Sara Payne is the Director of Marketing and Branding at Magnify Learning, a good friend, a loving wife, an amazing ministry leader for Huntington Campus Life, and on fire for Jesus! We sit down and talk through the struggles she experienced growing up and the perfectionist pressure she put on herself. Sara talks about the day she truly understood God's grace and the freedom that it brought her. The pressure to perform and to strive was now gone and she could experience true freedom. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.
Brad Buckley serves as the Youth Pastor at College Park United Brethren Church in Huntington, Indiana. Before hearing a clear direction from God that ministry was where God wanted him, Brad struggled to know what he was supposed to do with his life. While all his friends left high school for college or a trade job, he took a year and a half gap-year to figure out what direction God had for him. We talk a lot about how mentors were so important in his life when making these decisions and the importance of taking life one step at a time. Then, he reads his letter to his younger self.
Buckle up! Dave Rahn is a youth ministry researcher, author, futurist and missional leadership strategist. After beginning his ministry with Fort Wayne Area YFC in 1972, he joined the faculty of Huntington University in 1985 and served there full-time for 22 years before rejoining the mission of Youth for Christ/USA in 2007. There is so much wisdom packed into this episode. Dave's newest book, Disrupting Teens with Joy: Helping Youth Discover Jesus-Focused, Gritty Faith is packed full of well researched and tested wisdom on what real gritty faith looks like! Dave talkes about how he started Campus Life here in Huntington County (my current ministry site!) and its a full circle conversation as we are celebrating 50 years of Campus Life in our county next year. Then, Dave reads his letter to his younger self. Disrupting Teens with Joy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P8W8SV6/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3
Anna Ruth recently moved back to Indiana from working in the Ukraine for 2 years. She shares a lot about her faith journey growing up and how God has spoken to her in different gentle whispers through her doubts and struggles. She is passionate about Jesus and, during this season of her life, is being refreshed by God. We talk a lot about her journey, God, John 10, and more. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.
Maddy Robrock is finishing her 2nd year at Huntington University as a Social Work/Psychology double major with a minor in TESOL. She plays Basketball and Volleyball for HU as well and volunteers for Huntington Middle School Campus Life. What DOESN'T this girl do?! Maddy and I sit down and talk about her journey through learning how to love herself and be confident in who God created her to be. She shares about her journey through sacrificing parts of herself in order to fit in and then how she began to learn to be happy and confident in exactly who she is. Then, Maddy reads her letter to her younger self.
Bracelet company mentioned: mudlove.com
Follow Maddy Robrock on Instagram: @maddy.robrock
Raquel Martinez Kauffman is a graphic design artist for Smekens Education, a lover of obscure bands, born in Venezuela, grew up in Miami, Florida, and ended up here in the Midwest after falling in love with the idea of small town living. During her teen years, her family struggled a lot with different things that left her life feeling very unsteady and that caused a lot of pain, anxiety, and depression. Raquel talks about her feelings of losing hope and where God was in all of those experiences. She and I talk a lot about counseling and the things she's learned about herself and trauma over that time. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.