VICTORY - Word of Life Bible Institute

connecting Word of Life Bible Institute alumni
ALUMNUS
OF THE
YEAR:
VICTORY
Issue 10, Summer 2014
Dennis
D’Augostine
Also inside:
Classrooms Go Digital
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
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.
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 alumni@wol.org.
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!
CONTENTS
The Victory Journal is a
publication of the Word
of Life Bible Institute.
Are
4 Where
They Now?
6
Q&A with
Lyle Hartwell
11 Paperless
Classrooms
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.
Step for the
12 Next
Class of 2014
Are you trying to connect
with other alumni?
Look for:
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:
alumni@wol.org 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 marketing@wol.org.
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 alumni@wol.org
or visit our Facebook group to connect
with other alumni right now.
EVERY ISSUE
5 Refresh
17 Alumni News
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.
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.
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).
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.
Whose life has impacted yours the most spiritually,
and why?
My father, my wife, Howard Hendricks, and Haddon
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).
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VICTORY JOURNAL
Refresh.
Where Are They Now?
Real change starts with
looking to the One
Who died to make
change possible
BY HAYLEY J. MILLER
D
o 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? Can your
spouse or loved one change? And do they see
you changing?
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 change 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,
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.
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.
VICTORY JOURNAL
5
[Q& A]
with 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.
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VICTORY JOURNAL
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 worldrenowned 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.
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.
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 starting this year 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.
VICTORY JOURNAL
7
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.
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VICTORY JOURNAL
9
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 coatand-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 18and 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
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VICTORY JOURNAL
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 21stcentury 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 computerbased 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!
VICTORY JOURNAL
11
Find more testimonies, as well as
videos of some of the students’
accounts, at bit.ly/victoryjournal10
or by scanning this code.
Marchelle
New York, second year
Next Step 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. This is what a few of our
soon-to-be alumni from the Class of 2014 had to say.
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VICTORY JOURNAL
Huggins
I came to Word of Life as a ninth-grader for Snow
Camp, and it totally blew my mind. I rededicated my
life to Christ and decided I was going to live for Him.
My counselors had a big impact on me — they were
one of the main reasons I decided to come to the Bible
Institute. They were so loving and gracious and gentle —
students who loved God.
I am now a second-year student, and God has
changed so much in my life. The thing that stands out
the most is love. The way I love people is so different
than ever before. It used to be about me — finding my
identity in being nice and happy. I wanted to give love so
I would receive it back. But God has shown me true love
is not about me — it’s built on grace and has Christ at
the center. Love gives and sacrifices and seeks the best for
the other person. Love is faithful and persevering. 1 John
3:16 parallels John 3:16 so beautifully: Because Christ
died for me, I get to love others the same way, and He
empowers me to do it.
God has changed the way I look at other things,
too. We had a church planting class this year. I had
always dismissed the idea and wondered why we needed
new churches when we already have so many, but God
changed my mind so much that by the end of the class, I
was signing up to be a church planter! I am looking into
helping plant a church near a military base.
Through these years, God has shown me my spiritual
gifts, given me a heart for people, and shown me the
endless opportunities I can have in Him.
VICTORY JOURNAL
13
Maxime
Jeju, first year
Theriault
I come from the great province of Quebec in
Canada. I was raised in a Christian family, and I was
what some would call an average Christian kid. I went
to church with my parents, attended youth group
(sometimes), and even went to a private Christian
school. But the thing is, I wanted more. I wanted to
know what the Bible really said and what it really
meant to be a Christian.
So there I was, after around 30 hours of flights and
layovers and 11,000 kilometers (roughly 6,850 miles for
you Americans) away from home at the Bible Institute
in Jeju, South Korea. It was a long trip, but let me tell
you what a year it has been! I learned a whole lot of
things from my classes but just as much from living with
10 others guys in such a tight space. When you are so
close with that many people in your dorm, you don’t
have a choice but to learn to be more patient and to have
more compassion. Moreover, it makes you think about
others first, because selfishness is not an option.
I’ve learned many things from my different classes,
but lately, the book of Galatians, taught by Dr. Mike
Eiras, showed me how to be humble. I am saved not
because of who I am or the things I do, but only by
faith. There is nothing that gives me the right to be
prideful. Furthermore, Dr. Mike was a great example of
this truth by who he is. It is a wonderful thing when a
teacher’s life matches the book he teaches.
