as we stay distanced from the discomforts of it ourselves.

I like change and seek it. I love to help others change and also enjoy improving programs, redecorating rooms, or celebrating diversity.

I am thankful for changes in my past. While attending the Bible Institute, it seemed that God changing me was rapid and contagious. But, “settling in,” do I now see change as an uncomfortable inconvenience not worth striving for? When the stakes are obviously high, I am desperate for change. When they are not so obvious or not so high, though, my commitment to change is relaxed.

Someone close to me once said they did not think people ever truly change. My jaw dropped and heart sunk as if I had taken a blow. I knew this is not what my Savior died and rose again for. He died so you and I can experience genuine change — not merely behavioral or cultural change, but a deep change that makes us different in substance entirely.

Miles J. Stanford describes it this way in Principles of Spiritual Growth: “As the result of the work of His cross, and as the grand issue of His resurrection, eternal life is received already by those who believe. But while that life is itself victorious, incorruptible, indestructible, the believer has to come by faith to prove it, to live by it, to learn its laws, to be conformed to it. ... The course of spiritual experience, of spiritual life, is to discover, to appropriate, and to live by all that the life represents and means.”

Or, in other words, to change.

If you know Christ, but genuine change is frustrating you right now, would you consider digging deeper? Change is not hopeless, nor should we try to make sin or character flaws beautiful or acceptable.

The source of change must be us experientially tapping into the power and resources that Christ’s death and resurrection have provided. Let’s not excuse sin in our lives, take it lightly, or give in to it. Let’s not be depressed that we are struggling with change. Don’t settle for the thoughts of “I will always be this way” or “It’s just who I am.” Christ died so you can progressively look more and more like Him — one layer at a time, one element at a time, one character flaw or sin at a time.

Change is waiting. Here are a few steps that can help you continue the practical side of this discussion and move toward genuine change:

• Read and journal Romans 6-8 (additional studying and commentary use might help)
• Check out either Principles of Spiritual Growth by Miles J. Stanford or consider The Normal Christian Life by Watchmen Nee.

Hayley’s passion is to offer clear communication that will cause genuine change. Her ministry is multifaceted, as she assists the vice president of Local Church Ministries while editing curriculum, speaking at conferences, writing, marketing, and equipping one generation to evangelize and disciple the next.

Investing in the bank of Heaven: A message from the chancellor.

Walking down an airport jetway recently, I noticed a man carelessly dropping money ahead of me. Trying to get his attention, I called after him. His flippant response caught me off-guard. He yelled, “Keep it. Where I am going it has no value!”

While I am not sure if this man was headed to the moon or to the Amazon jungle, his statement reminded me of what should be foundational for every Christian. Philippians 3:20 says, “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” You and I are literally just passing through this world on our way to Heaven. As temporary residents, any earthly treasures accumulated have no value where we are ultimately headed. Do not forget Jesus Christ’s challenge to His disciples in Matthew 6:20: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven.”

In other words, make your deposits in the “Bank of Heaven.” Invest in the things that last forever. From chapels and classes at the Bible Institute, you know well that only two things will last for all eternity: the Word of God and the souls of men. Any future studies, your life’s work, and your resources should all be passionately leveraged for Heaven. So while you serve God with everything you have on this planet, remember where you are headed. You are just passing through. The only treasures you can take with you into eternity are the Scriptures and souls.

Q&A: Lyle Hartwell

Director, Word of Life Inn & Family Lodge

Lyle Hartwell, Class of 1995, is in his second year as director of the Word of Life Inn & Family Lodge.

Lyle has been involved in ministry ever since his Bible Institute year. He spent his summers on Word of Life Island while attending Tennessee Temple University then returned to the Bible Institute to serve as the director of athletics (1999-2003) and assistant dean of men (2003-2005). Lyle and his wife, Becky (Chambers, Class of 2003), then served in local churches. Lyle was the ministry leader, college pastor, and ministries pastor at Eliot Baptist Church in Eliot, Maine, from 2005 to 2010, then served as the pastor of families and worship at Sonrise Bible Church in Rotterdam, New York, from 2010 to 2013.

Lyle was then asked to consider returning to Word of Life with his family as the Inn continued its transition to the Inn & Family Lodge, with a renewed focus on serving and strengthening families. Lyle and his family (including Austin, 7, and Olivia, 5), moved to Schroon Lake and are also involved in their local church, Mountainside Bible Chapel, where Lyle is a worship leader and helps with children’s ministry.

We caught up with Lyle to hear about his journey and vision for this new arena of ministry.

Whose life has impacted yours the most spiritually?
My parents truly were the greatest influencers in my life. Our journey with God is a faith walk, and no one has ever modeled that with more clarity than my parents.

My parents were church planters from the early 1970s until 1993, when my dad resigned from his last church. They were always bi-vocational (working jobs as well as being involved in ministry) and earnestly trusted in the gracious provision of God to meet our needs. My father was one of the most faithful laborers for Christ right until his death in 2002. As a widow, my mother continues to seek the Lord’s will in every area of her life despite the difficulty, trials, and circumstances that are out of her control. I strive each day to be as faithful as the example set before me by my parents, who truly loved God and loved others.

How did your year at the Bible Institute affect your life?
My year at the Bible Institute was a tremendous year of growth, as it is for most. I spent most of the year running from the Holy Spirit, Who was challenging me to surrender my life to full-time ministry. Trying to run from an omnipresent God is a foolish quest.

It was during the first week of summer ministry that I finally gave up the internal struggle of my will and surrendered to give “all that I am and all that I ever hope to be” to God for His glory. I was a counselor on the Island, and through the power of the Word of God, I watched seven of my nine campers put their faith in only Christ for their salvation. That was Week 1 of my new life, which has an unquenchable desire to come alongside people who need Jesus or need a clearer image of Who He is to see their lives changed.

What’s unique about the Word of Life Inn & Family Lodge?
Statistics show that a majority of families are unhealthy, struggling, and giving up at a staggering rate. At the same time, there is a significant trend in our culture toward families vacationing together. The Inn & Family Lodge must make the most of this opportunity to impact multiple generations of families.

We are a unique vacation destination that provides an exciting environment where kids, parents, and grandparents are challenged to grow closer to God and each other. Come and stay for a week in the summer or enjoy a weekend retreat in the fall or spring. No matter when you visit, you will be greeted by a wonderful staff eager to make your stay a refreshing one, complete with Adirondack adventures and world-renowned speakers. You also can schedule your own retreat for a church group or family reunion, and we’d be glad to work on tailoring the perfect retreat to meet your needs.

What’s new for 2014?
This summer, every week had a special “artist of the week.” These artists ministered through music and as part of our worship team throughout the week.

One of the other changes for 2014 is the location of check-in and customer service. You will now be welcomed in the lobby of the conference center to enjoy arrival refreshments. Customer service representatives will be in the lobby to assist you with anything you need during your stay.

