Where Are We Headed: Word of Life's Newest Alumni Stretch Out Across the Globe.

This summer, we checked in with the four Bible Institute campuses to see where their students were headed after graduation and how time at Word of Life influenced these students’ decisions. Not surprisingly, the Class of 2012 is quite the international crew! Students came from all over the world to learn the Word of God, and they dispersed again to carry truth back into the many countries that need Christ. These are Word of Life's newest alumni, ministering all around the world. Here are some facts and figures on where the students are headed, plus what students from each campus had to say about their year.

NEW YORK
Where They're From: New York (100), Michigan (32), New Jersey (28), Florida (24), Ohio (23), Virginia (21), Massachusetts (20), Korea (19), Connecticut (15), Maine (15), Canada (13), Indiana (12), North Carolina (11), New Hampshire (11), Japan (10), Tennessee (8), Rhode Island (7), Maryland (6), Texas (5), California (4), Brazil (3), Mexico (2), New Zealand (2), Germany, Argentina, El Salvador, Nigeria.
Where They're Headed: Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia): 49, Liberty University distance learning: 27, Cairne University (formerly Philadelphia Bibilical University; Langhorne, Pennsylvania): 29, Trinity College (Palos Heights, Illinois): 22, Baptist Bible College (Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania): 20, Moody Bible College (Chicago): 17, Lancaster Bible College (Lancaster, Pennsylvania): 15, Cedarville University (Cedarville, Ohio): 9, Bible Institute second-year program (Schroon Lake, New York): 150-plus.

New York: Jack Price

I’m a sophomore at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and studying business communications. At this point I don’t have a clear vision of what my career will be after I graduate. But the Bible Institute, having about 450 students a year, allowed me to get to know many different people.

Word of Life surrounded me with a community of fellow Christians who were looking for opportunities to grow in their faith. From the classroom to the Collegians, I was able to help others draw closer to God as they also helped me. The speakers who came to the Bible Institute integrated the academic material with spiritual truths that helped strengthen my relationship with God. As a result, the classroom became a place not just to learn the facts of the Bible but also how to apply the material to real-life situations.

The speakers ranged from Bible teachers, like Ben Gutierrez of Liberty University, to presidents of universities, like Dan Anderson from Appalachian Bible College. Each presented me with material that challenged both the knowledge of my mind and the condition of my heart.

As I think about my experience at Word of Life and how it has prepared me for Liberty University, I am very thankful for the opportunity I had to spend a full year studying the Bible and conditioning my heart and mind so that I can continue to grow in a new community.

FLORIDA
Where They're From: Florida (60), North Carolina (19), New York (7), Pennsylvania (5), Michigan (5), Virginia (5), New Jersey (3), Connecticut (2), Alabama (2), Ohio (2), Delaware (2), Texas (2), Georgia (2), Taiwan (2), Bahamas (2), California, Indiana, Ontario, Oregon, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay.
Where They're Going: Bible Institute second-year program: 27, Liberty University: 3, Southwestern College (Fort Worth, Texas): 2, Tennessee Temple University (Chattanooga, Tennessee), Southeastern University (Lakeland, Florida), University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton, Texas).

Daniel Fahning, Florida

After I graduated from high school, I had no motivation to go to college or learn the Bible, even though my grandmother, Lori Fahning, offered to support me for a year at the Bible Institute. At the time, my life was focused on enjoying the world and doing what I wanted to do, so I thought I would visit Japan and live in a different atmosphere.

Living in Japan was fun but unfulfilling, and now, as I look back, I feel like I was Jonah.

After I had been in Japan for about seven months, I read a book called Every Young Man's Battle. My aunt had given it to me before I left for Japan, and, as I read it, I felt God get ahold of me. I realized I needed Him, and I decided to go to the Bible Institute.

The summer before the school year started, during the Monday of STC training week, I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ. God taught me so much through being in the Word daily and serving Him with my life. My mind has been transformed ever since.

