 Josh Birky
Business Administration and Marketing Major
Class of 2010
Grace College was such an easy college choice for me. From the value of Biblical teaching to the relationship-focused atmosphere, I knew Grace was the place for me. Through my two years at Grace, I have been stretched to think for myself. Having come from a small Christian based town, it would be very easy to be satisfied with my beliefs without knowing why I believe them. The professors at Grace have challenged me to back up my views with biblical truth. I love the way I feel when on the Grace College campus. Because of the small size, the campus as a whole is much more intimate. I would recomend Grace College time and time again. For a relational college with solid biblical teaching, Grace is the place for your face!
 Heidi Class
Elementary Education Major, Missions Minor
Class of 2010
I chose Grace College for three main reasons: the community that I saw when I visited campus, the student leaders that Grace fosters, and seeing how much the faculty and staff invests into the students' lives. Grace was a winner for me with a combination like that!
Looking back from my freshman year to now, my junior year, I can't believe how much growth I have done. Through my time at Grace, God has transformed my life. Simply said, Grace challenges your thoughts and beliefs. In the classroom, professors get you to think in a new light AKA your own light, and not just the light that you grew up in (i.e. the parents). However, I think the biggest growth I have done while here at Grace is become more aware of global issues. My heart has soften for the hurting while at Grace, and I have realized in depth what God calls us to do as Christians. The people here are some of the most genuine people I have ever met. That genuine atmosphere allows you to grow in unbelievable ways.
Even though I said this before, I absolutely LOVE the community at Grace. I came from a big town, so getting used to everybody knowing who you are and what you are about was an adjustment, but it is so awesome! Through this community, you are able to make friends who keep you accountable and who love you to ends out. I also love how many service opportunities Grace makes available for students. We're definitely not a dead campus!
Jenna Dailey
Communication Major, Journalism Minor
Class of 2010
I chose Grace College mainly due to the people. When I arrived on the campus for a visit I immediatly fell in love with the charming village of Winona Lake and the beauty of the campus. Although that played a part in my decision to attend as a full-time student, what I was most captured by was the warm welcome which I had recieved from the students. A goal I had challenged myself with was a closer relationship with my God and I felt like the people on campus would encourage and inspire me through that journey. I will be entering into my third year here at Grace, although sometimes I wish I had attended a larger university, I feel truly blessed with the decision to attend Grace. Over the course of my time spent at Grace, I have slowly become closer and closer to the woman I aspire to be with the help of the people. I am completly changed. I have had many opportunities to get involved in which at a larger university I would not have had the chance to pursue. I love attending chapel 3 times a week, as it helps me on my walk with Christ. When some weeks are harder than others I feel that chapel brings me back to my faith. I a serve team leader, a growth group leader, Vice President of my communications club, a cheerleader, and will be taking 18 credit hours. Although I am a very busy girl, I would not trade my experiences for the world.Â
 Rachel Dunham
Elementary Education Major
Class of 2011
I chose Grace College because of the closeness of everyone. If you are alone eating lunch someone will come and eat with you even if they don't know you. It is a small campus that feels like a giant family. I love chapels. My favorite part of chapel is worship. You can sing as loud as you want and no one stares at you because of what you are doing. I love how this campus is always serving the community. Day of caring was amazing and i was so excited to help.
 Valerie Embree
Psychology and Bible, Double Major
Class of 2010
Testimony: When I was looking for schools, I know that I wanted a small Christian school. I had no idea what schools were good and which weren't. I didn't want to commute, so I really wanted a good community life at the school I chose. I heard of Grace through a friend of mine who visited and called me to say, "Valerie, this school is yours." And so it was! I visited and couldn't say no! While at Grace, God has stretched me in ways that I couldn't even imagine. I was such a baby Christian coming in, just starting to realize what my faith was, and I truly believe that Grace has provided me with opportunity upon opportunity to dig into who I am in Christ more than any of the other colleges I considered. I love Grace's focus on personal growth and taking this life we have and making it all that it can be. I think that chapel along with the amazing faculty has really taken me to new levels in my faith. Opportunities to be involved also really allowed me to figure out where my true passions and gifts lie. I've loved this school and it's service into my life!
Bethany Henderson
Counseling Major, Spanish Minor
Class of 2010
I had heard about Grace College when Dave Lewis came to my school and spoke. Since I was trying to figure out where I wanted to go to college, I figured I'd visit. When I visited, I knew Grace was a perfect fit. The campus was beautiful. There were enough students to find a group of friends I could fit into, but not so many that I would feel lost. And, most important of all, when I talked with Professor Grill, the head of the psychology department, I agreed with everything he said. I knew I'd get a good, Biblical education.
