conferences, outreach events, and a host of fun activities with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Throughout this time, Brian Lewis continued to disciple and teach me how to follow Jesus Christ.
An opportunity opened up for me to lead the youth group at a small, local church in Cape, so I did for a semester and enjoyed helping these teens grow in their relationship with Christ. Campus Outreach taught me how to love people, how to study the Bible on my own, how to share my faith and disciple others. My time with this college ministry reached a climax the summer I went to Panama City Beach, Florida, for 10 weeks of Summer Beach Project. I went with the intention of growing in my relationship with Jesus Christ (and I did), but I also met my future wife, Elyssa Russell there!
We lived in a small apartment in Sullivan, MO, during our first year of marriage. We both worked at the public school in Cuba, MO. Elyssa worked with Special Education students in both elementary and middle school, while I taught the high school Industrial Arts (drafting and woodworking). We attended the same church as my parents in Union, and led the youth ministry in our church for almost a year.
I loved teaching high school! I saw my classroom as a mission field and opportunity to reach teens. But it was a difficult area and our faith was tested. The teens were disrespectful, many hung out at the local teen club, and most grew up without any sense of morals or Biblical teaching. Two high school girls skipped school and formed a suicide pact, one girl would shoot her friend in the head, then turn the gun on herself (she shot her friend, but couldn't shoot herself). I had several in class who tested my patience, and several tools were stolen from the shop.