This episode I had the honor to invite Abigail on the No Formula Needed Podcast! Abigail,  from the great state of Louisiana, soon to graduate from Penn State with degree in BBH, and sister in Christ.  I hope you enjoy listening to her journey!Grew up going to Catholic mass with family on Sundays and Sunday school.  Moved to Louisiana  and went to different denominations and respected them. What if the Lord isn't actually who he says he is? Respect people around you who have difference beliefs. Figure out freshman year- what do I actually believe? "You never know what's on the other side of you obedience. "What does it mean for the Bible to be an immovable truth vs relative truth of the world?Know Christ directly, spend time with him, commitments to us--- Lord let's hang!! Transition of identity in God that wherever He takes me I want to be there! Sing a new song, if I am a new song everyday how can I not praise you?!!Peace with direction and  he will not fail why worry.Do not settle for growth you have had already- go ask questions with the LORD and a healthy church! Scripture to checkout: Psalm 34 Psalm 96 Isaiah 53, 56 Matthew 6:5-6Mark 2:17 Romans 12:1-2  

This week I had the privilege to host John, AKA Jlive, on the No Formula Need Podcast! Jlive is a recent Virginia Tech alumn, current Trinity Fellow, Co-counselor at Summer's Best Two Weeks (SB2W) and brother in Christ! I hope you all enjoy listening to his journey as much as I did! An energetic and shy kid growing up and was involved with the catholic church: CCD, Mass, and more. Did rituals and actions with lack of purpose. 2010 went to SB2W, a competitive sports and wilderness camp for ages 8-18, to build Christian character through everything you do at camp. Truly fell in love with camp in the second year and continued to learn more and fell off when returning home from camp. 2016 gave life to Jesus at camp "I need to trust you, God, with everything I do"… Understood everything and started running to him. High school was tough to find Christian, desired to find a group of people to run alongside and grow in faith. Felt alone in faith and need relationships to live where Jesus was calling me. College got involved with CRU at Virginia Tech, found a community that genuinely wanted to know me,  opened up brokenness, and needed a savior through relationships. "Someone desire to know me and sacrifice time for me" Mutual desire to flourish in a relationship with Jesus. Iron sharpens iron; people get better with a deeper connection with each other and their relationship with Jesus. You stumble--- let's keep going!! God has been so good to me. How can I not share with the people around me? Who am I that you chose to suffer and die on my behalf that I may live with you for eternity? God delight lights in me and you are blameless in his eyes, wash you clean of your separation from God. Your sin (separation from Christ) is nothing compared to my grace.  The generosity displayed to me through fellows program has revealed his greater grace! Time at camp transition from you focused to others focused that you are to represent Christ in a servant role as a counselor. Pour into-à pour out Everyone should do a fellows program!!! After college, left to figure out the real world on your own, a fellows program provides a transition between college and post-graduation. You are given a taste of the natural world and learn how to integrate faith in all aspects of life. Scripture Proverbs 27:17Jeremiah 29:13 Matthew 28:20 John 14:18 John 13:34-35Acts 2:42-47 Romans 8:34 1 Corinthians 10:31 Thessalonians 2:8 Hebrews 12:1-2 1 John 1:9-10 

This week I had an opportunity to chat with Ethan a brother in Christ, a recent graduate from Penn State and CEO of Vibe Coffee Company in State College, Pennsylvania. 10% DISCOUNT AT VIBE COFFEE COMPANY WHEN YOU MENTION YOU LISTENED TO THIS PODCAST!!!!!!Growing up Christian home church every Sunday was always a part of my life was not personal with Jesus.Private school was personal with classmates and teachers. Hot tub deep talks lead to meaningful deep conversations with friends and an understanding relationship with Jesus. He transitioned from middle school to high school and wanted a life he was not living. Push away, ignore sin and the weight of his separation from Jesus. (John 8:44-50)Feel refreshed but temporary healing. A vivid picture of Jesus and the nails going through his hands and feet. (Luke 23:26-43), He did that to me personally! John 3:16, able to relax and weight off shoulders! I could not deny it and move on; I saw clear vision as Jesus, a real person. (John 1:14 and Colossians 1:16)Believed in the heart, it did not show outwardly that life needed to change significantly. (Ephesians 2:10)Basketball team's attitude to glorifying God and having fun In high school, although I did not recognize the presence of Christ, He was there.  Clueless side living life They are recognized for significant decision-making in the transition from high school to college. Independence of college, you choose what to fill your time. He was uninterested in the party scene and wanted to make genuine relationships in his time at Penn State. Ethan experienced meaningful conversations with deep questions and direct attention to faith and the Bible. He stepped away from listening to Chris and saw himself being called to give life away.  Leadership Community I wanted to spread what I knew about Jesus to others and for them to experience His unfailing love. The high school believe it, college  application. Penn State Young Life accountability aspect of the community structure and boundaries placed to mold one another into His image. All places to serve and opportunities to grow in faith are different from life in high school, where Jesus was absent of conversations, and in college, Jesus was within the conversation. Voluntarily chose to go. 1 Peter 5:8 Post college- Trust in the LORD and his plan ahead of me with the contentment of following him in all things. Dream job owning  a coffee shop; opportunity came with a relationship with an old friend. It took a willingness to sacrifice and work for a coffee shop. Did not think it would happen until the papers made it legitimate.  Dating/Marriage Wasn't feeling accepted, affirmationChose not to deal with the problem and move onAgree to though process wanted to express his thoughts looked for agreement from others The first time seeing love is not a feeling for someone, do not just say it.Love is a commitment no matter what conditions, I am committed to you and our relationship does not distract the path of faithfulness. Getting back into the relationship says I am committed to running the race together, I felt strongly although there was mess and awkwardness, It was not something I would hope for, but God worked through every minute of the relationship to draw us both closer in relationship with Jesus and one another. How God worked through our foolishness and molded hearts to love and lay down life to express the Gospel for all to see. (John 2:3-10) Leave listeners Life to the fullest is only attainable  with the Creator. (John 10:10) 

