VICTORY - Word of Life Bible Institute

connecting Word of Life Bible Institute alumni
VICTORY
Issue 9, Spring 2014
s e a s on s of
connecting
Inside:
Bible Institute looks to open
teaching site in Africa
The Victory Journal is a
publication of the Word
of Life Bible Institute.
The name “Victory Journal” comes
from Jack Wyrtzen, the Founder of
Word of Life, who used to sign his
letters with the phrase “on the
victory side.”
4200 Glendale Road
Pottersville, NY 12860
1.800.331.9673
wordoflife.edu
Don Lough, Jr.
Chancellor
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.
Praying for you,
Don Lough, Jr., Executive Director
Word of Life Fellowship, Inc.
Chancellor: Don Lough, Jr.
Executive Dean: Mark Strout
Alumni Director: Mike Bush
“Holding forth
the Word of life.”
Philippians 2:16
The Victory Journal
Is Now Online
Visit us at wolvictoryjournal.blogspot.com
to find everything you see inside the pages of
the Victory Journal. We’ll keep the site updated
with photos, testimonies, features, and columns
by alumni and for alumni. You can also comment
on articles and submit ideas for new pieces.
We want to get as many alumni as possible
connected on Facebook. Can you help us reach
our goal? Find us at wordoflife.edu/fb, and
spread the word among other alumni you know.
Mission Statement
Just as the Bible Institute provided a place
for you to learn about God, to grow in
your spiritual walk, and to connect with
other Christians in true community, we
want the Victory Journal to be a place
where you can continue that journey.
We want to build a community where
you can find longtime friends, share
testimonies of what God has been doing,
encourage others with your stories of
change, and learn how you, too, can be
involved with the mission of Word of Life.
Be part of the Victory Journal
We want to hear from you! What is
God doing in your life? How has He
led, helped, or comforted you, even
in small ways, since your time at the
Bible Institute? If you have a story to
share, email us at [email protected].
Whether you have a testimony to give,
a story tip to pass on, or would like
to hear more about a part of Word
of Life, we are here to help. We want
to see you in the Victory Journal!
Word of Life Bible Institute Alumni
Ideas? Suggestions? Contributions?
Connect with Victory Journal:
We strive for accuracy. Please contact
us with any errors or questions.
For reprints, back issues, and other
information, contact us at:
[email protected] or 518.494.6000
© Copyright 2013 — Word of Life Fellowship.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means
without written permission from Word of Life Fellowship, Inc.
To obtain permission, e-mail us at [email protected].
6
Q&A with
Rich Andrews
8 Testimony Corner
with Dean Bruckner
King’s
9 The
Yomen
What we’re looking for
The Victory Journal features all kinds
of stories about Bible Institute alumni,
whether you have short pieces of
alumni news or ideas for longer articles.
Let us know if there’s something or
someone you’d like to see. Fill us in
on people or opportunities involved
with alumni or Word of Life. And
finally, tell us about yourself! If you
have a testimony, remember when,
ministry update, or feature article
idea, please send it our way.
Are you trying to connect
with other alumni?
Look for:
CONTENTS
on the cover: Clockwise from top left: Snow Camp
dedication cross; Superbowl; Cardboard
sled races; Magi
The Victory Journal will not only tell you
stories about other alumni but will also
help you connect with them. Periodically,
we will let you know about different
ways you can find old friends or
classmates through events at Word of
Life or perhaps in local church ministries
around the country. But there’s also
a place where you can always go
when looking for fellow Bible Institute
graduates. Contact [email protected]
or visit our Facebook group to connect
with other alumni right now.
12 Engage:
Teens Involved
for a new generation
14 Reverb:
Superbowl
gets a new name
EVERY ISSUE
5 Refresh
16 Campus Update
18 Alumni News
EDITOR
Fellow alumni,
As we welcome the warmth of spring with the busyness of summer right
around the corner, we want to celebrate another great season of connecting
with each other.