Another highlight of this year was our trip to Israel,
where the Bible became a lot more vivid as we personally
saw the different places where Biblical events happened.
The year is now almost over, and we have to say
goodbye to people who became like family. We are all
going to leave for different places. For my part, that
means going back home to work for a year. I did not
think I would have to do this, but through discussion
with teachers and friends this year, I learned that
God’s will can sometimes be to take some time to earn
money. I am going to make the most of this year by
getting involved in my church and spending time with
my family and friends before I leave for my next step in
Alberta, where I will be studying Outdoor Leadership
at Prairie Bible College. After that, I am heading to
work in an outdoor ministry, where I will share the
love of God with teenagers and show them the beauty
of His creation.
One thing is sure: I want to serve Christ with my life.
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VICTORY JOURNAL
Britni
Wynen
Owen Sound, first year
I was saved at a young age and raised in a Christian
family, but I never really lived my faith for myself. In
high school, I tried to stand up for Christ but failed
miserably, realizing I didn’t know anything about
the Bible outside of Sunday School stories. I had no
Christian friends, and I was more consumed with other
things, making my faith just a title for me to fall back
on. I fell under the impression that sin could sometimes
be rationalized if it’s only to a certain degree.
Then my plans to go to university fell through, and I
was stuck. I took a year off from school, thinking I would
just work so I could get my life “back on track.”
I was introduced to Word of Life that year, when I
decided to go to a youth group with my brother’s friend
solely because I heard they were providing supper for free.
The Resonate team was there that night, and I ended up
staying for the program. The speaker talked about the
people of the church at Laodicea, who were lukewarm, and
how God warned He would spit them out of His mouth
(Revelation 3:16). They weren’t living for God, which
sounded a lot like what I was doing. Long story short, that
message had such an impact on me that I filled out an
application and headed to Bible school the following year.
This year at the Bible Institute has been a very eyeopening experience, to say the least. I knew it would
be an intense year of Bible study, but I didn’t know it
would really change my perspective of Christ and even
of myself. I learned most of all that my faith is grounded
in the actual Word of God (1 Timothy 3:16). The reality
of the Gospel has really hit me recently, especially going
through the book of Mark in Quiet Time and New
Testament Survey. Jesus, an actual human in the flesh,
faced all the same temptations and situations you and I
do every day, but He overcame.
I have a whole new perspective on what it means to
get involved in a local church and the importance of
fellowship with other believers. I’ve grown through the
discipleship program, and missions conference was a
great challenge to me.
This year has shown me God is not afraid to
intervene in my plans. I would love to become a fulltime missionary, serving God in whatever way and
wherever He wants me to go, because I know being
obedient to whatever He has in mind is the best way to
serve Him. I am very excited to be part of the Resonate
team this coming year and to continue to grow in my
faith, learning more about Christ along the way.
VICTORY JOURNAL
15
Andrew
Florida, first year
I grew up in a good Christian home and always
went to church but never embraced the idea of God.
Church and God were something that were part of my
parents’ life, and I just went with it. I spent my life
dedicated to sports. Nothing else mattered, and, in my
opinion, God wasn’t on the soccer field.
I was homeschooled throughout high school and
focused on athletics, and I found myself hanging out
with the wrong crowd. I got involved with anything
from drinking to drugs to living immorally. At one
point, I thought I hit rock bottom, and I accepted
Christ, but shortly after, I left to play college soccer,
and I completely turned my back on God and started
living in the flesh again.
It was short-lived, however. At the beginning of the
season, I sustained major injuries to both knees and
one ankle, resulting in three surgeries. That ended my
soccer career, and, bitter at God for letting it happen, I
went farther into sin.
I lived with my parents, then moved out and
worked in landscaping. I was fired from that job after
a series of late nights out drinking and getting to work
late. I then started a business, and my dad, who owns
a successful contracting company, helped guide me.
I foolishly threw that away, though. Without a boss
telling me to be at work, my nights got later, and I got
into even worse trouble.
Around this time, my parents mentioned Word
of Life. My heart was so hard that I mocked the idea,
but they kept pushing. My lifestyle had really begun
to affect my relationships by that point. I lost the girl
I planned to marry, and soon after, I was broke. One
night in August 2013, I was racing in my car and was
pulled over. I was charged with reckless driving and
having an expired license and counterfeit inspection
sticker, which left me facing two misdemeanor charges,
$5,000 in fines, and a year and a half in jail.