Chapels and growth groups at Grace have been very encouraging in my life and walk with God. God has used chapels to speak to me, to convict me and to encourage me to follow Him. My growth group last year was the first Bible study I attended that I didn't feel was totally pointless. I was able to be real and honest with a group of people from my hall. My growth group leader, Brittany Heavner was amazing; I knew I could talk to her whenever I needed to about whatever I needed to.
There are a couple things I love about Grace. The people are always friendly. The staff are always personable. The professors are experts in thier fields and are ready to help. But the thing I love most, is the spiritual atmosphere. I went to a Christian school from kindergarden to my senior year in high school. There they tried to force me into a preconceived idea of what a Christian woman should be. At Grace, I'm encouraged to search for God and follow after Him, instead of being told to accept someone else's ideology. The people at Grace are more concerned about whether I have a personal relationship with God than whether I totally agree with everything they say.
 Souletta Laufman
Nursing Major
Class of 2010
I visited Grace on the perfect fall day and completely fell in love with it. The campus was great, but the people were so real and focused on a life completely dedicated to Christ, no matter what field of interest. The RA's, Growth Group Leaders, and Professors were so focused on the students that Grace just seemed like an amazing place to grow, learn, and develop deep relationships with fellow Christians. Now I'm a Growth Group Leader myself and can't wait to foster that amazing spirit through the women on my hall, and see the freshmen grow and experience Christ in all the ways that Grace College provides.
 Amy Misak
Special Education Major
Class of 2010
After much prayer and discussion, I decided to attend Grace College for my undergraduate studies. Grace offers so many opportunities to strengthen your faith and build relationships with friends, professors, and the community through different activities and organizations. I have had the privilege of running track and cross-country at Grace College, being a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a participant in a serve team to Grace Village, a growth group leader, and a student mentor for freshman foundations. With so many choices to choose from comes the risk of becoming over- involved, but I trust God to show me the right paths to take and I have learned a lot about managing my time and resources as a result. Even though we hear about it time and time again, Grace really is all about building character, sharpening competence, and preparing students for service! God continues to transform lives and make an impact throughout the world as a result of what is taking place at Grace. I really appreciated the focus on prayer during chapel throughout the spring semester- it is our communication with our awesome God that makes all the difference!
 Whitney Roach
Elementary Education Major, Mission Minor
Class of 2011
I was a little bit the opposite of most high school seniors, I knew exactly what I wanted to study, why I wanted to study it, and what I would do with it, but I did not know where I wanted to go to school. I first heard of Grace College when my admissions counselor visited my high school. I thought, that school sounds really awesome, but I decided I wanted to go to a Baptist school. Apparently God had other plans.
I applied and was accepted at Ceadarville, Baptist Bible College, and Cornerstone. I had made a decision to go to BBC. It was practical, they had a good education program, I liked the campus when I visited, it made perfect sense. As it started getting closer and closer to school I did not feel settled about it. I began to realize my heart wasn't in it. I wanted to go to the school that God wanted me at, but I didn't know where it was.
I tried to get into IUPUI for the first year but I would have to wait a semester. So that wouldn't even work. Every door that seemed to have been wide open was being closed by God. This year several kids from my church decide to go to Grace and I had been asking Megan Crawford all kinds of questions and found out a lot about Grace and why she loved it so much already. I had been praying about it and talking to people about it, and Grace is the only door left standing open. So the July before my freshman year I finally applied to Grace. All of the people in admissions were a great help at getting everything settled even though it was the very last minute.
Grace has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. As a freshman at Grace I was cultivated to grow a whole lot. Between Growth Groups, Breakout Groups, CCT and Freshman Foundations, I was given ample opportunity to evaluate who I was, what I stood for, and how it was all portrayed in my life. I met people that I will never forget, who have changed my life forever. The leadership on my hall was excellent. We had some very difficult life lessons to be learned on my hall, but never once did the leadership lose composure. The thing that probably helped me grow the most was this environment. Of course good leaders, profs and classes can't change a person, but they sure can follow you around and encourage you to grow.
