VICTORY - Word of Life Bible Institute

connecting Word of Life Bible Institute alumniVICTORYIssue 4, Summer 2012Cover Story:Chris Gnanakanleads people allover Asia backhome to GodAlso inside:6Model makesindustry her ministry8Growth inSouth Korea

ModelingChristRachel Lee Carter uses her experience in thefashion industry to minister to young womenWhen Rachel Lee (Adcock) Carter, Classof 1996, applied to Word of Life BibleInstitute, she didn't expect to be acceptedby the staff and students. After all, shewasn’t a seasoned Sunday schooler witha shining recommendation from her pastor. She was aprofessional model coming off two years in the thick of thefashion industry in New York City.“Word of Life was very gracious, because I was comingfrom a really horrible place,” she recalls.Although she’d grown up in a Christian family inNorth Carolina and was heavily involved in her youthgroup, summer camp, and missions trips, Rachel admitsshe didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. Butwhen she met two Christian models on a photo shoot,they encouraged her to get honest with God, to call out toHim, and to ask Christ into her heart. She saw somethingdifferent about them and wanted what they had. Thatnight, alone on her apartment floor, she got honest withGod and asked Him to save her.“I felt God’s Spirit move,” Rachelsays. “I couldn’t explain it, but I knewGod heard me and saved me.”When she woke up the nextmorning, Rachel was changed.Everything that didn’t glorify Godhad to go — her music collection, heruse of profanity, her side job at a bar,and the toxic relationships in her life.“I wanted God, and that was allI wanted,” Rachel says.She didn’t know much about theBible Institute or anyone who hadattended, but she says she knew God was leading her to go.Once Rachel got to the school, God used an unexpectedtool to push her to be more like Christ: modesty. Presentingher body in a godly way would become her mission as amodel, and, years later, her platform when she was crownedMrs. North Carolina in 2009.“I remember reading the guidelines (at Word of Life)and thinking ‘Knee-length skirts? Really? Why?’” shesays. “I hadn’t thought about modesty before. And I didn’tunderstand its implications or consequences on me, mytestimony, or the opposite sex.”While at the Bible Institute, Rachel began asking Godabout His will and direction for her. She says she beganfeeling an urgency to return to the modeling industry,something she resisted at first.“I thought, ‘That’s the devil! God wouldn’t send me backinto that psycho industry!’” she laughs.But God began impressing on her heart that “thosepeople needed Jesus, too,” and “How will they hear withoutsomeone to tell them?” Around that time, aprofessor, Marshall Wicks, said during class, “God calls alight into every industry.” That was the last confirmationof what Rachel suspected — God wanted her industry tobecome her ministry.After Word of Life, Rachel returned to London, England,to continue in her modeling career, but on her own terms.She refused to model lingerie or revealing clothing and said“no” to ads for alcohol and tobacco products. Rachel knewthis would cost her jobs and create conflict with designersand agencies, but she refused to compromise her integrity.“I had to walk off sets, I got fired a few times, andI argued with designers if I felt I needed to wear moreclothes or layer a see-through shirt,” Rachel says.“God is my booker,” she adds, and even though manythought her career would dry up, it flourished — andcontinues to do so.With her modesty standards in place, Rachel haslanded jobs with Cover Girl, Tommy Hilfiger, JonesNew York, Wrangler, Nicole Miller, Reebok, Macy’s, andmany others. She’s traveled to more than 30 countries.In 1999, Rachel began leading a Bible study for models.As the group grew and she began receiving invitationsto speak publicly, her ministry, Modeling Christ, wasborn. It soon grew to include those influenced by themodeling industry.Now, as a professional speaker and author, Rachel sharesher testimony at schools, churches, and women’s andyouth conferences nationwide. Sheteaches identity in Christ, modelingmodesty, purity, and embracingone’s past — all lessons God taughther through His Word and herexperiences in the world of fashion.Last May, Rachel released herbook, Fashioned by Faith: AnInternational Model Uncovers theTruth about Modesty and Style(Thomas Nelson, 2011). Rachelsays the reaction to the book fromteenage girls has been a blessing.