I went to the Bible Institute in Florida that year, and at Missions Conference, God began to tie together the different directions my life had been heading. I had been in Japan for the 9.0 earthquake on March 11, 2011, and at Missions Conference, I was broken for Japan. I began to think about how God could use me there.

Now, I am at second year in New York, and I am pursuing being in full-time ministry. Lord willing, by His grace, I will be in Japan one day as a missionary. Right now I want to further my education (perhaps at Moody Bible College) and better equip myself with a solid foundation, but my hands are very open to whatever the Lord has in store for me. This is path where He is leading me today, but it is always subject to change. To God be the Glory!

OWEN SOUND
Where They're From: Ontario (15), Quebec (2), New Brunswick.
Where They're Going: interning at Bible Institute: 7, college/university: 8, working: 7, Liberty University, Redeemer University College (Ontario), full-time in local church.

Owen Sound: Nathan Clock

I grew up as the youngest child of seven in the small northern town of Goulais River, Ontario. Coming to the Bible Institute and getting into the Word of God has been one of my most life-changing experiences. Being constantly immersed in the Word and being stretched in all of the ministries has had a huge impact on my life, and it’s led me toward my decision for next year — the Word of Life Resonate team. Resonate is a ministry team made up of Bible Institute alumni that travels around Canada sharing the importance of the Word of God with teenagers and challenging them to dedicate one year of their lives to study at the Bible Institute.

This ministry will help me to continue to grow and be stretched. I chose to apply to be on the Resonate team because I have a passion to see more lives changed by the Word of God, just like the Word has changed mine. The Resonate team is a great opportunity for me to be an impact on as many young people today as possible.

JEJU ISLAND
Where They're From: Korea (10), Japan (5), Taiwan (2), Quebec, Texas, Virginia, Argentina, India.
Where They're Going: returning home to minister in local churches and continue studies in Korean or Japanese universities: 11, Bible Institute second-year program: 7, Liberty University: 2, Moody College (Chicago, Illinois), Southeastern University.

Jeju: Yun-Yu (Betsy)

Last year at the Bible Institute in Jeju, I not only learned the Bible — I also learned a lot about living as a missionary. Our two resident professors, Mr. Steve Nicholes and Mr. John Hawkins, are both missionaries. I’m from a strong Buddhist family, so it’s challenging to share the Gospel with my relatives. But I know God is calling me to share the Gospel with people, even though I’m not sure where and when, so I just want to be prepared as much as possible and discipline myself.

Before coming to the Bible Institute, I was always afraid to raise support. But so many professors said, “It’s time to take your step and put your faith in God.” I’m a person with a really small amount of faith, but being a missionary is not my ability — it’s something God will do through me. Last year, I learned to trust God with all my heart. I learned about the Bible so much and how it can be a tool that can help others and tell people the truth. Before the Bible Institute, I couldn’t make the Gospel clear. I always said, “Jesus loves you.” I was afraid to tell people that they were sinners. It’s really important to have a brave heart to tell the truth.

Now I’m at the Bible Institute in New York for second year so I can further seek God’s will. Second year is learning about ministry, and through that time, I can be sure about God’s calling in my life to be a missionary.

Watch: Snow Camp.

Snow Camp is in full swing on the New York campus (and yes, ample snow has been provided!). If you are interested in watching any of the meetings from the first few weeks, click here. Ric Garland and Jeff Cutting are among the speakers who have already shared, and Mike Calhoun and others are coming up.

Also, if you are in the Schroon Lake area, come on by for a meeting. This is when you can drop in on the fun each week (and who's speaking):

Friday: 9 p.m. Rally
Saturday: 12 p.m. Meeting (girls in Council Hall, guys in Jack Wyrtzen Center)
Saturday: 6:45 p.m. Rally
Saturday: 8:45 p.m. Cardboard Sled Race
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Rally

As usual, the extra time will be filled with activities.

Q&A: Greg Dyson.