What unique conferences are planned?
We have several. Answers in Genesis, with both Ken and Steve Ham speaking together for the first time at Word of Life, was at the Inn & Family Lodge for Week 1 this summer.

This fall, Linda Dillow and Julie Slattery will be at the Women’s Retreat for the entire weekend. Special music guest Shannon Wexelberg will be leading worship. The speaker at our Fall Marriage Retreat will be Pastor Jerrod Jones, the lead pastor of Grace Community Church, a multicampus church in Washingtonville, New York.

How can we pray for your ministry?
Please pray for wisdom and discernment as we seek to only bring glory to God in meeting the needs of multiple generations of guests. It’s not an easy task, but the need for life change is so great that we must be excellent in all that God has called us to here at the Inn & Family Lodge.

Please pray for people to come as they are and have their needs met exactly where they are.

Victory Journal Issue 10: Online.

You can find all the articles from the latest Victory Journal on this blog, but if you'd like to see a PDF version of the actual magazine, click here.

Also, if you are not receiving the print copy, please send us your updated contact info at alumni@wol.org, and we'll get you on our mailing list.

Tours: Send us your memories.

Were you ever a part of Word of Life Tours? We’d love to hear from you.

If you participated in a Bible Institute production, whether on the road or at the Florida campus, please consider sending some memories or photos along.

We’re looking for the following:
(1) Photos – Anything showing the experience, from the performances to backstage to going on the road
(2) Memories – What encouraged you? Who do you remember? Any funny stories?
(3) Encouragement for other alumni – Pass along whatever you’d like to share.

It doesn’t have to be long! We’d just love to hear from you and share your thoughts with other alumni. Even if it’s just a sentence or a grainy 3x5 photo, let us know how Tours touched you.

Thank you for your contribution!

Contact Mike Bush at mikebush@wol.org or send your photos or memories to alumni@wol.org.  

Campus Update: Bible Institute moves across U.S., into Africa

By Dick Dray, Associate Executive Dean, New York campus

For many years, Jack Wyrtzen would introduce Word of Life’s radio program as being from high, high, high in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. He also would say at times that Word of Life was reaching youth both around the corner and around the world. This past December, through the Bible Institute, we saw exactly that happen.

In the last issue of The Victory Journal, Bible Institute Chancellor Don Lough, Jr. talked about student groups heading to New England and the southeastern United States for various music and drama tours, including the new original presentation Magi as well as a Collegian group and the ensemble Redemption.

During the nearly two weeks these groups were out, they shared the message of God’s Word through music and drama in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. We saw God work in bringing in more than 18,000 people in attendance. More than 100 people made decisions for Christ, and we made many great contacts with alumni and potential future Bible Institute students.

At the same, we saw God working “around the world.”

Bible Institute Executive Dean Mark Strout headed to Uganda to connect with Thomas Obunde (Class of 1995, 2000) and David Kirabira (2005, 2007) to work on plans to open another Bible Institute campus there, on the continent of Africa, this fall. At this time, a one-year program is planned, with 25 students anticipated to start the inaugural school year this September, although the campus as is can hold up to 50 students.

Teaching will be provided by resident lecturers from Uganda and surrounding countries, as well as some professors from the U.S. campuses, and additional options will be considered for ongoing training at the school as the Bible Institute looks to train up future leaders for Africa.

It’s been a packed fall and winter so far, but we’re only get started as we continue to watch God work both here around the corner and out around the world.

Engage: Bringing Teens Involved to a new generation.

Some changes are coming to Teens Involved, now called Engage, to help it better reach the current generation. Find out more by clicking here.

Teens Involved: A brief history
Teens Involved started in 1973 with the vision of finding a way to help students realize their potential and purpose by using their gifts for God’s glory. Paul Bubar realized there was a need to help students discover their God-given talents and consider using those talents in ways they never imagined.

Dr. James McDonald was one such student. A youth leader encouraged him to enter the preaching category of Teens Involved, and through that process, he first sensed God leading him to preach the Word of God and later pastor.

Just 32 students came to the first National Teens Involved week on Word of Life Island. That eventually grew to several thousand students in three locations each summer during nationals alone. The number of students participating in Teens Involved has since declined, though, and it was time to talk to youth pastors and leaders, look at the way culture is changing, and reevaluate the purpose and implementation of the event.

Why change the name?
As Word of Life looked to make major changes to the event to more effectively reach the current generation, it was decided that a new name would best communicate that this is a completely different event, even if it’s designed to accomplish the same purpose as Teens Involved.

Why Engage: Discover. Develop. Deploy.
The purpose of Engage is to help students discover their spiritual gifts, develop those gifts through training and instruction, and deploy them for use in the local church. We want students to know God has given them incredible abilities to make a difference and to learn to use those abilities effectively in the local church.

What’s New
The biggest changes are focused on making the event more practical for local church ministry. As Teens Involved developed over the decades, rules were added for clarity or to help with fairness, but they made it more difficult for real-life use.

This generation also is more interested in working as groups than as individuals, so categories have been adjusted to welcome that.

Teens Involved has been extremely successful over the years, and Word of Life are looking forward to how new methods of accomplishing the same purpose will continue to help students discover, develop, and deploy their God-given abilities.

Reverb: Superbowl gets a new name and look.

Superbowl is being rebranded to an event called Reverb. To read more about the changes, click here.

The origin of Superbowl
Superbowl started in the mid-1970s as Bowl-a-thon, an all-night bowling party with an evangelistic message. In 1985, Doug Bagg added a sporting event and Gospel rally in front of the bowl-a-thon, and the first Superbowl was born. Since then, Superbowl has had more than one million people in attendance, and more than 100,000 have recorded decisions for Christ.

Why change the name?
Superbowl has changed over the years. Events now begin with pro or college sports or interactive rallies with games and prizes. After the Gospel presentation and invitation, students spend the rest of the night at a wide variety of entertainment venues in the area, including local university athletic facilities, go-carts, and laser tag — not just bowling. Bowling is still part of many events, but it’s no longer the focus.

The Super Bowl is also very close to our title and a highly protected trademark of the National Football League. Because the names are so similar, it’s possible that as we grew, we could have been required to change the name, possibly with very short notice.

We also want to continue to reach out to new churches, and the name “Superbowl” can be confusing to those who aren’t familiar with the event. Our first step when talking to new churches was almost always to explain that our event was in fact not a football game.

Why Reverb

Reverberation is the persistence of sound in a particular space after the original sound is produced. A reverberation, or reverb, is created when a sound is produced in an enclosed space and causes a large number of echoes to build up and then slowly decay as the sound is absorbed by the walls and air.

This is ultimately our goal for “Word of Life Reverb Night.” We want that sound, the Gospel, to be shared loud and clear to the students who attend and then continue to reverberate out from the arena. We invite students to come to Christ, and we challenge Christian students to share their faith when they go back home.