It was at that point that I agreed, reluctantly, to go
to the Bible Institute.
When I got there, I instantly shot it down.
Everyone was so happy and excited, and I just viewed
it as a rehab facility or a place to buy time until I got
on my feet. The first few weeks I did my best not to
open up or to talk to staff. When I did tell them about
my court dates, though, they showed overwhelming
compassion and love. My dean and discipleship
16
VICTORY JOURNAL
ALUMNI NEWS alumni@ wol.org
Mercaldo
70s
David King (’76) works
at Walmart. He and his wife,
Cyndi, have three children:
Elizabeth (24), Stephen
(22), and Phillip (20).
Caroline (Sims) Jones
(’76) is married to David,
and she just finished 17
years of homeschooling
their four daughters. Their
third daughter, Olivia,
graduated from the Bible
Institute in 2012. Daughter
No. 4, Caroline, attended
the Bible Institute this year.
David is a Navy psychologist
and became the executive
officer of the James Lovell
Federal Health Care Center
in Chicago this summer.
coordinator both wrote letters to the judge, explaining
how I had changed and made an effort, and all the
sudden, I started to really like Word of Life. The love
these people showed was appealing.
When my court dates came, I found myself praying I
would be allowed to come back. By God’s grace, all my
charges were dropped, I was given a $50 fine, and the
case was dismissed! It was then that I knew God had a
plan for my life, and I wanted to find it. Jeremiah 29:11
was very real to me then.
When I got back to the Bible Institute, I developed
a passion for missions and a heart for teenagers who are
troubled or on drugs. I found out more about Local
Church Ministries and started to really want to pursue
that route and attend second year.
God has radically changed my life and put me in an
environment that just loved me and encouraged me with
Scripture. This year has so far been the best year of my
life, with so many incredible friendships and mentors
than I could ever ask for.
Sharon (Ulrich) Avila
(’78) is working part time in
food services at a retirement
community and is active in
her local church. She and
her husband, Jorge, have
one child, Daniel (21).
80s
Glenn Parke (’83, 84)
is an audio technician.
Ron Glessner (’84,
’85) is an executive for
Zook Molasses/Good Food
Inc./L and S Sweeteners.
At his home church, he is
involved in teaching young
people and adults and is
part of church leadership. He
and his wife, Lisa, have four
children: Taylor (17), Ben (15),
Kaylee (11), and Josh (9).
Deron (’86) and Beth
(Burke) Peterson
(’88) have three children:
Samuel (15), Isaiah (9),
and Anastasia (5).
Karen (Norton) Warren
(’86, ’87) and her husband,
Nick, have two children:
Kyra (13) and Troy (6).
Anne (Halbert) Wieder
(’87) has a large private
piano studio where she
teaches children piano
lessons. She is involved
with worship ministry, ladies
ministry, and teaching ladies
Bible study each week.
Thomas (’87) and
Shannon (Snell)
Carroll (’87) have two
children: Daniel (16) and
Jessica (12). Shannon is
homeschooling their children
and is an AWANA leader.
Troy (’88, ’89) and
Stephanie (Moyer)
Good (’88, ’89)
have five children. Troy
owns and operates Troy
Good Contracting LLC in
Boyertown, Pennsylvania.
Gerry Horton (’89)
and his wife, Kimberly, have
three children: Andrew (17),
Ethan (15), and Emily (12). He
works as a children’s pastor
at First Baptist Church in
Keystone Heights, Florida.
90s
Susan Kirby (’89, ’90)
is a secretary at Lancaster
Bible College in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, and is involved
in church ministry.
Randall Scott (’89,
’90) and Donna (Goda)
McKnight (’89) have
three children: Lydia Goda
(21), Chelsey McKnight
(20), and Brandon
McKnight (11). Randall is
serving at Plainfield Bible
Church and works at MSD
Decatur Schools as the
head custodian. Donna is a
café manager at the school,
teaches Sunday School,
and works with the Word of
Life Olympian program.
Helder Seabra (’91)
is a software developer
at Online Computer
Library Center and enjoys
basketball and golf. He and
his wife, Kara, have four
children: Kayla (14), Isaac
(11), Ty (10), and Luke (3).