“Girls tend to listen because of myfashion background. It’s a hook,”she says. “Never mind it’s the same modesty message thatcomes from the mouths of their parents — it just comesin a different package. It’s amazing how God uses it.”Rachel has also developed a successful speaking ministrywhile continuing to maintain her career as a professionalmodel. Most of all, she loves spending time with herhusband, Daryl, and their two sons, Jack, 11, and Jude, 4.As she prepares for the future of Modeling Christ,which she hopes will include a modest clothing linesomeday, Rachel says she looks back at the Bible Instituteas “handpicked by God” to prepare her for her ministry.“Word of Life gave me the tools I needed to bring me tothe place I am today,” she says. “I am deeply indebted.”For more information about Rachel’s ministry, pleasevisit ModelingChrist.com.Rachel Lee Carter's goal isto work as a professionalfashion model withoutcompromising modestystandards. She shares herexperiences with othersto help them learn aboutmodesty, embracing thepast, and revealing true self.Book ClubThe Class of 1988 has produced quite a cropof authors and storytellers. Kyle Hammersmith,Twila Zehr Patterson, Sean MacDonald, and RobynDeVries Graham have each published books sinceattending the Bible Institute. Three of the authors wrotenonfiction books about personal experiences, but forHammersmith — now a professor at Liberty University— storytelling was a way to apply the lessons andlandscape of Word of Life in a whole new way.The Legend of Lake Marilee(Fiction)By Kyle HammersmithLake Marilee is not only full ofmurder theories and a local ghostlegend when young Jody Barrettcomes to visit — it’s also the settingfor a battle between fact andfiction, right and wrong, and goodand evil. Christian apologeticsmeet intriguing storytelling as the lessons Jody learnsabout families, values, and God change the way heencounters truth.Where have I seen that before?When Kyle started writing his suspense novel, he turnedto a familiar setting to sketch his characters and scenes:Word of Life. The novel is based in an area that mirrorsSchroon Lake and Pottersville, including the centrallocation of the Brown SwanClub (aka the Word ofLife Inn). Kyle, who has amaster’s in education fromOhio State University anda bachelor’s in English fromLiberty University, was achef at Word of Life inNew York and Floridaafter graduating from theBible Institute.Editor’s Take: Looking for a book that will helpthe young people you know tackle questionsof truth, postmodern philosophy, or apologetics? Kyletakes classroom lessons into real life in a suspensefuland entertaining way. This novel is great for teenagersand others who are tackling questions of truth.6 VICTORY JOURNAL VICTORY JOURNAL7

A Giftof GrowthThe Bible Institute’s Jeju campus has a chance at amuch-needed expansion thanks to a gift from a friend.Now all it needs is a couple more helping hands.Do you have someone at Word of Life you would like to hearfrom in a Q&A? Email alumni@wol.org.By Rhonda Nicholes, Word ofLife missionary to South KoreaGet to KnowJeff LewisWhat would you do if a friendcame to your house one eveningand said, “I’m going to give you$230,000?” Well, that is exactlywhat happened to us this pastMarch. As you can imagine, we were floored and at aloss for words. God had blessed a friend from church,and she wants to see the cafetorium here at the BibleInstitute’s Jeju campus completed this summer.Finishing this cafetorium will officially bring Phase 1of the Jeju building project to a close. We have beenable to run the school without it until this point byusing one floor of a dorm to have classes, operatingour offices out of a construction storage container,temporarily housing the kitchen in a maintenancegarage, and serving meals in a greenhouse/tentstructure (very hot in summer and very cold in thewinter). As you can see, this will greatly enhance theexperience of students who come, make the campusmuch more attractive, help us recruit students, andmake the program much more efficient for the staff.We were not necessarily planning a work projectthis summer, but God obviously had other ideas. So,we are looking for a few more donations to bring usup to the $300,000 needed to complete the project.We also need workers — skilled and unskilled — tocome and help to raise the roof between July 17 andSeptember 17.It will be one of the cheapest overseas short-termmission trips I know of — just the cost of a plane ticket.The logs for the building are already on their wayfrom Lincoln Logs in Warrensburg, New York. Theyshould arrive around July 17. God is also sendingEugene Webster and his family back as the generalcontractor to oversee the project.Anyone interested in investing his or herconstruction skills — carpentry, electrical, plumbing,roofing, tiling — or simply two hands is invited to helpat the Bible Institute in Jeju this