This winter, many of you had a chance to attend an alumni gathering or get
in touch with Alumni Director Mike Bush. We love seeing so many familiar
faces and look forward to hosting more events to encourage you wherever
you live, especially if you can’t make the trek to where we are to say hello.
Many of you also had the opportunity to see the Magi productions this
winter, witnessing Word of Life back on the road. This new Tours experience
is exciting, but it’s also made some of us nostalgic. We’ve started talking
about our memories from Tours, whether via a Word of Life road trip or
with Gospel Productions in Florida. The stories and photos are flying in,
and we’re ready for more! If you have thoughts, stories, photos, or anything
else you’d like to share about your involvement with the Bible Institute’s
Tours ministry, send them our way at [email protected] for a future issue.
There’s plenty to talk about right now, too. A couple of ministry events
with which many of us are familiar — Superbowls and Teens Involved
— are getting makeovers soon. Word of Life Florida has a new director,
and the Bible Institute is looking to expand to the continent of Africa.
And, as always, we’ve got news from all kinds of alumni, as well as
special events planned for alumni looking to come on home this spring
and summer. Visit wordoflife.edu/alumnigatherings or follow our alumni
Facebook page or blog for more information on upcoming events.
We hope to see you soon, but until we do, take a look at what’s
happening in the alumni family right here in these pages.
—Jen Slothower, Victory Journal editor
P.S. Yes, that’s your author up there in that photo. I had the privilege of
traveling with the Passion Play as a kid, as did my sister (Rachel, pictured
with Ginny Newton) and brothers (JohnMark and Tim). While I carried
memories of my experiences with the Bible Institute students for years, the real
star of the show on those journeys was my granddad, George Slothower,
who famously drove the Word of Life coach all over the United States.
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VICTORY JOURNAL
Refresh.
FROM THE
Learning to thrive
with Plan B living
BY RAY PR ITCHARD
M
y 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 13:1721. 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?
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.
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.
VICTORY JOURNAL
5
[Q& A]
with Rich
Andrews
Director of Ministries, Word of Life Florida
Rich’s Word of Life history
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)
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
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VICTORY JOURNAL
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 ministry and that God would continue
to grow the ministry of Word of Life Florida. We
believe there are great days ahead!
VICTORY JOURNAL
7
Dean Bruckner, Class of 1981
M
y 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,
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VICTORY JOURNAL
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.
The
King’s
Yomen
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
(Ramey), 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 every generation
can identify with the toy, and it’s 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 in my hand, 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 further helped his ministry. 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 while at the Bible Institute, “Whenever
my mind was idle, it was going back to Christ.” It was the
first time he’d been in an environment that encouraged an
all-encompassing study of the Word – and Adam 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?”
It works.
VICTORY JOURNAL
9
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 1982, 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
“They’re in desperate
need ... the need to know
they can be loved.”
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VICTORY JOURNAL
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 in part at the Bible Institute,
which she says she appreciated for being very ministryfocused – 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,
Rachel and her husband, Dustin, with
Pennsylvania, a
their children, Lexie and Teagan
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.
“To see the Lord peeling
the layers away from their
heart ... was incredible.”
VICTORY JOURNAL
11
Two familiar events are getting new names and new looks. Read on through
page 15 to learn about exciting new changes coming to Superbowl.
Teens Involved  Engage.
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 students’ entries 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.
Some of the major changes:
• Simplified rules
• Providing a scenario each year for churches to
develop (2014 will be a Student Evangelistic Event)
• A youth group can create a whole meeting to put
on together, from stage decor to the message
• Smaller categories:
Visual Design, Meeting Opener, Crowd Interaction
(ice breakers, creative announcements, etc.),
Music Leading, Transitions and Introduction to
Message, Speaking
• Judging will be more similar to America’s Got
Talent, and judges may confer
• Missions trip offered during the summer
• Elimination of Area Level as it is now
Teens Involved has been extremely successful
over the years, and we 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.
For more information, visit engage.wol.org.
12
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13
Superbowl
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.
The origin of Superbowl
Why Reverb
What’s new
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.
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
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.
