2006 in Review

It is hard to believe that 2006 is gone. It seems like it literally flew by. It was one filled with so many sweet memories. It will be one year I will never forget! After graduating from ARISE in December 2005, I agreed to join the Radiant Living team—a group of ARISE students that stayed in Troy to do Bible work for a year. Thinking I would start teaching in the fall of 2006, I intended to stay only through July. But when July came, I just couldn’t bear to leave. There were just too many drawing factors that enticed me to stay—wanting to continue studying with all the incredible individuals I met with on a weekly basis, anticipating the arrival of the new ARISE class that would come in the fall, wanting to be a part of the soon-to-be televised evangelistic meetings with David Asscherick and 3ABN—I just couldn’t say goodbye to it all. And so, I finished up the year there. I have absolutely no regrets! It was one of the best years of my life!

One major highlight of my year was the team that I lived with and worked with. Of the eight people on our team, five of us went through the ARISE program together the previous fall. It was really fun to come back together and work together for a year. I will always look fondly on the memories of our time with one another. We really became like family. We would pray together, cry together, study together, play together, encourage one another, challenge one another, and I guess like all families, we would occasionally annoy one another. But all that added to the bond that we feel with one another now. To say the least, I guess it is not surprising we had a crying session before we all parted. Here is a picture of the crew. Unfortunately, Sam is missing. He had to leave a day before the rest of us did.

The Gentlemen (l-r): Royce, Matt, Ezequiel, Dan

The Ladies: Chantelle, Sherise, and me


Another highlight of my time there included all the wonderful people I studied the Bible with. I felt so blessed every time I went to study the Bible with these people. Their dedication to God, their willingness to follow truth, their openness to follow what God revealed in his word was an inspiration to me in my own walk with Christ. One especially rich blessing for me was when one of them decided to make the step of baptism and give her life completely and fully to God. Let me just briefly recap the story…it still amazes me every time I tell it to see how God orchestrated the events.

I actually met Anne’s husband at the door in October 2005 during my studies at ARISE. He agreed to study the Bible indicating his wife would be very interested as well. Anne, having no idea her husband agreed to have studies with two complete strangers, was rather leery of us at our first meeting together. She drilled my partner and me with the all-so-familiar questions: who are you, who are you with, what is your purpose here, etc. But we soon built a strong friendship and began meeting together on a weekly basis to study the Bible. I was amazed at every study how Anne’s faith in the Bible began to grow and her desire to follow God became deeper and deeper. Due to her intense night work schedule as a paramedic, she was unable to attend the evangelistic meetings in the fall of 2005. We continued studying through 2006 and I kept hoping and praying that God would work something out for Anne to attend David’s meetings in the fall. God worked in an unusual and amazing way where Anne had to temporarily quit her job. Perfect, I thought, now she can come to the meetings! And come she did…missing only one or two nights from the whole series. As can be expected, some of the topics were very difficult for Anne to swallow. We sat together many late nights just going back to the Bible to answer the questions she had about what she was learning. But one thing Anne never wavered on—if the Bible said it, she would believe it no matter how difficult it was to accept. What faith! I was so encouraged every time we studied together! At the conclusion of the series, Anne told me she found what she had been looking for. She had never been happier in her life. In addition to her own growth in Christ, her two children loved the children’s meetings and began praying for the first time and singing Christian songs around the home. Anne was thrilled to see the impact the meetings made on her children as well. Anne has requested baptism and I plan to travel back to Troy in the next few months to experience her rebirth in Christ. I cannot express to you the joy of seeing someone make that decision for Christ. That is what made this past year all worth it!

Anne, Ben, Haley, and myself











After leaving Troy on Dec. 20, I came home and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with my family. I love my family! Then on the 27th, we flew to GYC. It was a wonderful conference this year! I especially enjoyed Peter Gregory's morning worship talks and David Asscherick's evening devotionals. It was an incredible way to end a power packed, spirit-filled year. It was also a blessing to see friends from old times. Here are just a few photos of some of the people I saw there.

Claus and Theresa, two of my friends from Sweden









Staci, myself, Reuben (an ARISE 2006 graduate from Sweden), and Dan (Reuben's cousin from Norway)






Dan and I (one of my team mates over the past year). Am I short or what?















Staci, Melanie (one of my best friends from Andrews University days), and myself.















Joe and Shannon, the soon to be newly weds!






2007 and beyond
On January 2, I moved just west of Chicago to start teaching at Broadview Academy. Thankfully, the second semester doesn't start till the 17th, so it has given me about 2 weeks to lesson plan. I am so excited to see what this next year is going to bring. God worked it out that a whole team of Bible workers have come to work with Broadview Academy. In addition to teaching, I will also be working with the new team. God is so good! Now I can do both things I love--teach and do Bible work! I feel very blessed.

I would like to think I can keep you posted during the new year, but the internet access at Broadview is very frustrating!! Because of the proxy server for the campus, all blogsites are blocked when using the wireless internet. It's sometimes impossible to do anything on it. (While I am at my parent's home this weekend, I am taking advantage of their internet just so I can post something...) So if you don't hear from me in a while, that is most likely why. But I can check my email, so you can always send me a note. I would love it!

Well, I do pray that God blesses each of you in 2007. May it be a year of spiritual growth and deeper commitment to God and his work. Let's make sure we live the year in such a way that Jesus can come quickly!