summer. Please contactcherylgredlein@wol.org for more information, andbe praying that God will send the funds and friendsneeded to make this happen!Class of 1998The newest dean of men at the Bible Institute’sNew York campus has brought a measure of thrillseekingto the Christian walk. While discipling studentsand teaching classes, Jeff Lewis makes the most of God’screation, from kayaking in the summer to snowboardingin the winter – with hikes up and down the AdirondackMountains in between.Jeff’s path to ministering at the Bible Institute beganat Schroon Lake. (Full disclosure: This dean of men comeshighly recommended by the alumni director.) He grewup in the Word of Life family and attended the BibleInstitute in 1998. He then studied Bible exposition andlater Biblical counseling at The Master’s College in SantaClarita, California and became resident director there. In2009, he joined the Bible Institute staff at the New Yorkcampus, serving as the assistant dean of men for two years.Now as dean of men, Jeff is responsible for theleadership development on campus. He also speaks atcampus services, teaches electives, and helps with theContemporary Issues class for second-year students.What do you like about your role at the Bible Institute?The thing I enjoy most about my job is its diversity andhow it creates a number of different ways to interact withstudents. One day I may be talking through a significantfamily situation with a student over lunch, and the nextwe may be on the local ski mountain in one of the winterphysical education classes.What about the Bible Institute separates it from otherschools and ministries? One of the things I appreciateabout the Bible Institute experience is the number ofopportunities in which the students get to apply whatthey are learning in the immediate context of this campusand beyond. I have always appreciated how Word of Lifeputs an emphasis on taking what you have learned andlooking for opportunities to serve.Tell us about what you like to do in your free time. Myhobbies generally involve the outdoors. While I love theweather in California, it’s nice to be back in a part of thecountry with seasons, and all of the activities that comewith them. In the spring and summer I enjoy heading outwith my friends to go kayaking in the rivers up here. Inthe winter we like to grab our snowshoes and snowboardsand take off in search of new routes to ride in the HighPeaks. I also like biographies, documentaries, listening toblues guitar music and getting to “babysit” my brother’sHarley Davidson when he’s deployed overseas.What sticks with you the mostfrom your time at the BibleInstitute? A couple of things standout to me from my Bible Instituteyear. One was the opportunityto travel to Israel with Dr. TomDavis, Dr. Charles Ryrie, and Dr.Joe Jordan on a study trip. Thatgave me a love for the country andmotivation to go back for an entiresemester later in college to studythe Bible in the context where itsevents occurred. I talked Dr. Ryrieinto riding a camel with me on[Q& A]that trip while we were in Jericho, so that was a prettymemorable experience.When I think about my Bible Institute year, I alsothink about how I benefited tremendously from thevariety of guest lecturers, and I remember my classmates.There were so many great people on my soccer team, inmy dorm and across campus. I’m still not sure how suchsolid friendships were forged in just the space of that oneyear, but it’s something I’m thankful for to this day.Film producer Andy Erwin stopped by the otherday, and we were laughing about filming a Snow Campvideo at two o'clock in the morning while rappelling fromthe roof of the field house. Who knew he’d actually beinvolved in the film industry one day?How has your perspective shaped how you help students?As I think about that question, I’m realizing a lot of what I tryto push the currentstudents toward isbased on howmuch I gained frommy experience here.Along those lines, Itell students to jumpinto the year andembrace all of it —classroom, ministryopportunities, andrelationships. At thesame time, I wantthem to understandthat the knowledge and experience gained from thesethings is meant to be taken into future phases of life.While the Bible Institute year or two is unique in itself,the realities of the Christian life learned and sharpenedhere are intended to equip them for an ever-deepeningrelationship with the Lord and a resolve to serve otherstoward that end in whatever context the Lord places them.8 VICTORY JOURNAL VICTORY JOURNAL9