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
To better reflect its
confusing to those who
mission, Superbowl
is now Reverb — a
aren’t familiar with the
night when the
event. Our first step
Gospel reverberates
when talking to new
out into a world that
needs to hear.
churches was almost
always to explain that
our event was in fact not
a football game.
14
 Reverb
Another
Multigenerational
Bible Institute
Family
VICTORY JOURNAL
Robert and Martha Ray did not attend the Bible
Institute, but they began a family tradition by
encouraging all five of their children to go.
Robert Ray, Jr. was the first to attend, and now
the third generation is making it a habit. Check
out the many generations, pictured at Bethany
(Ray) Edwards’ wedding (left to right): Justin
Ray, Shawn DeGraff, Travis DeGraff, Tyler Ray,
Matthew Edwards, Bethany (Ray) Edwards,
Matthew Ray, Martha Ray, Robert Ray, Sr.,
Robert Ray, Jr., Bernice Ray, Zachery Ray, Kristin
Elie, Quinton Ray (plans to attend), Tammy
Knights. Not pictured (but also Bible Institute
graduates): Mark Ray (son of Robert and Martha)
and Joshua Knights (son of David and Tammy).
VICTORY JOURNAL
15
Campus
Remember When
Update
Have a “remember when” you want to share? Send your
thoughts to [email protected], and feel free to include a photo!
Around the Corner, Around the World: Bible
Institute ministries expand 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 time, 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 teaching site 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 as many as 50 students.
Teaching will be provided by resident lecturers
from Uganda and surrounding countries, as well
as some professors from the U.S. campuses.
Additional options will be considered for ongoing
training at the school as the Bible Institute
looks to raise up future leaders for Africa.
It’s been a packed year so far, but we’re
only getting started as we continue to watch God
work both here around the corner and out around
the world.
Nathan Myers (’75) remembers the great time counseling
at camp.
Glenda Martin (’78) remembers choir tour, God Country
Decency, great Bible teaching, great times, when the snow
blocked the dining hall windows, and the minus-23
temperatures one Snow Camp weekend.
Christian Kendig (’78) remembers getting to know Marge
Wyrtzen and seeing how spiritual she and her husband,
Jack, were.
Linda (Ramsey) Wollbrink (’79) remembers there was a
skunk who liked to enter the dining hall and her dorm
room over the dining hall!
Abby (Winkler) Rettstatt (’87) remembers eating Shirley
Richards’ caramel popcorn while grading papers for a work
assignment. She makes Shirley’s recipe every Christmas!
Tammy Brown (’80) remembers when the Collegians stopped
at a travel plaza in the middle of the night. There was only
one waitress on duty, so everyone helped out with the
cooking, serving, and cleaning up. Then they sang a song!
Jackie (Laub) Osborn (’80) remembers a tornado on
opening weekend and no power for two days.
Janell (Murray) (’81, ’82) Frazier remembers Word of Life
being “home” to her when her dad was on staff. That is
where she met her husband, Mark!
Ron Glessner (’84, ’85) remembers Joe Schenke believing
in him and making him the sheriff of Word of Life
Ranch. God worked in his life in ways that even today
challenge him to continue to grow in his service to God.
George Theis inspired him to have a heart for God and
showed him how a leader should interact with people in
a godly way.
Laura (Snyder) Parke (’88) remembers the first snow
arriving on October 3 and the Revelation winter tour.
Adam Bottiglia (’98) remembers working and singing in the
dish room.
Courtney (Bingman) Stephens (’00) remembers watching
people wipe out on the ice! She also remembers there was a
boy who sang with his guitar from his dorm balcony. Her
first day there, he mortified her by singing about her skirt
that was too short! She did not like him but got “stuck” on
Word of Life Island with him. To this day they are great
friends. She was in his wedding, and he sang at hers!
Jordan Miller (’03, ’04) remembers years of great growth,
when he decided to follow the Lord, and when he was
challenged in his relationship with God.
Paige (Emond) Johnston (’08, ’09) remembers that she
and her friend Beth bought inflatable boats when it was
flooding in the spring and just floated around! The next
day there was an announcement that no one was allowed
in flooded areas. Oops!
