BRANCHES September 2014

y Chad Townsley
High-Life has seen hundreds of students come through the ministry. Each of these students has
had a unique story and experience in the ministry as well as leaving a unique impression on
the staff, volunteers and fellow students who spent time with them. From this wonderfully
energetic, passionate and fun-loving group of alumni, I recently sat down with two former
students of High-Life Ministries, Nadia Niakossary and Barnes Heyward. The following is
a synopsis of their stories, experiences and impressions. We discussed what the Lodge
represents in their lives and how they have been changed because of their time spent
there.
What made the Lodge so significant to you when you were a student?
Nadia and Barnes, like many other High-Life students, have hundreds of fond
memories from the Lodge including viking feast food fight nights, inspiring
worship, and the starting and ending point for lots of great winter retreats. Nadia
often thinks back on the importance of the invitation she received to attend High-
Life for the first time from the Warner family. That invitation was the introduction to
a very special community of people. People who, in her words were, “obviously
close and always worked to make sure she felt welcomed.” For Barnes, the
sentiment was similar as the Lodge represents family to him. “The Lodge was a
physical representation of the community of Southwood. The Lodge was home
base for me—it was where I had great meals and great laughs, but also where I
had deep conversation and shared tears with others.”
Nadia shared about her experience as a student-leader while in High-Life. This
service/leadership opportunity, called Crew, allowed Nadia the chance to serve
and develop relationships with younger students in the ministry. As an older High-
Life student, she saw the significance of the Lodge being a place not only where
she could learn more about the Bible and grow in her relationship with the Father,
but where she could also help to be a part of that same process for others.
Even while students in the ministry, Nadia and Barnes saw the value of community.
They knew that the Lodge was a place designed with relationships in mind. They
understood that the Lodge was a place to make amazing memories, but that it was
also a place where their relationship with the Father and his people would be fostered.
What biblical principle have you taken away from your time in the Lodge and what
makes it significant to you?
Nadia explained how the Lodge was a place where she learned, “the value of the deep
truths of God the Father and of the Bible.” She also described how as a college student it
is difficult to keep one’s faith. The Lodge reminds Nadia of all of God’s promises, especially
as she faces difficult situations in college and in early adulthood. Being the place where she
engaged more in worship than she had before in her life, Nadia sees the Lodge as the place
where she learned how to sing to the Father. Worship is different for her now, because of all of the
amazing experiences she had at High-Life events. “The Lodge is the place where I came to love and
appreciate worship, and that is really important.”
For Barnes, the Lodge was a place where he experienced, “what it looks like for the gospel to be
lived out and poured out into the lives of others.” For him, the Lodge was the place where he
Nadia Niakossary (Grissom High, ‘12) is a sophomore
at Auburn University where she is studying Public Relations
and Computer Science. She began attending
Jr. High-Life as a seventh grader and was a High-Life
student and leader throughout Jr. and Sr. High.