QUICK FACTS:

Title: Dean of Admissions, New York campus
Education: Graduated from the Bible Institute in 1985; bachelors degree in Bible from Cedarville University; working on a masters in organizational leadership from Cairn University (formerly Philadelphia Biblical University)
Background: Has served in several local churches and Christian ministries, beginning with the First Baptist Church of Willingboro, New Jersey, where he was an associate pastor. Greg has also been the senior pastor at Church of the Acres in Springfield, Massachusetts. Greg worked as the Protestant chaplain at Springfield College and was the executive director of the Lion's Den youth ministry in Springfield before joining the Bible Institute staff this fall.

What have you been up to since attending the Bible Institute?
The most significant thing that has happened since graduation is marrying my wife Gina and raising our three daughters, Michaela, Miranda, and Jessica.

What does your current role at the Bible Institute include?
I am serving as the dean of admissions, and my role is to facilitate connections and relationships with future Bible Institute students and their families. Many people do not realize how academically strong and spiritually nurturing the Bible Institute can be. It is my desire that we will communicate this truth to a large amount of our alumni as well as a large amount of people around the world as we encourage new students to attend the Bible Institute.

What do you like most about your role?
I love the team I work with, and I love the interaction with potential students.

What does Word of Life do that you haven't seen happen elsewhere?
Word of Life entrusts so much ministry to young people, but not in a way where they are leaving the ministry to novices — rather, Word of Life is careful not to “despise” the youth (1 Timothy 4:12). Young people are allowed to be examples in every aspect of ministry.

What do you do in your free time? Do you have any interesting hobbies?
I enjoy riding motorcycles and riding a tandem bicycle with Gina -- as long as she pedals. Since 1984 when I saw one of my professors, Ray Namie, ride a motorcycle, I have been fascinated with wheels.

What do you remember most about your Bible Institute year? I remember the missions conference, when we created a missionary superhero named Tiny and strung him on a wire so he could fly into Council Hall.

And, of course, I remember meeting Gina. (Dean of Women) Ginny Newton told me that many couples who don't think they are dating actually end up getting married. She was right.

What advice do you have for fellow alumni?
Never forget what God did for you by bringing you to the Bible Institute.

What about for current students?
Remember that Word of Life is a first step. Begin by making strategic steps towards God's best future for you.

Do you have someone at Word of Life you would like to hear from in a Q&A? Email alumni@wol.org. 

Alumnus of the Year: Sergio Cariello.

We told you about Sergio Cariello, Class of 1986, in our spring issue. Sergio journeyed from a comic book-loving childhood in Recife, Brazil, to the Bible Institute in New York, where God put a burden on his heart to use his unique art skills to reach people for Christ. This year, Sergio has seen his ministry-related work explode, with his latest creation, a fully illustrated graphic representation of the Bible called The Action Bible, winning several awards as it spreads around the globe.

Sergio was selected this spring from a group of alumni finalists to be the Bible Institute's Alumnus of the Year for 2012.

Sergio has been greatly used by the Lord to reach thousands of people through The Action Bible — and literally millions of people through a similar pamphlet that highlights the story of Jesus Christ. But he won’t take credit for the impact his work has made.

“I wasn’t intending anything big – I was just following God’s will,” he says.

Sergio points to his time at the Bible Institute as significant training for telling the story of the Bible in cartoon picture form. He is an enthusiastic communicator about the value of spending a year immersed in the study of God’s Word.

“It’s very humbling, because I don’t consider myself worthy of such a title,” Sergio says of his recognition as Alumnus of the Year. “I feel very honored.”

We thank Sergio for being a faithful servant of our Lord and for the encouragement through his identification with the Bible Institute.

See our original story on Sergio here.

The Action Bible reaches around the world:
*407,000 copies distributed in the United States
*24,525 New Testament copies distributed
*Translated into English, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Korean (still coming: Spanish)

The free "Story of Jesus" pamphlet:
*20 million copies
*Distributed in Cambodia, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Pakistan, Singapore, Ecuador, Indonesia, North Korea, China, Venezuela, Guatemala, India, Chile, and Costa Rica

Student Testimony: A truth that reaches the darkness.