What’s New
Despite the new name, Reverb will still be the same great event, carrying on the tradition of Superbowl. We will continue to add dates and locations. In addition to the fall tour in November 2014, we will also be offering a winter tour in 2015 with dates mid-January through early March. Reverb will continue to kick off with a high-energy, fun-filled rally, then deliver a clear Gospel message with an opportunity for students to respond before celebrating all night long at premium local venues.

Baby Steps: Bible Institute alumni share passion for saving families.

There’s something about the Bible Institute experience that brings alumni together — no matter how many years pass between graduating classes. Just ask Laura Grosvenor Squier, Class of 1982, and Rachel Fetterhoff Pratt, Class of 2003. They’re the forces behind Care Net of Northeast Pennsylvania, a free crisis pregnancy center that serves women facing unplanned pregnancies. Laura and Rachel didn’t know each other before Care Net, but as Bible Institute alumni, they knew they had a shared mission: serving God by saving families.

Laura, Class of ’82, says her involvement with Care Net began with a call to action. In church one Sunday, she and her husband listened as the pastor encouraged the crowd to take “baby steps” for God by volunteering with Care Net. Deeply motivated by the sermon, Laura began what would be a long journey with the organization, first as a volunteer, then as a board member (a position she held for three years).

After dedicating many hours as a volunteer, Laura took some time off. But it wasn’t the last she’d see of Care Net.

Like most Christians, Laura says she loves watching “the way the Lord works.” She had one of those classic moments that reminded her He is in control one day after her time on the board ended. She was washing dishes, contemplating getting involved with Care Net again. As she explains it:

“I’m sitting there washing dishes, thinking, ‘If I’m going to get back in that ministry, I’d want to be working with the girls. Not in a board room.’ And what do you know, it was at that moment the phone rang.”

On the line was the chairman of Care Net’s board. Laura couldn’t believe it.

“I was so amazed, because the Lord had just prepared me for this moment,” she says. “He asked if I would come be the executive director.” She didn’t hesitate to say yes.

Three years later, Laura says she’s experienced “tons of personal growth” from her time at Care Net. Being able to apply Scripture to situations involving people with no concept of Jesus Christ is more powerful than she’d ever imagined. She and her staff work hard to marry grace and truth. As she sees it, “Truth without grace can be very harsh, and grace without truth can just be compassion.”

Rachel’s attraction to the pregnancy center was similar to Laura’s.

“God has given me a passion for (those who are hard to reach) — the people that aren’t necessarily going to come to church on their own,” she explains. “They’re in desperate need ... the need to know they can be loved even though they’ve done something (they may view as) unforgivable.”

Her perspective was shaped at the Bible Institute, which she says she appreciated for being very ministry-focused — a philosophy she holds today.

Rachel looked to make her work her ministry when she moved to Northeast Pennsylvania, and it wasn’t long before she found a place where she could do just that. Rachel began a part-time job at Care Net, working one day a week reaching out to local high schools.

With time came the expansion of Care Net, and a new position opened for Rachel — to lead a Care Net branch in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, a half-hour away from Laura’s location in Montrose.

With Laura and Rachel leading the way, Care Net is providing Christian services to hundreds of women who desperately need to hear the Word of God. Laura remembers one case in particular.

A young woman who had just moved to the area was afraid she was pregnant and turned to Care Net.

“She kept saying ‘I can’t do this. I don’t want to be pregnant,’” Laura explains.

Pregnancy test results were confirmed, and Laura walked the woman and her boyfriend through the baby’s development. After a lot of coaching, the couple decided to carry the baby to term — but they were considering putting it up for adoption.

It was then that Laura and her team started working with the young couple every week. They connected the father with assistance to get his GED and receive career training so he could support his family, and they worked with the mother on parenting, life skills, and more.

In the middle of working to ease the couple’s crisis and support them, Laura and her team were able to do many Bible studies to help them find the strength in Christ they so desperately needed.

“For many (clients), no one else is providing a positive message in their life,” Laura explains. “To see the Lord peeling the layers away from their heart, as they built trust with us and started to understand Who God was and how much He cared for them ... was incredible.”

It was Laura’s first “abortion-vulnerable” couple — and one she’ll never forget. The woman and her boyfriend, after receiving Care Net’s coaching, decided to get married and raise the child together as a family.

After their baby was born, the couple came straight to Care Net to share their joy with Laura.

“To know that baby had been given a chance at life — and a chance at eternal life — it was amazing,” she says.

Care Net’s ministry has more than doubled since Laura took over as executive director — it’s clear that the demand for Christ’s love is as present as ever. Laura and Rachel both envision Care Net continuing to expand its reach each year. Right now they’re even working on developing a jail ministry.

They each say they’ve already experienced tremendous personal growth serving their shared mission — and they agree it’s all the better with a fellow Bible Institute alumnus by their side.

The King's Yomen: Adam Bottiglia, Class of 1998

When Adam Bottiglia, Class of 1998, graduated from high school, he had two choices: Study engineering, like his father, or study what his heart truly longed for. The answer, he says, was easy. “If you’re going to study anything your first year out of high school, why study anything but (the Bible)?” he asks.

Adam was no stranger to ministry at 18 years old. He’d found his own unique way to spread God’s Word three years earlier when preparing for a high school talent show. “I knew that if they were going to give me the chance to get up on stage, I was going to preach,” Adam says. But he knew his peers wouldn’t connect with the message unless he made it fun.

It was 1995. Adam’s solution? Yo-yos.

The skit he and a friend performed earned them first place at the talent show, and they eventually became a drama team known as The King’s Yomen — a ministry that Adam still continues with his wife, Crissy, 25 years later.

If water sustains life, then the yo-yo is The King’s Yomen’s well. It’s merely a tool for spreading the larger message of the Word of God.

In the play, a lonely, broken man discovers he has a special talent: yo-yoing. He meets the devil soon after his discovery and makes a deal to use his skill for evil. Once the man realizes what he’s done, he finds Christ and is set free when he learns he can still yo-yo — for the glory of God.

“Think of it as a sermon with a yo-yo mixed in,” Adam explains.

It’s an unusual twist, but one that seems to appeal to all audiences.

Adam says that’s because the toy is completely nonthreatening.

“No one takes the yo-yo seriously at first,” Adam says. “You shouldn’t — it’s a yo-yo.” But, he says, it’s a way for him to win people over, opening up a new avenue for discussion about Jesus Christ. “If people will truly hear me — really listen — when I have a yo-yo, then give it to me.”

Adam started his yo-yo ministry before attending the Bible Institute, and he kept right on going when he arrived on campus. In fact, fellow alumni may remember some of his halftime performances. After graduation, Adam says the training he received launched his ministry even further. Spreading the Word is something he’s never been able to get away from — skit writing is a “constant” for him and Crissy.

The two met in their high school’s youth group and attended the Bible Institute together, where Adam says they “lived and breathed” the Bible. Though they always knew the Bible Institute was an important part of their Christian foundation, Adam says they are just now starting to realize what a truly perfect fit it was.