Photograph courtesy of Barney Brinkmann,taken in Kumarakom Kerala, India. Usedwith permission.On Their WayBack HomeMany Christians pray for the people around the world who haven’t been reachedfor Christ. Others have gone, leaving the places they know as home, to tell othersof true hope. But often, despite years of training or persistent traveling, some areasremain closed to the Gospel.That is, unless the Christians already there know how to spread the truth —from the inside out.Chris Gnanakan grew up in Bangalore, India.His great grandfather was the first in his ancestry tobecome a Christian, and Chris was saved at 15 whena message about God’s love changed him.Chris became very aware of his sinfulness, butthat realization was also met with the truth of God’smercy. Compared with India’s prevalent Hindu ideaof karma, which atones for sin with punishment, aSavior Who would actually forgive a sinner filledChris with hope.But Chris hadn’t considered Christianity’s reachbeyond the life he knew. He was building a careeras a skilled technician in Bangalore, the “SiliconValley of the East” — until, one day, he was movedto make his faith the focus of his life.Chris was being discipled by Gene Tozer fromNew Brunswick Bible Institute in the late 1970swhen he met Wendell Calder, who taught at Wordof Life’s Bible Institute and had founded a ministrycalled Local Church Evangelism. Wendell, who wasvisiting India, had been working with Jack Wyrtzenand Word of Life on reaching more countries forChrist. At that time, missionaries from the Westweren’t allowed in India — but there was nothingto keep a native Indian from sharing his faith.Chris knew he could make a difference in Indiaif he could just get the training. Jack offered him ascholarship to the Bible Institute in Schroon Lake,and Chris took it. That choice began his journeytoward reaching a country that now holds morethan one billion people of various religions, vices,and creeds.Chris left for the United States in 1984, arrivingin Schroon Lake just in time for winter Snow Camp.“It stays at about 75 degrees in Bangalore yearround,and I left for New York in January,” Chrissays of his first time ever leaving his village. “Ithought I would die. I wore two pairs of pants atonce. I had only seen snow on postcards!”Chris grew to love Schroon Lake, from its fourdistinct seasons to what he found in fellow studentsand faculty members.“They loved me, cared for me, prayed for me —I saw the beauty of Jesus through the people,” Chrissays. “I will never forget.”Adjusting to a new physical climate was justthe beginning. At Word of Life, Chris saw for thefirst time that Christian ministry was international— and growing.10 VICTORY JOURNAL VICTORY JOURNAL11

“I realized it was going global, and I was part ofit,” he recalls.His daily life was filled with “a wonderful blendof intimacy with God and involvement with theworld.” Evangelism became hismain focus.Chris first had to practiceplanting churches in theUnited States, and his ministryat the Bible Institute was doingjust that. Every weekend forsix months, he went with ateam led by Brian Gower to Fair Haven, Vermont,where the students planted a church and developeda congregation. Family Bible Church remains todayin Castleton, led by Pastor John Longaker.Chris next went to Tennessee Temple University,where he earned a bachelor’s degree in pastoralstudies and psychology. In 1990, it was back toBangalore, to reach fellow Indians for Christ.Chris had trained for evangelism knowing whathis home country was like, but reality was still harsh.Militant Hindutva extremists used their “India isHindu only” ideology to intimidate Christians.“You’ve got to go out on a limb, take risks foryour faith, venture out into the deep, even thoughyou might not come back,” Chris says.The possibility of moving out and not returning“You’ve got to goout on a limb,... venture outinto the deep ...”MAKING A PACT FOR A GLOBAL IMPACTFor decades, Bible Institute students have read Operation World byJason Mandryk together. The book is an evangelical tour guide, profilingthe state of Christianity in all of the world’s countries.Chris read and prayed over the book with classmate Nathan Gravesduring his Bible Institute year. They met at the old Snack Shack on theNew York campus and made a pact to go wherever God would lead.Chris’ path led to India, while Nathan headed to Albania, which atthe time was deemed the most difficult nation for Christians. After 25years in missions, they met in Macedonia in 2010 at the first BalkanWorld Mission Conference, led by Eagles of Peace, Nathan’s missionsorganization. The theme of the gathering was “From everywhere toeverywhere,” based on Paul’s mission in the New Testament.Chris and Nathan looked at the crowd and saw people from all overthe Balkan Peninsula who are committed to reaching the many nationsthere that can’t be entered by American missionaries.While preaching Christ remains a struggle in India, Albania’s religiousclimate has changed since Nathan arrived. Christians now make up morethan 30 percent of the country’s population.is a reality in Chris’ field of work. His churchplantingefforts have included beatings, and histeam members have served jail time.