David (’92, ’93) and
Julie (McCullough)
Burch (’93) work for
JandJ Carpet and Floor
Covering and have
two children, Ethan
(11) and Kayla (7).
Scott (’94) and Christy
(Koonts) Benson
(’94) met at Word of Life
and have two children:
Emma (12) and Maelynn
(10). Christy works as a
bookkeeper from home.
Robert Makin (’94)
is a traffic and shipment
coordinator at the
warehouse for Ocean State
Job Lot. He is a deacon and
an AWANA director for the
third- to sixth-grade boys.
Peter (’96) and Bette
Verkaik (’96) are
Word of Life missionaries
in Western Africa.
Scott B. Leger (’96)
is a finish carpenter
and father of four.
Melanie McGibbon
(’97, ’98) works at
Walmart and is a Word of
Life missionary to Argentina.
Michael Lechleitner
(’98) works for Lifeway
Christian Stores as a store
manager. He graduated
from Liberty University in
2011. He and his wife,
Holly, have four children:
Adam (12), Nathan (11),
Abigail (9), and Alyssa (7).
Micah Durling (’98,
’99) is teaching Adult
Bible Fellowship at his
local church. He and
his wife, Rebecca, have
four children: Noah (7),
Josiah (4), Chloe (3), and
Arie (almost 1 year).
00s
Jordan (’99, ’00)
and Bonnie (Colwell)
Wertz (’99, ’00) are with
Word of Life Local Church
Ministries in Pennsylvania.
They have four children:
Abigail (10), Emma (8),
Isabella (6), and Justice.
Andrew (’99, ’00) and
Tabitha (Anderson)
Mater (’02) serve at the
Bible Institute’s Florida
campus, where Andrew
is the dean of men.
They have two children,
Novalie (6) and Eden (4).
Vincent (’02) and
Joanna (Cameron)
Sensenig (’98, ’99)
are youth leaders in their
local church. Vincent
works as a painter. They
have six children: Nichole
(12), Bekah (10), Tori
(9), Vince (7), Nathan
(5), and Danielle (3).
Gary Jacot is married
to Sonia (Seeley)
Jacot (’03, ’04). Gary
is a customer service
VICTORY JOURNAL
17
MAGI TOURS
2014 DATES
For more information, including
additional locations, please visit
wol.org/magi.
SOU T H
DEC.
5
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
Cornerstone Baptist Church,
Inverness, Florida
Bethlehem Baptist Church,
Moore, South Carolina
Freedom Baptist Church (host)
and Wayne Christian School
(production location),
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Bethlehem Church,
Gastonia, North Carolina
North Acres Baptist Church,
Knoxville, Tennessee
Hickory Valley Baptist Church,
Chattanooga, Tennessee
First Baptist Church,
Moody, Alabama
Montevallo High School
(production location) and Bible
Baptist Church (host),
Wilton, Alabama
NORTH
DEC.
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Barre Opera House,
Barre, Vermont
Twin City Baptist Church,
Lunenburg, Massachusetts
Temple Baptist Church,
Waterford, New York
Temple Baptist Church,
Waterford, New York
North Syracuse Baptist Church,
North Syracuse, New York
Open Door Baptist Church,
Churchville, New York
Open Door Baptist Church,
Churchville, New York
First Baptist Church of Johnson
City, Johnson City, New York
representative for a
portable toilet company
and serves however he can
at his local church. Sonia
is a stay-at-home wife, has
a transportation ministry,
and enjoys encouraging the
women at her local church.
Jeremy Fogle (’06)
works for a fire sprinkler
design company.
Lindsey Young (’06,
’07) is a discipleship
coordinator at the Bible
Institute’s Florida campus.
Joshua and Jennifer
(Robbins) Brown
(’07, ’08) are preparing
to plant a church in the
Northeast. Joshua is
studying at Southwestern
Baptist Seminary, and
Jennifer works on campus.
Randy (’07, ’08) and
Kylie (Leckrone) Curtis
(’08, ’09) are now serving
at the Bible Institute’s New
York campus, where Randy
will be the dean of men this
fall. Randy was previously a
discipleship coordinator in
New York for three years.
Luke (’08) and Erin
(Kelly) Lacey (’09) are
Word of Life missionaries
in South Africa.