He explains that the Bible Institute was the first time he’d been in an environment that encouraged the all-encompassing study of the Word — and he loved it. “Everyone else (at the Bible Institute) was on the same page. And still, to this day, when Crissy and I are around fellow alums, we fit in better than anywhere else.”

Maybe that’s because Bible Institute alums understand his mission, from which his biggest takeaway is a lesson in humility. He admits he never set out to have his legacy be tied to a yo-yo — it’s simply what God keeps asking him to do.

“(The yo-yo) has taught me to take whatever opportunity God gives you to minister, even if it’s humiliating,” he says. “I mean, why not put a yo-yo and the Gospel together?”

Testimony Corner: Dean Bruckner, Class of 1981

My year at Word of Life Bible Institute was one of the best three years of my life.

As a 17-year-old believer in Christ, I sensed a calling to the secular world as an engineer, military officer, or both. I asked God for wisdom. Our family friends David and Billy Giles (Class of 1978 and 1979, respectively) strongly recommended my brother Lee and I attend the Bible Institute. So we did, along with their sister, Victoria.

The three of us arrived in mid-September 1980 to picture-perfect chalets, hard benches, and the daily Quiet Time diary — the Word of Life experience. Thirty guys push-starting our 18-wheeler in Canada on Collegians winter tour, a missions conference that a hundred of us missed with the flu in the days before vaccinations, watching Dean of Men Ray Namie doing doughnuts in his van — with his family inside — on the frozen lake, and a two-week trip to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt all are indelibly stamped in my memory. But even more than those memories were the lifelong imprints made by the Word of God on the deepest part of who I am.

Life. The Word. That’s what Word of Life is all about. From where I stand, a more coherent, practical, comprehensive one-year presentation of the Bible, integrated into preparation for life, does not exist. For me, it came at exactly the right time, and it equipped me for all that was to come.

Since then, I’ve sailed the coasts of North America, from Nova Scotia to the Panama Canal, to Alaska’s farthest Aleutian Islands, and to the Arctic Circle. I’ve been to 20 foreign countries and studied five languages. I’ve lived a year abroad, earned a Ph.D in electrical engineering, and became a licensed professional engineer. I was the lead system integrator for flight tests of the GPS and inertial navigation systems of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. I got married and have three school-age children, served in eight churches and military chapels, and now teach industrial and systems engineering at Ohio University.

What does all this amount to? Absolutely nothing, in light of eternity, except what was done for Christ and His kingdom. That is the debt I owe to Word of Life. In that year, my spiritual navigation instruments and library of life charts were fitted for the long haul. If God’s hand has held my life on course during everything that’s followed, if He’s used it to touch others, if He and His Word are better known and loved in my wake, it will be due in great measure to what I received in the spiritual “shipyard” on the shores of Schroon Lake.

What amazes me is that it was such fun, too. It truly was one of the three most joyful years of my life, along with my honeymoon year of marriage and my year as a young commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard radio station near Istanbul, Turkey.

The Turks have a saying: “A tree can be shaped when it’s young.” That was Word of Life to me.

Q&A: Rich Andrews

Director of Ministries, Word of Life Florida

Ministry Timeline
Camper, Word of Life Ranch (1981, 1986-87)
Camper, Word of Life Island (1988-1991)
Bible Institute student: first year (1992), second year (1995)
Camp staff, Island (1992-1994, 2000)
Impact Singers (1992-1993)
Impact Team (1993-1998)
Camp director, Ranch (1995-1999)
Camp staff, Word of Life Florida (2001-2013)
Camp director, Florida (2005-present)
Director of Ministries, Florida (May 2013-present)

Family
Wife: Lynn Fahning Andrews (Class of 1994); married for 19 years
Children: Gavyn (15), Javen (13), Lynneah (11)

What was your first connection with Word of Life?
A Word of Life staff member brought a group of Bible Institute students to my home church, Bethany Baptist Church in Mount Clemens, Michigan, and did a Vacation Bible School-style event. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior at that event.

Whose life has impacted yours the most spiritually, and why?
God has allowed me to be mentored by several great men, but the biggest impact was made by George Theis. Our relationship began on my first Collegian tour, when he confronted me about talking while he was talking and followed it up with this statement: “You and I are either going to be the best of friends when this tour is over or the worst of enemies.” I’m so glad I chose friendship! He and his wife, Joan, continue to be a great encouragement to me and my wife, Lynn.

How were you impacted as a camper?
My first week of camp was in 1981 at Word of Life Ranch, and I hated it, missed home, ate too much candy, and was just miserable. When I was 14, though, I dedicated my life to the Lord on Kenya Hill.

How were you impacted as a student?
My first year was 1991-1992, and God used that year to change the direction of my life. I was involved in Collegians and developed a love for the technical side of theater. Through that, I decided to stay for another year and travel with the Impact Singers.

What is unique about the Word of Life Florida Youth Camp?
One of the unique aspects of the Florida Youth Camp is the number of church groups that come. We have very few individuals, so there’s a great dynamic between the youth leaders and pastors and our staff. It’s been called the “best camp in the universe” by some, but I think what makes all the Word of Life camps unique are the Bible Institute students serving as counselors. It’s very unique in the Christian camping world to have so many trained young people as counselors.

What’s new for summer 2014?
In 2014, we’re working hard to grow the Bible Institute as well as the Youth Camp. We’ve had several projects take place over the last year that have added so much to the property, and now we’re working to get the word out about this incredible ministry.

What types of ministries are the Bible Institute students involved in?
The Bible Institute students are involved in children’s evangelism, drama, praise band, and ensemble as well as Open Air Evangelism and ministering to groups that come to the Youth Retreat Center. We also were part of the new traveling tour Magi. We had 20 of our students travel with us for the production during the Christmas break.

How can we pray for your ministry?
You can pray for me personally as I balance my time between my family and that God would continue to grow the ministry of Word of Life Florida. We believe there are great days ahead!

Refresh: Learning to thrive with Plan B living.

By Ray Pritchard

My wife happened to hear a fascinating comment on the radio when we were driving recently. She scribbled it down so I could look at it later.

"The key to success in life is how well you adapt to Plan B."

That simple sentence holds a world of truth. So many of us go through life frustrated because we're still working on Plan A. That's the one where everything works out, your marriage lasts forever, your children grow up without any problems, you climb to the top of the career ladder, everyone loves you and no one hates you, and all your dreams come true.

Unfortunately, Plan A rarely pans out. Life isn’t that simple or that easy. Check out Exodus 13:17-21. When the children of Israel left Egypt, God did not lead them to the Promised Land by the shorter coastal route. No doubt there was grumbling and murmuring. Why go the long way? Answer: The Philistines lived along the coast, and God wanted to spare the Israelites from having to fight them and be tempted to return to Egypt. What seemed like a detour turned out to be for their benefit. In this case, Plan B was better.