“You’ve got to thrust yourself out and keep going— and not be ashamed of the Gospel,” he says.Chris worked hard to make connections inIndia, and by the end of his first year there, he’destablished a church, Banaswadi Bible, where heserved as pastor for more than 10 years. That firstchurch eventually led Chris to his current ministry,Outreach to Asia Nationals, which trains natives toreturn to their home countries to share the Gospel.“What do you do if missionaries can’t get there?”Chris asks. “You bring them to the United States,light a fire in their hearts for the Lord, and sendthem back.”For Chris and other nationals, it’s a powerfulmission. Rather than taking a foreign messageto a country that’s never heard God’s truth, themissionaries leave their home country for a bit oftraining and then return to the lives they’ve alwaysknown. They use their inherent knowledge ofculture and customs to form solid relationships.The nationals adapt the message of Christ tothese unique settings, but they’re driving at the sameplace as anyone who shares the Gospel. Every lostsoul, no matter where they have turned to find truthand hope, has a hole deep inside — a feeling thatsomething is missing.These missionaries use the ways of their nativeHITTING THE BOOKSWhile planting churches, pastoring, and teaching across Asia, Chris has also been continuing his theological study.He received his masters of divinity in pastoral theology from Asia Graduate School of Theology in 1993, his masters oftheology and doctorate of ministry from South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies in 1995 and 1998, and his doctoratefrom Leeds University in the United Kingdom in 2006. Since 1999, Chris has been lecturing and producing curriculum forBiblical Mandate for Evangelism at the Haggai Institute for Leadership Development. He’s also a consultant with the Commissionon World Mission and Evangelism and a contributing member of the International Council for Higher Education.In addition to his work with Outreach to Asia Nationals, Chris teaches, speaks, and produces radio broadcasts with FEBA(Transforming Truth) and TWR (Thru the Bible). He’s currently the missions pastor at Bangor Baptist Church in Bangor, Maine,where he and his family currently reside.lands to show people that their only true home isin Christ.Chris became Outreach to Asia Nationals’director of training in 2009 and was named theexecutive director this year. Outreach to AsiaNationals’ mission is similar to that of Word ofLife’s in that it trains those who are native to thecountries they are reaching. Chris developed theorganization’s slogan: “Doing what others don’t,won’t and can’t.” The group makes disciples ofnationals (what others don’t), focuses on unreachedor least-reached people groups (what others won’t),and takes advantage of Asians’ ability to accessthese groups (what others can’t ).Chris’ reach has expanded far beyond India. Inhis position, he now ministers to nine countriesthat limit Christian work, including China, NorthKorea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Nepal. Hehopes to expand the organization’s focus to Muslimnations, beginning with Egypt and Pakistan.Chris lives a global, fast-paced, oftendistracting lifestyle (see sidebar). His prayer forhimself and fellow Bible Institute alumni, most ofwhom he knows live the same way, is to follow aprinciple taught by Dr. Charles Ryrie called the“three-legged stool.” The “legs” include an intimaterelationship with Christ, a Christian home tofoster and cherish, and evangelistic outreach. Withbalance, all aspects of life can be kept in harmony,and Christians can focus on God’s will.For Chris, God’s will was to leave his homefor a time and find a way to take the hope of theGospel back to it. Now, he's seeing that decisionstretch across a continent, as he ministers to manypeople who are on the same mission.“We trained a lady from China, and overthe past 20 to 30 years, her faith community hasplanted 6,000 churches,” he said. “They went tovillage after village, telling the story of Jesus — andit’s still happening. It’s just such a simple thing: Welearn to know we sin and can be saved.”Saved. Saved from darkness to light. Savedfrom a wandering existence where people can’t everquite know if they’ve found what they need. Savedfrom the wilderness of sin, and reintroduced totrue home through the one and only Savior.WHAT’S THE 114?When it was time for Chris and his wife, Dorothy, to name theirtwo daughters, they turned to John 1:14, which says, “And theWord became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory,glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”They named their older daughter, Alethea, after the Greek wordfor “truth.” Her sister, Charis, gets her name from the Greek “grace.”