Christie (Whitney)
Davis (’08, ’09)
graduated from
Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary
and is working full-time
on campus. Her husband,
Michael, is the youth pastor
at their local church.
Paige (Emond)
Johnston (’08, ’09)
works at The Enclave at
Brookside Apartments. She
18
VICTORY JOURNAL
also works closely with her
husband, Tyler, who is a
pastor with lifechurch.tv.
She graduated from
Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary.
10s
Kelsey (Holmes) Porter
(’08, ’09) graduated with
a bachelors in business
and is teaching high
school Sunday School with
her husband, Josiah.
David Rineer (’08,
’09) is doing an internship
as a pastor at Calvary
Baptist Church in Lansdale,
Pennsylvania. He graduated
from Calvary Baptist
Theological Seminary.
Rachel (Boddie)
Salinas (’08, ’09) is
traveling with her husband,
Joshua (’08, ’10), as he
does masonry/restoration
for national parks and
historical buildings. She
works as a nanny and is
involved in choir and senior
youth group. She also
teaches a 4-to-6-year-old
Sunday School class.
Travis Smith (’09) is
involved with the young
people at his church
and enjoys cycling. He
spent three months
volunteering at the Bible
Institute’s Jeju campus.
William Travis
McNeely (’08, ’10)
is an intern at Travis
Avenue Baptist Church
in Fort Worth, Texas. He
works as a waiter at a
Mexican restaurant and is
a student at Southwestern
Baptist Theological
Seminary in Fort Worth.
Michael Kilbride
(’09, ’11) is a Local
Church Ministries
missionary with Word of
Life in central Virginia.
Collis Bryant (’09,
’11) is doing as much
acting as possible while
studying theater at
Baptist Bible College.
Nicholas Charlton
(’09, ’10) is married
to Rachel (Macey)
Charlton (’09, ’10).
Nicholas is an admissions
representative for Baptist
Bible Seminary. He teaches
an adult Sunday School
class at a small church
plant in the area and
preaches on occasion. He
is interested in ministering
in marriage and family
counseling in the future.
Rachel is a stay-at-home
mom to their daughter,
Marianne, and works in
the nursery at the church.
Adam Davenport (’09,
’10) went through Word
of Life’s Intern Discipleship
program and just
completed the Missionary
in Training program. He
is headed to Canada with
Local Church Ministries.
Kevin O’Boyle (’09,
Owen Sound; ’10,
New York) is the assistant
dean of men at the Bible
Institute’s Owen Sound
campus. He would like
to remind alumni to be
excellent to each other. He
recently joined the Bible
Institute’s Alumni Council.
Hilary Kline (’10)
is in Uruguay, planting
ALUMNI NEWS
national churches with an
Avant Ministries team.
Dave Nolan Jr. (’10)
is working toward being
in full-time ministry
in Asia using English
and skateboarding.
Daniel Reed (’10) is
working on a masters
in divinity at Baptist
Bible Seminary.
Ben Garner (’10) is
studying at Lancaster Bible
College in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania. He works
as a taxidermist and is
an excavator operator.
Courtney Keller (’10)
is working full-time as a
secretary at an optometrist’s
office and helps in the
youth ministry department
at her local church.
Amber Roman (’10, ’11)
works in the admissions
department at the Bible
Institute’s Florida campus.
Najara De Moura
(’10, 11) graduated with a
degree in counseling from
Baptist Bible College and
hopes to use her education
to help abused children in
the United States or India.
Maggie Faulkner
(’10, ’11) graduated
from Baptist Bible College
with a bachelors in
counseling in 2013.
Brittany Fraedo (’10,
’11) graduated from
Baptist Bible College with
a degree in counseling.
Morgan Garber (’10) is
working as a mental health
director support specialist at
Community Service Group.
Josh Russo (’11)
is a student at Liberty
University. He is helping
Dwight and Diana
Willard with Local Church
Ministries in Connecticut
and New Hampshire.
Nick Ford (’11) is
a youth pastor and
a paraprofessional
(assistant teacher) at a
local middle school.
Meagon Eckhardt
(’11) completed her
masters in counseling
from Liberty University.
Anna Grooms (’11)
is studying elementary
education at Baptist
Bible College. She is
the ministry director at
her local church. In the
summer she was involved
in Vacation Bible School.
