What Northland Means to Me

It is hard to quantify how much of an impact Northland has had on my life, but this is my attempt at it.

I was first introduced to Northland through the camp ministry. I attended summer camp there for most of my teen years. I was saved at basketball camp when I was 14 years old. The youth pastor who had the biggest impact on me was a Northland grad (Chris Juvinall) and my Associate Pastor (Jerry Hairgrove) moved to staff on Northland while I was in High school.

I have 2 degrees from Northland, served on camp staff both as a counselor and program staff. I met my wife there, attended a local church there for 5 years. But when I think of the impact that Northland had on me, I tend to focus on the people there.

Watching people love their jobs, love people, love the Lord and enjoy life.

From Doug and Jan Bennett who took me into their campus family (no relation but since we had the same last name they thought it would be a good fit), and were a constant encouragement to me.

To Jim Bennett, who was always the smartest person in the room, but never acted like it.

To the Kimbrough’s, I can’t express how much I learned from them. He was my pastor, teacher, example, but often he was simply an encouraging friend. If you attended Northland but never got to pray with him, you missed out. Mrs. Kimbrough was a gracious, loving encourager. One of the things I miss about going to Grace is hearing her sing.

To the Janke’s. What an impact they have had on my ministry. From having him for Apologetics (and a ton of other classes, but this was my all-time favorite class), to being my Pastor, to small group study in their home, they opened their lives to my family and my ministry is vastly better for it. Praying with them, learning from them and with them. The way he valued his family set an awesome example for my marriage.

To the Hairgrove’s, these people love serving. I was shown an example of people who graciously loved people, worked hard and laughed a lot. The joy they had still impresses me and encourages me.

To the coaches, Coach Scott for taking time to invest in someone who didn’t play basketball at college. The Herron’s, learning competitiveness in the proper context, for valuing hard work, and team work. For teaching me to understand a game I love and giving me the tools to teach others to love it as well. For pointing us to Christ and encouraging us to share the Gospel with our opponents.

Northland taught me the value of discipleship. My life was touched by the lives of many of the staff and faculty. From sitting in the sauna with Doc O, breakfast with the Kimbrough family, late night practices, the logistics of Springfest, camp, lunch bunch with the staff and classes, I was impacted to make more of Christ in my life. The list of ways Northland impacted me could go on and on, but let me conclude by saying that God used an out of the way place, started by a humble man of God, to do a massive work in my life. Words can’t express how thankful I am for Northland.