Editor's Note: We asked a few students to tell us how they ended up at the Bible Institute, and how the year had changed their future plans. You can read the other testimonies in the next issue of the Victory Journal, which is on its way right now. Until then, check out this one. We didn't have room in the print edition, but it's one of our favorites.

By Chelsea Anderson, Florida campus (now New York campus for second year)

I grew up in an average, middle class family in California. But within a few short years when I was a teenager, I went from the stability of a family and home to a lifestyle where I was selling drugs, surrounded by people who didn't have much hope, and living in a world that had very different ideas about truth.

When I was 18, I started renting an apartment in Humboldt County, California, after living with friends in the area for a while. Humboldt County is one of the poorest areas in California. It has just one job for every 30 people. Four out of every seven households are below the poverty level, and two out of every five households growing medicinal marijuana legally because of local demand and the money the drugs can make in a tough job market. The area also has a state college that creates an atmosphere where multiculturalism flourishes, all religions are accepted, and absolute truth is non-existent.

When I first moved to Humboldt County, I looked diligently for a job for six months, but I couldn't find one. So, on the suggestion of my fiancé, who sold legal medicinal cannabis, I started selling marijuana in small quantities. In our free time, we worked for industrial growers, and most if not all of our friends were people we met through this “medicine.”

My fiancé was a practicing Hindu. One of my roommates was a practicing Buddhist, and the other believed that if there was a god, he was just a creator. At the time, I believe that all gods were one, and the differences in each culture were just different names for that god. I was very open to all religions, and I didn’t think there was absolute truth.

Thankfully, though, God chose me to be His daughter. After the police came to our apartment one day, we all moved to different locations, and I moved to my hometown, Crescent City. While there, a man named Marlon shared the Gospel with me, and I trusted Jesus.

Shortly after, a good friend helped me connect with the Bible Institute. I filled out an application, was accepted, and decided to come.

The Bible Institute changed my life drastically. By being in God’s Word, I learned that absolute truth exists. I applied this truth to my life and broke up with my fiancé. God showed me that His life for me is abundant, and drugs are not. I realized God’s love for me. I know I can trust Him. I also realized that I am called “to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that [Christ] commanded [me]; and lo, [He] is with [me] always, even to the end of the age.”

The abundant life I have now happened because I spent time God’s Word and was taught to know Him deeper through discipleship. My heart breaks for the youth in Humboldt County, who are in darkness. Many do not have the opportunities that I have had.

I have parents and friends who have invested time, money, and love into me, but many young people in Humboldt County do not have parents who love them, or people with the means to send them to a Bible college.

I want to move back to Humboldt County and disciple youth. I want to teach them how to read their Bibles regularly then apply what they are learning to their lives. I want to see young people desperately in love with Christ, and basking in His grace.

Live for More: December.

Take a look at what today's Bible Institute students are up to, in their own words.

Missions Conference: Florida.

Thanks to all of you who came to New York last week for the Bible Institute Missions Conference. More than 100 alumni showed up and had a great time connecting with each other as well as hearing about what God is doing around the world.

For those of you who couldn’t make it to snowy New York, you have another chance this week in Hudson, Florida. The Missions Conference there begins this Friday, with the theme “Outspoken,” following Acts 4:20: “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

If you can't be with us in person at the Harry Bollback Performing Arts Center, follow a live stream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/word-of-life-bible-institute---florida-campus.

Here’s the schedule for the weekend:

Friday, January 11:
7 p.m.: “Breath of Life” with Rev. Calvin Varlack
9:15 p.m.: Missionary Mixer, Conference Center lobby

Saturday, January 12:
10 a.m.: “Ancient Words” with Rev. Calvin Varlack
7 p.m.: “Never Silent” with Dr. Harry Bollback
9:15 p.m.: Missionary Mixer, Conference Center, with T.T. McGhee

Sunday, January 13:
10 a.m.: “With One Voice” with Rev. Calvin Varlack
7 p.m.: “Outspoken” with Don Lough, Jr.
9:15 p.m.: Prayer Time