Meanwhile, people who are frustrated by the failure of Plan A are overtaken by the folks who have decided to make Plan B work instead. What’s Plan B? It’s the reality that your divorce is final, and your marriage is over. Your first career choice was a mistake, and now it’s time to start again. You don’t have the money to buy the bigger house you want. It’s the truth that you have cancer, and your future is uncertain. It’s knowing some of your children are far from the Lord. It’s the reality that your dreams aren’t going to come true, at least not in the way you expected.

What will you do now?

Here are three suggestions for those who feel a bit overwhelmed by circumstances: First, embrace change as a natural part of life. Solomon says as much when he writes, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). If you live long enough, you'll eventually see it all — birth and death, war and peace, building up and tearing down, winning and losing, loving and hating. You can fight change, but you can't stop it.

Second, embrace your circumstances and make the best of them. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Life is hard for all of us, but it’s much harder when we grumble because we don’t like where we are.

Finally, embrace the only Person Who never changes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Leaders, friends, and children come and go, and our careers take many twists and turns. But Jesus Christ never changes! Anchor your life in Him, and you can face the future without fear.

Is Plan A not working out? Don’t give up. Jesus loves to help Christians who use Plan B to serve Him.

Dr. Ray Pritchard serves as president of Keep Believing Ministries, an Internet-based community serving Christians in 225 countries. He pastored churches in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Chicago for 26 years and has written more than 25 books. He and his wife, Marlene, have been married for 39 years. They have three sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren.

Resembling our Father: A message from the chancellor.

“Excuse me, sir... but do you know who you look like?” I hear it all the time — in airports, restaurants, and malls. Much to my chagrin, I am often mistaken for a well-known movie star. While I prefer to leave this person’s identity to your imagination, I must confess that I have been tempted to sign autographs on his behalf on more than a few occasions. Regardless of what people might think, my life is far removed from Hollywood stardom.

On the other hand, what a delight and encouragement it is when I am told that I resemble my father. My appearance, walk, and words are all strikingly similar to his. This is certainly no surprise, because from my childhood I learned from him and aspired to be like him in every way. Today, I consider it the highest compliment when a person identifies me with my dear dad.

In Ephesians 5:1, the Apostle Paul challenges the Ephesian believers with the command, “Be imitators of God as dear children.” Just like a child mimics his earthly father, Christians should strive to imitate their Heavenly Father in every way. This means learning how to walk in love as Jesus Christ did (5:2). It involves despising the darkness of this decaying and sinful world (5:3-14). It requires living wisely and leveraging every opportunity to serve and represent Him (5:15-21).

So ... who do you look like, anyway? Do people clearly see an unmistakable resemblance to your Heavenly Father? Live out your true identity as a child of God.

Victory Journal Issue 9: Online.

You can find all the articles from the latest Victory Journal on this blog, but if you'd like to see a PDF version of the actual magazine, click here.

Also, if you are not receiving the print copy, please send us your updated contact info at alumni@wol.org, and we'll get you on our mailing list.

Alumni News: 2010s.

We've got more updates from our alumni family. See what your former classmates are up to here and in upcoming issues of the Victory Journal. Let us know what you're doing at alumni@wol.org.

Kyle Bush ('09, '10) works as a land surveyor and enjoys basketball. He and his wife, Stefanie (Paun, ’09, ’10), have one son, Emory. They attend Watermark Church in Tampa, Florida.

Patricia Williams (’09, ’10) is a stay-at-home mom with her daughter, Karis. She attends Everglades Baptist Church in Okeechobee, Florida.

Stephanie Borgia (’09, ’10) is studying to be a nurse with the hopes of serving on the mission field.  She attends Calvary Fellowship Church in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

Jonathan Duckett (’09, ’10) is an intern at Crossroots City Church in Jacksonville, Florida, and involved in Media for Missions, a book business.

Derek Roberts ('10) is working at Lisbon Community Family Credit Union and Camp Good News in Livermore Falls while finishing his last year of college and serving as a teen youth leader at Lisbon Falls Baptist Church in Maine.

Mishaela Parker (’10, Hungary) is working on getting her teaching credential and on becoming an overseas missionary teacher.

Samuelle Champion (’10) is involved in student ministry and attends First Baptist Church of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida.

Dawn Brooks (’10) is a nurse at Cartersville Medical Center in Cartersville, Georgia. She attends North Point Baptist Church and has three children: Geovana, David, and Julissa.

Rebekah Larsen ('10, '11) is working full-time while studying full-time online with Grace Bible College. She also works with the youth and music teams at her church, First Baptist Church of Bath in Maine.

Leonard Van Essendelft, Jr. (’10, ’11) is the youth pastor at Middle Island Baptist Church in Selden, New York, and works for Terminix. He is planning on attending seminary school.

Bethany Rose (’10, ’11) is studying social work at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York. She attends Northridge Church in Rochester, New York.

Caleb Seibert (’10, ’11) works at Home Depot, is working on his bachelor’s degree online with Liberty University, and helps with the youth group at First Baptist Church of Philipsburg in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. He enjoys hiking, wood burning, and fellowshipping with friends.

Kristy Goodman (’10, ’11) is studying American sign language. She attends Temple Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Josiah Brondyke (’10, ’11) is serving the Lord in the Midwest. He attends Fish Lake Bible Church in Sherman, Michigan.

Brittany Tanedo (’10, ’12) is a full-time nanny and a youth leader at Russell Baptist Church in Green Cove Springs, Florida.

Graham Collins ('11) is on the ministry staff of Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Tricia Figueroa (’11) just received her medical assistant-phlebotomist certification and is looking for work. She attends Christian Fellowship Church in Scotland, Connecticut.

Andrew Kirk (’11, Jeju) is studying Biblical counseling at The Masters College in Santa Clarita, California.

Ethan and Brittany Wofford (’11) are praying about long-term overseas missions. Ethan is self-employed and involved at Rockbridge Community Church.

Lindsay Harbourne (’11) is studying nursing. She attends Westside Baptist Church in Hamilton, Ontario.

Bethany Davoll (’11) is graduating in May 2014 from Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida. She attends Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, and La Conexión a la Esperanzo Una Iglesia Bautista in Ecuador.

Cameron Hoagland (’11) is living in Maryland and studying engineering with the goal of serving as a missionary. He attends Fredericktowne Baptist Church in Walkersville, Maryland.

Rebecca Chambers (’11, ’12) is interested in counseling and missions. She attends Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

Benjamin Young (’11, ’12) is a student at Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida. He attends Crossroads Church in Middleburg, Florida.

Dale (’11, ’12) and Jennifer (Spiller) (’12) Williams were married on June 8, 2013. Dale works in residential construction, and Jennifer is a secretary at their local church, New Beginnings Baptist Church in Kennedy, New York.

Devin ('12) and Mollie (Burke) ('10) Graf were married October 20, 2014. Devin works for JetBlue and PrimeFlight Aviation Services at Greater Rochester International Airport. They both are coordinators at Connect, a teen outreach ministry at Open Door Baptist Church in Churchville, New York.

Abigail Barker (’12) is studying nursing. She met her fiancé at the Bible Institute. She attends Grace Brethren Church in Melbourne, Florida.