Jonathan Poole (’11, ’12) remembers six big guys in his
four-seat car, and it didn’t break down!
Aaron Spoonhour (’11) remembers returning from
Missions Reality and discovering that his roommates had
accidentally burned his towel and bed sheets.
DAVID KIRABIRA
Class of 2005, 2007
THOMAS OBUNDE
Class of 1995, 2000
We want photos from YOU!
Let us see what’s going on in your life. Post your photos on our alumni Facebook group, or send them to
[email protected] to be printed in the Victory Journal.
We welcome any photos of you and your family, although we’d especially love to see you meeting up with
other alumni or saying hello at a Word of Life event.
For print publication, please send photos that are one megabyte or larger as attachments.
16
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17
ALUMNI NEWS alumni@ wol.org
70s
at the fair, where they have
seen many come to Christ.
Mark Trostle (’79) is a
missionary with Wycliffe Bible
Translators in Papua New
Guinea. He and his wife,
Estella, have two children:
Tim (16) and Micah (13).
Carla Gray (’74) is the
assistant dean of women
at the Bible Institute’s
New York campus. She is
thankful the Bible Institute
taught her to schedule her
Quiet Time each day, which
has changed her life.
Marshall Wicks (’74)
is a resident professor at
the Bible Institute’s Florida
campus. He encourages
alumni to send students.
Tamera (Champlin)
Buffington (’79) works
in accounts receivable at the
Step Lively Foot and Ankle
Center. She and her husband,
Scott, have two children:
Levi (14) and Jesse (10).
Rick (’74) and Linda
(Bollback) Warken
(’75) have served with
Word of Life for 37 years.
Their recent interests involve
grandchildren and family!
Linda (Ramsey)
Wollbrink (’79) and her
husband, Larry, have two
children: Joseph (20) and
Chris (18). She is an instructor
at Centra College of Nursing.
Nathan Myers (’75)
is retired and working in
the sound room at church.
He is married to Joyce.
Glenda Martin (’78) is
a wife, mom, grandmother,
and registered nurse. She
is involved in women’s
ministry. She and her
husband, Wayne, have two
grown daughters: Stephanie
Orlowski and Kristin Buird.
80s
Dana Towle (’78)
is a youth pastor at
Midway Bible Church.
Dennis Ulrich (’79)
and his wife, Joyce, have
three children: Brian (25),
Lynne (24), and Emily (21).
Linda (Miller)
Davenport (’79) and her
husband, David, a pastor,
have three children: Amber
(28), Craig (27), and Ryan
(25). She teaches children’s
church and serves with
AWANA. The Lord laid on her
heart to organize outreach
18
VICTORY JOURNAL
Diane (Boyer) Dorman
(’80) and her husband,
David (’78, ’80), have
three children: Katie, Laura,
and Andrew. Diane works
in the Pennsylvania House
of Representatives and for
United Road Services and
Insagenix. She volunteers
in her community.
Melody (Urban)
Harper (’80) is a
registered nurse. She and
her husband, Ronald, have
five children: Joshua (25),
Rebekah (23), Zachariah
(22), Josiah (20), and
Melody Joy (18).
Deb (Grube) Garner
(’81) is involved at her church
with the women’s committee.
She and her husband, Keith,
are involved in the young
adult Sunday School class.
She enjoys Bible study and
being available for friends.
Keith Taylor (’81) works
as a youth director in his
church. He and his wife,
Carol, have four children:
Tricia (24), Luke (22), Jessica
(21), and Kimberly (19).
Dwight (’82) and Ruby
(Murphy) (’82) Stone
have two children: Aimee
(26) and Amanda Everett
(23). Dwight is a youth worker
at Heritage Baptist Church
and is a self-employed home
improvement contractor.
Ruby is a teacher’s assistant
for special needs students at
a local elementary school
and is involved in children’s
ministry at her local church.
David (’82, ’84) and
Becky (Wood) (’82)
Wing have two children:
Courtney (Wood) Wing
(27) and Hanna (21).