“Truth can get harsh, and grace can be too flimsy — turning todisgrace,” Chris says. “The balance of the two is what Word of Lifetaught me. The strong and soft parts work together in missions andin ministry.”Alethea is studying pre-medicine at Liberty University, and Charisis a sophomore at Bangor Christian School. Dorothy is a softwareprogrammer and technical instructor at the University of Maine.12 VICTORY JOURNAL VICTORY JOURNAL13

Events &OpportunitiesALUMNI GATHERINGSLancaster/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — September 2012Alumni Council member Daryle Bollinger, Local Church Ministries missionary John Powley,and alumnus and former Bible Institute dean of women Susan Kirby are coordinating thisevent. The gathering will be Friday, Sept. 21, at Lancaster Bible College, from 6:30 to10:30 p.m. For more information, please call Daryle (717.598.6845), Susan(717.449.1949) or John (717-939-1086).25-year Reunion, Class of 1988It’s never too early to start planning! If you’re a member of the Class of 1988, pencil inLabor Day weekend 2013 as the time to make a trip up to New York and join your fellowclassmates in a celebration of what God has done in the 25 years since you attended theBible Institute. The reunion will be held August 30 to September 2, with Tom Davis andDavid Wyrtzen among the speakers so far.Reach Robin Noel Bulmer Jewell at HMRNoel@aol.com, or look for the Bible InstituteClass of 1988 Reunion Facebook group. The group has 226 members so far and is shootingfor 400 by next fall.Word of Life is looking for alumni to help plan regional reunions or events in thefollowing areas: Dallas/Fort Worth, western New York, Maine, southern New Jersey andPhiladelphia. Please contact Wayne Lewis at waynel@wol.org if you can help or if youwould like to host an event somewhere else.Update from Alumni Director Wayne LewisI am rejoicing in the way so many ofyou have joined the effort to “wake thegiant” and encourage greater alumniinteraction.We have moved out in the Southeast,Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest with alumnigatherings, and your responses have beenso encouraging. Additionally, several ofyou are taking the initiative to send us yourtestimonies and also share what the Lord isdoing in your lives today.Reading and hearing what God isdoing through Bible Institute alumni isabsolutely amazing! I have come to agreewith Wesley Yerkes from the Class ofWAYNE LEWIS, ALUMNI DIRECTOR 1986 reunion, who said, “Hundreds ofthousands of people are being impactedeach year through our class alone.”This year we passed the 18,000 mark in the number of alumni from the U.S.campuses. You do the multiplication — that’s an amazing impact!Thanks to each of you who are keeping in touch. Thank you for joining the effortto help deserving students, and thank you for continuing to be the number one sourcefor new students year after year. Thank you.CAMPUS UPDATENEW YORK FALL TOURSThe New York campus is sendingthree Collegian tour groups, made upof 20 students each, throughout theNortheast this fall. From November 30to December 9, these groups will ministerto local churches and Christian schoolsand share about the ministry of the BibleInstitute and Word of Life as a whole.Each group will offer a concert, specialmusic, short dramas, testimonies, SundaySchool classes, and programs for schoolchapels. Check out where these groupswill be visiting to see if you can stopby and be encouraged, or if you canintroduce someone new to the ministry ofWord of Life and the Bible Institute.GROUP 1NOV.DEC.30 Poughkeepsie, New York1-2 Allentown, Pennsylvania2-3 Piscataway, New Jersey3-4 Jersey City, New Jersey4-5 Paterson, New Jersey5-7 New York City7-9 Long Island, New YorkGROUP 2NOV.DEC.30 Syracuse, New York1-2 Syracuse, New York2-4 Rochester, New York4-5 North Buffalo, New York5-6 South Buffalo, New York6-7 Jamestown, New York7-8 Watkins Glen, New York8-9 Binghamton, New YorkGROUP 3NOV.DEC.30 Pittsfield, Massachusetts1-2 Willmantic, Connecticut2-3 Warwick, Rhode Island3-4 Providence, Rhode Island4-6 Boston6-7 Worcester, Massachusetts7-9 Springfield, MassachusettsREUNION RECAPFOUNDER'S CONFERENCE, MEMORIAL DAYWEEKEND AND CLASS REUNIONS IN PHOTOSalumni@wol.orgGenerations combined at the annual Founder’s Conferenceand Memorial Day weekend at the Bible Institute campus inNew York this spring. Many alumni were also on hand forthe special events, including several class reunions. Alumni enjoyed the classic Word of Life experience — the Collegians, the Impact Team,Founder and Director Harry Bollback, and Don Lough, Jr., in his first year as Exeutive Director — as well as events and fellowship opportunitiestailored specifically to alumni. See some highlights from the weekend below, and be sure to check out page 14 and the next Victory Journalfor more information about how you can be a part of Founder's Conference or a special class reunion next year.14 VICTORY JOURNAL VICTORY JOURNAL15