Alyssa Weigand (’12) is studying secondary history and English at Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida. She attends Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

Alex Luedtke (’12) is working and studying at Trinity Bible College in Jacksonville, Florida. He is a youth leader at Crossroads Baptist Church in Middleburg, Florida.

Krista Schmidt (’12) is studying secondary education at Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida. She attends Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

Heather Woolley (’12) is studying psychology and counseling. She attends First Baptist Church in Hobe Sound, Florida.

Lindsay Mixon (’12) is studying nursing and attends Lighthouse Baptist Church in Callahan, Florida.

Sarah Wagner (’12) is studying graphic design and working at Antro.

Shane Felices (’12) is working as a barista at Starbucks and serves on the praise team at East Pointe Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

Belen Aleman (’12 Argentina) is studying at The Masters College in Santa Clarita, California, and preparing to serve the Lord full-time on the mission field.

Rachel Anderson ('12) is studying online while working.

Kimberly Smith (’12) is a youth leader, nanny, and hostess at Sonny’s. She enjoys hiking and camping. She attends First Baptist Church of New Port Richey in Florida.

Kathryn Wright (’12, ’13) helps out with Awana and the nursery at New Testament Baptist Church in Largo, Florida.

Hsin Hui Huang (Serena) (’12, ’13) is studying at Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida. She attends Crossroads Baptist Church in Middleburg, Florida.

Jessica Klaus (’12, ’13) is a student at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and is involved in on-campus ministry.

Paul Kittelstad (’12, ’13) is working in construction and pursuing a career in acting. He attends Heritage Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida.

Aleta Dodge ('12, '13) is working as a missionary intern for Word of Life.

Jennifer Perry (’12, ’13) is working full-time. She attends Bethany Assembly of God in Agawam, Massachusetts.

Jeremiah Chapman (’13) and his wife, Leah, have three children: Arriah, Noah, and Hannah. They attend Woodstock Church in Jasper, Georgia. Jeremiah is studying for a pastorate position and is a student minister and a house parent at a group home.

Katherine Joseph (’13) is working and helps with child care at the Word of Life Olympians program at Heritage Baptist Church in Kentwood, Michigan.

Michael Carrel (’13) is working and helping with youth group at Heritage Baptist Church in Kentwood, Michigan.

Miranda Marie Dodge ('13) works at Tim Hortons, Clean Bee Laundry, and baby sits. At her church, West Rockport Baptist Church in Maine, she is involved in the youth group, evangelism, and Word of Life Superbowls. She enjoys ice skating, singing, writing, and Bible studies.

Alumni News: 1970s
Alumni News: 1980s
Alumni News: 1990s
Alumni News: 2000s

Alumni News: 2000s.

We've got more updates from our alumni family. See what your former classmates are up to here and in upcoming issues of the Victory Journal. Let us know what you're doing at alumni@wol.org.

Brad Smith (’99, ’00) is a student pastor at First Baptist Church of New Port Richey in Florida. He and his wife, Shallon, have two children: Emma (10) and Keirna (7).

Nathan Miles (’99, ’00) is a pastor at Potter Hollow Union Church in New York. He and his wife, Kristy, have four children: Lillian (8), Nathan (5), Hedia (2), and Asher (1).

Christopher Smith (’99, ’00) spent about 11 years in ministry, 5½ of them with Word of Life Local Church Ministries. He has four children: Jaxon (11), Conor (9), Lincoln (6), and Gracie (5).

Amanda (Steele) Leckvold (’00) teaches first grade. She and her husband, Stephen, have a newborn son, Isaiah.

Deborah Berruti ('00) is an occupational therapist working in a village-based hospital on the south side of the Sahara Desert with SIM, a missions organization, making a huge impact in the lives of the patients she treats.

Tanna (Kiahd) Bettle (’00, ’01) works as a customer service representative at a health insurance company. She is married to Brandon.

Karine (Radermaker) Cruse (’01) (Quebec) worked at a local rescue mission and is very involved in music ministry with the children’s choir at Westfield Evangelical Free Church in Westfield, Massachusetts. She owns a piano studio and teaches full-time. Her husband, John, is a pastor.

William Anthony ('01) and his wife, Ceressa, have three children: Zoe (7), Drew (4), and Lola (2). They attend Riverstone Community Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

Isaac and Bethany (Gray) Brohinsky (’01, ’02) have two children: Elijah (6) and Benjamin (3). Isaac is a partner at a certified public accountant firm and a deacon. Bethany is a stay-at-home mom, a church secretary and treasurer, a photographer, and a reseller on eBay. They attend Westside Chapel in Jacksonville, Florida.

Austin and Nicole (Davis) Green (’01, ’02) attend First Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida. Austin is a youth and fundraising consultant for Christian schools. Nicole owns a freelance writing business and enjoys filming, theatre, and public speaking. They have three children: Alea, Caeden, and Sophia.

Debbie Frisbey (’01, ’02) is the founder and director of The Youth Center of White Cloud in White Cloud, Michigan, and a substitute teacher. She attends Aetna Calvary Church in White Cloud, Michigan.

John Melcon (’01, 02) is the director of enrollment at The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, California. He and his wife, Kelly, have two children: Mark (3) and Lyola (1).

Kelly (’01, ’03) and Kimberly (Nolan) (’10) Smith have been accepted as Word of Life missionaries to Japan and are raising support and building their prayer team. Kelly is working at Verizon Wireless and Kimberly is a stay-at-home mom to Lucas (1). They attend Calvary Bible Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Jeff Nuckols (’02) is a pastor at Landmark Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. He and his wife, Therese, have four children: Gabriel (8), Anna (6), Josiah (3), and Elijah (1).

Ken and Amanda (Williams) Marl (’02) have a son, Harper, who is almost 3 years old. Ken works at Bobs Red Mill in Oregon, and Amanda works for Life and Style Photography.

Melissa Maynard (’02) works in emergency medical services and attends Crossroads Community Church in Amsterdam, New York.

Kurt King (’02, ’03) does landscape maintenance, loves golf, and is involved in the young married ministry at Hibernia Baptist Church in Flemming Island, Florida. He and his wife, Karina, have four children: Jaden (7), Seth (6), Lydia (2), and Erik (2).

Faith (Wilkins) Torsey (’02, ’03) is working at Walmart and interested in photography. She attends Ashland Baptist Church in Ashland, New Hampshire.

Seth Heydinger (’02, ’03) is a missionary with Word of Life in Poland.

Rebecca Thompson (’02, ’04) is a neonatal intensive care registered nurse.

Jonathan Steele (’03) and his wife, Emily, attend First Baptist Church of Rhinebeck in Rhinebeck, New York.

Shirley (Davis) O’Neill (’03) is a middle school teacher and works with high schoolers at North River Community Church in Pembroke, Massachusetts. She is married to Patrick.