David is working as a
glass manufacturer. Becky
works part-time for a local
chiropractor and has also
spent time in a county group
home as a house parent,
serving at-risk kids. David
and Becky love spending
time with their grandson.
Naomi (Janho)
Etchison (’83) is an
international student
coordinator at Aurora
Christian School. She and
her husband, Scott, have four
children: Ruth (19), Kelly, (17),
Mary (16), and Noah (13).
Phil Moser (’86) is
serving at Fellowship Bible
Church. He is married to
Kym, and they have four
children: Ashlyn (20), Adam
(16), Anna (14), and Asa (7).
Karen Taylor (’86) has
worked in food services for
the Pennsylvania Turnpike
for 25 years. She likes to
travel and does volunteer
work at her home church.
Kelly Lanette Easton
(’88) is involved in her
local church, singing in
the choir and helping with
the Word of Life Gopher
Buddies program. She has
two children, Andrew (18)
and Keagan (4), whom
she leads and teaches
with the Word of God.
90s
Patti (Norton)
Christian (’90, ’91)
is a full-time mom to
Cole (11), Brett (9), Kaeli
(7), and Luke (4).
Woodbury Davis III
(’90, ’92) works with
young people at his church.
Jeffrey Dowling (’90,
’92) is an amusement
park mechanic in Ocean
City, New Jersey, and
is involved in children’s
ministry in his church.
Lorri L. (Aguiar)
Astillero (’91) has been
a full-time missionary in the
Philippines since 2001.
Albert (‘91) and Marisa
(Mosely) (‘83) Irizarry
have two children, Eric and
Megan. Albert works in
radiation protection at a
nuclear power plant, and
Marisa is a homemaker.
Steve (’93) and Tracy
(Miklos) (’93) Cole
have four children: Caleb
(17), Elizabeth (16), Ben
(14), and Kate (9). Steve
works for Alex Lee Inc.,
and Tracy works at a
pregnancy care center.
Bill and Joan (Mardis)
Kline (’93) have three
children: Keith, Colette,
and William. Bill is the
coordinator for their
church’s Seasoned
Saints Information
Center, and Joan
counseled at a detention
center for six years.
Dawn (Wayson) Martin
(’95) just married Phil
Martin (’98, ’99) and
works at the Word of Life
Inn & Family Lodge.
Brent Manuel (’97)
works in software
training. He enjoys
computer programming,
traveling, golf, basketball,
and softball.
Joshua Snyder (’97)
is an elder, a praise team
leader, a keyboard player,
and a youth leader at his
local church. He is also a
city carrier for the United
States Postal Service.
He enjoys camping and
fishing. This winter was
his first time back on
campus in 15 years.
He says it is still a great
place, centered on God’s
Word, with the exciting
atmosphere he remembers.
Jonathan Steel (’93)
is a corrections officer, is
involved in youth ministry,
and has three children.
Beth Gallant (’99)
works at Sunshine Corners
Day Care as the prekindergarten teacher.
She codirects the 2- and
3-year-olds at Calvary
Monument Bible Church.
00s
Amber (Vidal) Baker
(’00) is married to
Shawn Baker (’98,
’99) and is a stay-athome mom to their four
children: Savannah, Austin,
Sebastian, and Aurora.
Bible Institute’s Florida
campus in 2012-2013.
Margaret A. Truxell
(’01) is studying business
administration and finances
through Liberty University
distance learning and
is working as a chef
at the Bible Institute’s
Florida campus.
Kurt Goglin (’09) and his
wife, Amanda, along with
their two sons, Elijah (8) and
Ezekiel (4), were recently
appointed missionaries with
the Association of Baptists
for World Evangelism to
Lima, Peru, to minister
through Biblical counseling,
theological education,
and church planting.
They live in Tunkhannock,
Pennsylvania, where they
teach in the youth group,
lead Bible study, and do
biblical counseling.
Jessalyn (Pitzer)
Powell (’02, ’03) works
at Hobby Lobby and is a
featured reporter at the
Kokomo (Indiana) Herald.