Bethany Yeaton
(’11) works at a nursing
home in Concord, New
Hampshire. She plans to
start nursing school and
is a youth group leader
at Epsom Bible Church.
Cassandra (Janieson)
Oldrieve (’11, Owen
Sound; ’12, New York)
is a full-time missionary
with her husband, Tyler, at
the Bible Institute’s Owen
Sound campus. She
and Tyler were married
in November 2011.
Audrey Hart (’11,
’12) is a discipleship
coordinator at the Bible
Institute and is working on
her masters in counseling
from Baptist Bible College.
Jonathan Helm
(’12) is a history major
at Liberty University.
Sarah Hollar (’12) is
attending Liberty University.
Amanda Raub (’12)
is studying psychology,
counseling, and
human development at
Liberty University. She
hopes to one day be a
Christian counselor.
Julia Amesbury (’12) is
working while taking classes
online. She is looking into
attending Baptist Bible
College to study counseling.
She encourages alumni
to stay in the Word.
Hope Dillon (’12) is
at home in Colorado
working at a landscaping
nursery. She will finish her
religion degree from Liberty
University in August.
Mickey Gonzalez
(’12) is working at a
photography studio. He
makes videos for YouTube
and is teaching himself
video photography skills.
Chloe Hossann (’12)
is at community college
and is working. She asks
for prayer as she works at
encouraging a small group
of teenagers to get together.
Amber Liotus (’12) is
a waitress and is studying
online with Liberty
University. She is pursuing
teaching English as a
second language, as she
wants to reach people via
the English language.
The Victory Journal
is here to keep you
up to date on alumni
weddings, births, ministry
opportunities, or other life
changes. Contact us at:
alumni@wol.org.
GEORGE THEIS
1935-2014
Former Word of Life Executive
Director George Theis went Home to
be with the Lord after complications
from heart surgery. George,
remembered for his friendly spirit and
strong Biblical position, was Executive
Director from 1991 to 1999, following
the original founders.
George dedicated his life to the Lord
as a young man at a campfire service
on Word of Life Island. In 1959 he
married Joan Robinson and joined the
Word of Life staff, pioneering Word of
Life’s first Bible Club, in Lakeland,
Florida. He and his family joined
Word of Life’s ministry in Brazil in
1963. Ten years later he felt God’s
leading to expand the outreach, and
he established Palavra da Vida (Word
of Life) Recife. In 1983 he returned to
Schroon Lake to serve as Word of Life’s
co-director along with Jack Wyrtzen
and Harry Bollback.
Memorial services were held for
George at Word of Life Florida on July
8 and at Word of Life in New York
on August 2. A memorial fund has
also been established to benefit needy
campers in Recife. More information
about the memorial fund and George’s
life and ministry is available at
wol.org/george-theis-tribute.
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
What about insurance?
I had the privilege of attending the alumni event
at the Creation Museum in Covington, Kentucky, this
spring. I was overwhelmed and encouraged by the
number of young families among the more than 200
people there. That made me think about family planning,
and whether people at that stage of life have enough
resources in case they face unexpected hard times.
Does your financial plan include insurance? Of
course it does — you have car insurance, homeowners
insurance, health insurance, and maybe life insurance,
among others. But, what is a Biblical view of insurance
— and how much is enough?
Some people might think having a lot of insurance
shows a lack of faith. Really, it depends on your
source of security. Is it God, Who never fails, or
something else? Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 5:8
that God requires us to provide for our families. For
many, especially young families who have mortgages,
children to care for, college, etc., insurance is the only
way to provide.
So the question is: How much is enough? As part
of your financial plan, you need enough insurance
to cover the gaps. That means enough life insurance
(you and your spouse) to provide the income needed
to sustain your family if God calls you home. You may
need disability insurance in case you are out of work,
and long-term care insurance to cover unpaid medical
expenses and nursing care. The list of possibilities goes
on and on. Your financial plan, after much prayer, will
show how much extra is needed.
The best insurance is self-insurance, better known
as savings. If you can save $1,500 to cover the
deductible, instead of the usual $250, you can
self-insure a portion of your car and homeowners
insurance, saving substantially on your premiums. The
same applies for health insurance. If you save and put
20% down on your home purchase, you can eliminate
mortgage insurance completely. So, include insurance
in your plan, but try to self-insure first.
Contact Howard Leach at
518-494-6214 or
howardleach@wol.org