This week it was a privilege to welcome Hannah on the podcast and listen to her journey of coming to know Christ!Scripture to checkout! Psalm 90 John 16:31-33Romans 6:232 Corinthians  4:8-10,16-18Philippians 4:8 

 Welcome back to the No Formula Needed podcast! This week Graham explain his radical  journey of coming to know Christ. Hope y'all enjoy! Desired  a Disney movie life trying for popularity and living for self gratification. Young Life leaders cared in away radically different than other relationships. What does the Gospel mean? A cool thing to know.  Processed the Good News of Jesus with the people who loved sacrificially.  If Jesus is who He says He is it radically changes everything and is not just icing on the cake, He is everything.Born again and continued to understand the weight of separation and need. "If Jesus did not do it for me and everything else does not then what am I doing here?"Fully send me one more time, never felt so empty. Take all that I am and run it in an opposite direction, Jesus take my life. At the point of death and sat with peace and assurance of identity that is in Christ.  Every detail clearly display the handwork of God. Broken like the rest of the world, take time to sit with God before anything you do. Scripture to Checkout: Genesis 50:20,John 6:34-47,Romans 8:1,Ephesians 2: 8-10,Colossians 1;16,  and 2 Timothy 3:15-16

Where do you see leadership? New journey to uncover the topic of leadership an open authentic platform where you need no qualification. The Lord makes the unqualified qualified!Dean shares his personal experience with leadership . Had real and personal relationships with Young Life leaders in high school. As Dean matured his understanding of leadership grew as well as faith.Leaders had something that was intangible. Alternates life and pulls you closer to who Christ calls us to be! Scripture Psalm 91:10-11John 13:34Philippians 2:1-5James 1:22-24Checkout Between Two Trees by Shane Wood

For season two we will be digging into leadership!Season 2 Get Hyped!!!!! That's Crazy! For this season we will uncover leadership in a genuine setting to express the roots and how leadership is pertained thorough the Bible as well as life experiences. Come and see what I and others have to say about leadership!

This week Jack was able to share his story of coming to know Christ! Different Air? Everything got crazier? This is a ministry? The chaos was controlled.. felt a peace unexplained!Stages of relationship with God:knew of him, but did not make life central around God. Well if they are Christian how bad can it be?Where I want to go I want to be a completely new person, redefine myself. If this is college I don't want to be apart of it. Opened the Bible to read it... was not for a lesson.. as a pastime.Saw that God was more than an accessory!I want to go deeper, put God at the central of my life. What does ministry look like through life?A desire to be with the Lord,serve the Lord with people who love one another.prove out your faith!Running away from sin is not the same as chasing after Christ. Consequence of sin is death but, prevent this is to run towards Jesus. Shouldn't shame yourself, draw closer to God. God's power is love. Find personal ways to desire the kingdom. More time you spend praising God deep within your soul, the more attached you become to him. Appreciating God changes you so much that others eventually cannot help but notice. NOT easy, surpasses everything... It is all worth it!Scripture to checkout:Matthew 9:37, Romain 12:1 and, James 1:2-4/ 22-27 

This week I had the privilege to have a great friend of mine Josh on the podcast!!! Hope you feel encouraged! Enjoy!Foundation fell apartGenuine and sober interaction was the best part of the trip. This is not worth it... God right now it seems like you are.I want to follow Jesus in College.From the jump he loved us perfectly. Knows all sin and brokenness... still loves you perfectly.He was willing to die for you then rose from the dead. HE DEFEATED DEATH!!!!!You have the spirit that raised Jesus from the dead in you.I cannot take creditHe has perfect love and perfect justice... Be reminded daily.Scripture Matthew 6:9-15, the Lord prayerRomans 8:9-11, and 1 Colossians 1:15