Josh (’04) and
Amanda (Goodrow)
Mellinger (’06) have
a daughter, Evylyn (3).
Josh works as a chef.
10s
Nicole (Rank)
Weidman (’05) is
working at an immunology
lab. She loves spending
time with her husband,
Phillip, and scrapbooking.
Jason (’06) and Martine
(Renaud) (’06, Quebec)
Goudy are missionaries
with Parole de Vie (Word of
Life) in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Martine also works as a
nurse at a local hospital.
Laura Evison (’07)
(Owen Sound) serves
as a graphic design artist
at the Bible Institute’s
Owen Sound campus.
Caleb Hamm (’07)
is working at Word of
Life in the photography
department.
Alex Smith (’07)
worked as an intern at the
Brian Berger (’08, ’09)
is a youth pastor. He’s
excited that three girls from
the youth group were saved
at Snow Camp recently.
Daniel (’10) and Sonia
(Johnston) Bacon
(’09) are moving to
Northern Ireland and are
expecting their first child.
Sonia recently qualified
as a phlebotomist but
is not yet working.
Josiah Brondyke
(’10) is a discipleship
coordinator at the Bible
Institute’s Florida campus.
Kendra Burch (’10)
is working to pay off
loans and raising support
to go back to Brazil.
Amber Ruhstorfer
(’10, ’11) lives at home
and is working at a home
for mentally challenged
adults. She is involved
in the youth group and
the nursery and is a gym
leader in a kids’ program.
Rachel Petz (’10, ’11)
is at Baptist Bible College,
studying early childhood
and elementary education.
She hopes to head into
missions after graduation.
Virginia Johnson
(’11) is a manager
at McDonald’s. She’s
working to be free of
debt so she can go to the
mission field full time.
Rachel Hope Knaus
(’11) is teaching English
as a second language
while studying at
Liberty University.
Nathan Barrett (’11,
Owen Sound) is a
second-year student at the
Bible Institute’s New York
campus. He encourages
any alumni who haven’t
done second year to do so.
Rebecca Clark (’12)
is a missionary intern
with Word of Life Poland.
She encourages alumni
to stay in the Word.
Benjamin Powell
(’12) is involved in fulltime vocational ministry.
Devin Olmedo (’12)
is studying criminal justice
at Liberty University.
Leah Reist (’12) is
studying business and is
involved in student leadership
as a resident assistant
at Liberty University.
The Victory Journal
is here to keep you
up to date on alumni
weddings, births, ministry
opportunities, or other life
changes. Contact us at:
[email protected].
VICTORY JOURNAL
19
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Word of Life Fellowship
P.O. Box 600
Schroon Lake, NY 12870
PAID
Word of Life
S T E WA R D S H I P
& you:
By Howard Leach
Remember when you were a student at the Bible Institute, and you or someone
you knew were wondering how God would provide for your financial needs? I’m
guessing you were amazed as God provided … perhaps through a scholarship.
Bible Institute students today face those same financial
challenges. Just as others helped provide for you, you can
be God’s instrument now to make the difference between
a student staying and going back home. The Adopt a
Student scholarship has been established to help bridge
the gap.
Sara* has a great heart for the Lord. After serving
four summers on Word of Life Island, she thought she
was all set to attend the Bible Institute. Then her mom
had a heart attack and her dad lost his job. The money
that had been saved for Sara to go to the Bible Institute
would now have to be used to pay hospital bills and
living expenses. Sara had to put her dream on hold until
God provided the funds.
Every year, we have young people like Sara who
have planned and saved, but, because of circumstances
beyond their control, need some extra help to attend.
Did you know that giving just $50 per month could
help determine if students like Sara attend? Has God
provided for you so you can be His blessing in the life of
a current student?
Will you consider Adopting a Student? Use the
attached form to indicate your support. You will receive
information about students who have been “adopted,”
the impact of your support, and the progress of those
assisted by your generosity.
Contact Howard Leach at
518-494-6214 or
[email protected]
*Name has been changed