Stories

As Wayne ’21 explained the gospel to his four friends, he was amazed to see the genuine interest on their faces. Four months into serving high school and college students in the Middle East with Cru, Wayne was still surprised by national students’ openness to spiritual conversations.

Mental health has exploded into one of society’s most widespread challenges, particularly during a COVID-19 pandemic that sparked dramatic rises in depression, anxiety, stress, and related problems. But this crisis isn’t limited to the US.

It had been a time of extreme change for Jeff ’11 and Mallory (Sisk ’11) Bope, first leaving a good job out East and moving back to Chicago and two weeks later welcoming their first child. Jeff and Mallory had thought they were acting in faith. Then, a few months into their transition, the Lord moved in a way they didn’t expect.

As a student in Moody’s online program, Adrian Ortiz’s perseverance and drive to overcome numerous life challenges and serve in full-time ministry made a lasting impression on his professors, especially adjunct professor Nathan Stenholtz.

As Adrian Ortiz signed his final paperwork, cleared his throat, and walked out the doors of the Wildwood Correctional Complex near Kenai, Alaska, for the first time in nearly seven years, he was considered a free man.