Word of Life Bible Institute4200 Glendale Rd.Pottersville, NY 12860Non-Profit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDWord of LifePastMeets PresentYou’ve asked how you can help current students.Here’s one unique way a fellow alumnus did.Take a minute and imagine yourself as a Bible Institute student again. You’relooking at your dirty shoes and thinking of the next time you’ll do laundry, whichmakes you think of where you’ll get laundry money, which makes you wonder ifyou’ll ever have money again, or if you’re set for a life of being destitute, a la Paul,Barnabas and all of those pious people you thought never had anything in commonwith you until you ended up at the Bible Institute and suddenly realized that anamazing God had a grip on your life.This past fall, one alumnus was in town for the Class of 1986’s “25-year megareunion.” He walked the path to Colombia, his old dorm, tracing his steps fromdecades ago to the bed that had been his.In his old bed was a current student, fast asleep at 10 a.m. after a weekend ofministry — the classic Bible Institute pose since 1970.The alumnus took $25 to commemorate the 25-year anniversary and slipped itunder the student’s pillow, bookending his journey with a gift toward the future.The amount, he said, “wasn’t a lot, but I figured the students’ need of moneyhadn’t changed in 25 years.”Think about what you remember of your time at Schroon Lake. What made adifference for you? What would you not give up if you did it all over again?Whether it be a gift or a word of encouragement, let us know how you are able tominister, and we will try to connect you with students who could use your prayeror help.We also encourage you to take the invitation from Word of Life to “come onhome.” Take time to revisit the place where you spent a year — or two — seeing Godwork in your life. And, if thinking about your days at the Bible Institute compelsyou to help the current student body, bring a small gift to share with whoever nowsleeps in “your” bed.“And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation. … Thatthe generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born;who should arise and declare them to their children” (Luke 1:50; Psalm 78:6).STEWARDSHIP& you:I recently presented a seminar on retirementplanning for Word of Life’s World LeadershipConference. What a joy it was to share with ourfield directors, ranging in age from 30 to 65, theimportance of planning for today and for the future.Missionaries are keenly aware of God’s provisionand their responsibility to be faithful stewards.I want to share two key principles with you.The first is to live on less than you make! Proverbs21:20 reminds us that “a foolish man devours allhe has.” With credit, you can even devour yourfuture income today. Did you know that, accordingto a recent report, 43 percent of Americans spend110 percent of their income?The second principle I want to share is savingand investing … and enjoying the benefits ofwhat some call the Eighth Wonder of the World:compound interest. By saving and investing wiselyand taking advantage of compound interest, youcan see even small amounts multiply quickly. Ofcourse, if you are not saving, you can’t enjoy thefruit of compounding.Let me suggest two possible blessings fromliving on less than you make. You can use thedifference to provide for (1) your future and (2) thefuture of those you love.It starts, of course, with giving back to God.After all, it is ALL His.Would an extra $671.06 per month tax-freehelp you in your retirement years? If you start, atage 25, to put just $50 aside in a Roth IRA eachmonth, you could enjoy the benefits of compoundinterest. (Investing $24,000 over 40 years at 8percent will become $161,054, which will yield$671.06 a month at 5 percent.)Proverbs 21:5 reminds us that “the plans of thediligent lead to profit.” Please let us know how wecan assist you in planning for your future and foryour legacy.Contact Howard Leach at518-494-6214 orhowardleach@wol.org