Cindi (Warken) Schubert ('03) is a stay-at-home mom and enjoys doing crafts. She and her husband, Kurt, have twins: Mae and Luke (2).

Jacklyn (Feltz) (’03) and Clint Lain attend McKinney Memorial Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas, and have three children: Tori (11), Dylan (8), and Andrew (newborn).

Michael Seal (’03, ’04) is working full-time and is a seminary student at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He and his wife, Katie, have three children: Jonathan (5), Haddon (4), and Annabelle (1). They attend Meadow Springs Community Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Rebekah (Becky) Moman (’03, ’05) is living, working, and playing in Fairbanks, Alaska, and attends Friends Community Church in Fairbanks, Alaska. She is engaged to be married to Corey Sobah in spring 2014.

Alec and Jennifer (Headlee) Regalado (’04) have a daughter, Lydia (3). Alec works in construction and contracting. Jennifer is a supervisor at Starbucks and mentors other moms.

David McGinley (’04) serves as a minister of discipleship at Old Plank Road Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

Joshua and Julie (Stromberg) Ely (’04, ’05) attend First Baptist Church of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. Joshua is a student director, and Julie is a stay-at-home mom to Logan (4), Muriah (3), and Ava (2).

Leonna Elam ('04, '05) is the programs manager at Ironworks Taekwondo Academy Inc. in Dunmore, Pennsylvania.

Miriam Ritchie (’04, ’05) is a freelance graphic designer, is involved at Calvary Bible Church in Hanover, Pennsylvania, and is marrying Wayne Miller on July 12, 2014.

Andrea (Jennings) Nazarie (’05) and her husband, Claudiu, are Word of Life area missionaries in northwest Georgia. They have three children: Elliot (5), Micah (4), and Caleb (1). They attend First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia.

Jaclyn (Faisst) Quintero (’05, ’06) and her husband, Ramon, serve at Northbridge Church in Kalamazoo Township, Michigan with Hispanics, and teenagers. They have two children: Isabella (2) and Natalie (4).

Jennifer Gray (’05, ’06) is a part-time teller. She recently joined Quabbin Valley Pro Musica, a mixed-voice choral ensemble in Western Massachusetts. She attends Mission Covenant Church in Orange, Massachusetts.

Charles Love (’06) is studying teaching at Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida, and is working at Panera Bread. He attends Old Plank Road Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

Christopher Harris (’06) works as a pipefitter and coaches baseball, using it to spread Jesus. He and his wife, Shanna, have two children: Gage (6) and Bentlee (3). They attend First Baptist Church of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida.

Lindsey Ramirez (’06) is a case manager for a court and a leader for the 12th-grade small group at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Jasper, Georgia.

Krista (Samson) Seybolt (’06) is a student ministry secretary. She and her husband, Tim, have one daughter, Lily (2). They attend First Baptist Church in New Port Richey, Florida.

Rebecca Milliron (’06, ’07) is a teacher at Temple Christian School and attends Temple Baptist Church in Titusville, Florida.

Hillary Ellis (’06, ’08) runs the sound system for her church and helps with a youth program at another church.

Nash Purcell (’07, ’08) is working in construction with his dad. He attends Heritage Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida.

Stephen Gerhart (’07, ’08) is an associate pastor at First Baptist Church of Hudson in Florida. He and his wife, Sandra, have four children: James, Maegan, Emily, and Aaron.

James Thomas (’08) is an artist.

Kellie (Gelo) Paczok (’08) is a pharmacy technician. She and her husband, Joshua, attend First Baptist Church in Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Loren Smith (’08) is a registered nurse at Tampa General Hospital and is a youth group leader at First Baptist Church of New Port Richey in Florida.

Dwayne Johnson (’08) is working on a degree in counseling. He is a youth leader at Faith Baptist Church in New Port Richey, Florida. He and his wife, Sheila, have four children: Anne, Mason, Axel, and Dylan.

Ryan Arnold (’08) is the music coordinator at the Bible Institute’s New York campus.

James Presley (’08, ’09) is a full-time teacher and chef at a Christian school in Okeechobee, Florida. He attends Cornerstone Baptist Church in Okeechobee, Florida.

Justin Herron (’08, ’09) is a youth pastor. He’s pursuing a masters in divinity at Reformed Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Megan (Livingston), attend Crosswalk Community Church in Titusville, Florida.

Michael (’08, ’09) and Jennifer (King) (’09) Torres are involved in the young married ministry at Hibernia Baptist Church in Flemming Island, Florida, and are interested in returning to full-time ministry. They have two children: Michael and Lucas.

Eric Feenaughty (’09) works in information technology at Tampa General Hospital. He and his wife, Jessica (Strout) (’08, ’09), attend South Tampa Fellowship.

Kevin Case (’09) is working with teenagers.

Joy Edwards (’09) attends Spring Hill Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Florida, and helps in the nursery.

Bryanne Elliot ('09) works for Wells Fargo in Colonie, New York, and attends Northway Church in Clifton Park, New York.

Katherine (Ewing) Jackson ('09) works for a safety and industrial supply company.

Marques Pauley (’09) works at Chick-fil-A and is interning as a youth pastor at First Baptist Church of New Port Richey in Florida. He graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and is now looking for a job as a pastor.

Andrew Anderson (’09) is a worship leader at Heritage Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida.

Kyle Bush ('09, '10) works as a land surveyor and enjoys basketball. He and his wife, Stefanie (Paun, ’09, ’10), have one son, Emory. They attend Watermark Church in Tampa, Florida.

Patricia Williams (’09, ’10) is a stay-at-home mom with her daughter, Karis. She attends Everglades Baptist Church in Okeechobee, Florida.

Stephanie Borgia (’09, ’10) is studying to be a nurse with the hopes of serving on the mission field.  She attends Calvary Fellowship Church in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

Jonathan Duckett (’09, ’10) is an intern at Crossroots City Church in Jacksonville, Florida, and involved in Media for Missions, a book business.

Alumni News: 1970s
Alumni News: 1980s
Alumni News: 1990s
Alumni News: 2010s

Alumni News: 1990s.

We've got more updates from our alumni family. See what your former classmates are up to here and in upcoming issues of the Victory Journal. Let us know what you're doing at alumni@wol.org.

Jonathan Bubar ('89, '90) works in medical device sales. He and his wife, Cheryl, work with African refugees and have three children: Daniel (16), Drew (12), and Eloise (4). They attend First Baptist Church of Waldoboro in Waldoboro, Maine.

Ann (Towle) Jones ('89, '90) works for the United States Postal Service, is very involved in her church, and participates in missions trips to third-world countries. She is married to Michael and attends Bradford Baptist Church in Bradford, Maine.

Brent Parschauer (’90) enjoys reading, writing, and speaking. He and his wife, Shelly, have three children: Titus (16), Silas (13), and Lukas (8). They attend First Baptist Church of New Smyrna in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Shawn Morrow (’90, ’91) is a manager at a local supermarket. He and his wife, Sara, have six children: Ashton, Breanna, Kristen, Jordan, Joshua, and Sydney. They attend Crossroads Evangelical Free Church in Plymouth, Indiana.

Gordon Loop (’90, ’91) is a pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Dedham, Massachusetts. He and his wife, Beth-Eden, have three children: Micayla, Justin, and Wesley.

Dawn (Bach) Hartill ('91) is an information technology auditor for TD Bank. She and her husband, Daniel, have three children: Russell (17), Ryan (14), and Reagan (12). They attend East Auburn Baptist Church in Auburn, Maine.

Laurie (Shoemaker) Tilson (’91) and her husband, Bill, attend Southside Fellowship Abiding in Christ Church in West Henrietta, New York. Laurie homeschools their three children: Paul (14), Leah (12), and Hannah (10).

Wade and Kimberly (Morris) Peterson (’91) have two children: Rachel (19) and Abigail (10). Wade sings on the worship team at Community Bible Church in Cooperstown, New York.

James Smith (’91, ’92) is a bus driver for Hertz. He and his wife, Lynn, attend Praise Christian Fellowship in Pleasant Valley, Connecticut.

Stephen Janho (’92) works in real estate and is involved in his local church. He and his wife, Deborah, have five children: Abigail (11), Isabella (11), Boaz (9), Jacob (8), and Sophia (5).

Chris Chapman ('93) works at the Duke Energy Catawba Nuclear Plant, is a media director at Sisk Memorial Baptist Church, and owns an audio/video business called coMEDIAn Productions. He and his wife, Brandi, have two children: Devin (11) and Ayla (7).

Jonathan Anna ('93) is a police officer for the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office in Syracuse, New York. He is a full-time single dad to Ethan (5). He attends Grace Evangelical Covenant Church in Clay, New York.

Darrell Black ('94) is a house parent at The Joy House, a ministry dedicated to restoring teenagers and families through Christ, in Jasper, Georgia, along with his wife, Elizabeth. They have two children: Matthew (9) and Lauren (7). They attend Foothills Community Church in Marble Hills, Georgia.

Paul Harbourne (’94) is a pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church in Collingwood, Ontario, and teaches at the Bible Institute in Owen Sound. He and his wife, Kim, have three children: Tyler, Lindsay, and Brendan.

Dan Saxton (’94, ’95) just graduated from Westminster Seminary California in Escondido, California, with a masters in historical theology. He is helping with a church plant and working at a local publishing company.

Sarah Bubar (’94, ’95) is the dean of women at Word of Life Bible Institute in Hudson, Florida, and attends Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida.

Jonathan Stansel ('94, '96) works in customer service for a web company. He is involved in children's and family ministry, the orchestra, and is a deacon at Open Door Baptist Church in Churchville, New York. He and his wife, Beth (Hannah, ’00), have four children with a fifth on the way in the summer of 2014: Madison (7), Logan (5), Payten (4), and Jaxin (3).

Valerie (Chase) Burton (’95) met her husband, Luke, at Liberty University. She currently homeschools seven of their 10 children.

Neil B. Nicholson (’96) is an attorney in Concord, New Hampshire, and is watching his children, ages 10 and 5, grow up too fast. Neil and his family are active members at Manchester Christian Church.

Tanya (Stewart) Monts (’96) teaches third and fourth grade and is involved at Madeira Baptist Church in Middleburg, Florida. She and her husband, Michael, have three children: Chandler (13), Dawson (8) and Lauren (5).

Melissa (Presciutti) Patrick ('96) and her husband, Jason, attend First Bible Baptist Church in Rochester, New York. She homeschools their three children: Andrew (11), Tyler (7), and Leanna (5).

Daniel Fauth (’96, 97) and his wife, Cheryl, have four children: Lydia (8), Jacob (4), Abigail (2), and James (infant). They attend Bible Baptist Church of Shiremanstown in Shiremanstown, Pennsylvania.

Kari Ferguson (’97) is an educational instructional coach. She and her husband, Richard, have two children: Lydia (8) and Noah (6).

Ralph Wilson, Jr. (‘97, ’98) is a pastor at Liberty Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. He and his wife, Sally, have two children: Emmalee (8) and Landon (5).

Tim ('97, '98) and Bethany (Wittmer) ('98, '99) Raymond have four children: Benjamin, Noah, Ethan, and Leah. Bethany is a full-time wife, mom, and home educator. She is very involved at Trinity Baptist Church in Muncie, Indiana, where Tim has been the senior pastor since 2006. Tim is also an editor and occasional blogger for the Christian magazine Credo (credomag.com).

Casey Jebens (’98) is a head driver and trainer for Sherwood School District Transportation. He enjoys music and radio. He is married to Rachel.

Rachael (Zaicek) Macht (’98) is a teacher at EASTCONN, an organization that works with parents, communities, and schools to ensure all children are prepared for school success. She and her husband, Jeremiah, have one daughter, Grace, and attend Baptist Fellowship of Columbia in Columbia, Connecticut.

Melissa (Alan) Smith (’98) is a stay-at-home mom to Aubrey (3) and teaches Sunday School. She is married to Shawn.

C.W. Andy Anderson (’98) and his wife, Nancy, are area missionaries with Word of Life in Tampa, Florida. They attend South Tampa Fellowship in Tampa, Florida.

Brian and Valerie (Sharratt) Earl (’98) have three children: Timothy (11), Chloe (10), and Jeremiah (5). Brian enjoys basketball and football. He works in information technology support and is the worship leader at Christ Community Church in Tampa, Florida. Valerie is involved in children’s ministry at the church.

Jackie (Williams) Carver (’98) works at a bank and is involved in children’s ministry at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Jasper, Georgia. She and her husband, Mickey, have three children: Austin (18), Bethany (12), and Caroline (11).

Peter O. Ogilvie (’98) is a bereavement chaplain. He and his wife have five children: Peter G., Johan, Andrew, Hannah, and Mark. They attend Hope Community Church in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania.

James and Stacy (Laird) Mindrup (’99) attend Faith Baptist Church in New Port Richey, Florida, and have three children: Charles (10), Jack (7), and Mekayla (6). James works in information technology.

Amanda (Fisher) Langworthy (’99) is a stay-at-home mom and a director with Thirty-One Gifts. Aaron (’99) plans to open a nonprofit deli and is the pastor of a house church.

Brad Smith (’99, ’00) is a student pastor at First Baptist Church of New Port Richey in Florida. He and his wife, Shallon, have two children: Emma (10) and Keirna (7).

Nathan Miles (’99, ’00) is a pastor at Potter Hollow Union Church in New York. He and his wife, Kristy, have four children: Lillian (8), Nathan (5), Hedia (2), and Asher (1).

Christopher Smith (’99, ’00) spent about 11 years in ministry, 5½ of them with Word of Life Local Church Ministries. He has four children: Jaxon (11), Conor (9), Lincoln (6), and Gracie (5).

Alumni News: 1970s
Alumni News: 1980s
Alumni News: 2000s
Alumni News: 2010s