The thing that I love most about Grace is the people. As cliche as it may sound it is completely true. There is such a wide variety of personalities and interests that it is hard not to love them. The staff and faculty at Grace College are very accommodating. If I got bogged down and forget to turn in a time sheet or forget to visit the financial aid office or when I schedule things at the last minute, they are totally willing to be flexible. The people at Grace love the Lord and it shows in who they are, in what they do, and in how they serve. They really exemplify what Grace tries so hard to live with, character, competence, and service.Â
 Megan Stanton
Elementary Education Major
Class of 2009
I applied to and visited five Christian colleges and after visiting all of them, I knew that Grace was where God wanted me to go. God gave me such a peace about deciding. The biggest thing that separated Grace from the other colleges was the people. I left my visit at Grace, knowing that the people really did care about me as a person and wanted me to come here. I have not regretted for one minute my decision to come to Grace. I have loved growing and maturing throughout my years at Grace. As a senior, I am most thankful for the lasting friendships I have made, the wonderful people in the teacher education department, and all I have learned spiritually through being a growth group leader and going to chapels. Hands down, it is the people here at Grace College that I will miss when I graduate.
 Matt Moore, BS 02
Sports Information Director, Grace College
Winona Lake, Indiana
“I don’t mean to say that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.”
It is in these words from Philippians 3:12 that I found my purpose for having Christ as the center of my life. Having been away from Grace College now for nearly four years, I often find myself coming back to the foundation I built as I stepped onto campus.
I chose Grace College for two main reasons back in the spring of 1998. One, I had the opportunity to further my education by playing basketball; and two, I was close enough to home to spend time with my family. I didn’t really understand the path I was about to embark on or realize how much it would change me.
I received Christ as my personal savior on October 4, 1999, and since then have realized the responsibility, challenges, joy and most of all, hope, that come with this life-changing decision. I am not saying it has been easy by any means, as temptation, distractions and road blocks appear. But it is among fellow brothers that I have found my strength. Men of God like Coach Jim Kessler, Professor Michael Harstine, Dr. Mark Soto, and Ryan Bricker (C 02) are among those who have helped impact my life in Christ.
 Peter Lucht, BS 04
College Ministry Leader, New Horizon Community Church
Wife: Kristi (Brown, BS 05) Lucht
Winona Lake, Indiana
A few years ago, it would have been appropriate to label me as hedonistic and selfish. You see, at that time, even though I was going to Grace, I had not yet completely surrendered to God’s grace.
Sin has a way of catching up with you. God decided that His grace would come at the perfect time, when I was coming back from a suspension. As a further form of “punishment,” it was decided that I should meet with Professor Roger Peugh on a weekly basis. I smile when I describe it as punishment, for though there is brotherly/father-son love between us, in the beginning, I dreaded those meetings.
Those of you who know Roger know the kind of man he is. Thoughtful, loving, caring and PRAYERFUL. It was not long before that initial dread turned into a true joy. When the opportunity to go to Germany with Roger was given by God, I grabbed it. We prayed that if it was God’s will for me to go, He would provide the finances. God provided through my grandfather, Jim McCleary, and the Winona Lake First Presbyterian Church. While in Germany, I saw God working through people’s lives in amazing ways. One night Roger posed the question, “Do you know how much God loves you?” He had tears in his eyes and his finger was pointing directly at me. I was able to look around and see all that God was doing, and to ask myself, “Why would God be doing all of this if He did not care? If He truly did not care about me, why would He still be involved in my life?”
I used to listen to music to drown out the past. That night, as I began to put my headphones on, a voice inside me said, “I don’t need these anymore.” For that night, God and I had been reconciled. He gave me peace, in the knowledge that things were finally right between me and my Father.
 Dave (BS 02, MA 05)
and Trish (BS 01, MA 02) Holabeck
Missionary Appointees
Grace Brethren International Missions
Winona Lake, Indiana
Our lives are definitely different today because of our many years spent at Grace. One of the things we treasure most about Grace is the spiritual community. For both of us, we had never experienced this type of community before – to be surrounded by peers and professors who constantly challenged us to love Christ more with every part of our being. It was amazing to have professors that truly cared about our personal lives and spiritual growth, not just simply taught subject material. We both developed significant relationships with some professors who have played key roles in our lives, even today.
Both of us were a part of Grace’s cross-country and track programs. Our coach played a vital role in modeling true Christian discipleship and calling us to Christian excellence. Another significant impact in both our lives occurred every year during missions conference week. It was this yearly conference, along with our Bible classes and professors, that really drew our hearts toward a passion for evangelism and reaching those who do not know our Father.
It is because of the impact Grace had on our lives that we are where we are today. Dave just finished his MA in Intercultural Ministry from Grace Seminary and is working with an alternative program for suspended and expelled students in Warsaw Schools system. Trish is taking her final class to complete an MA in Counseling degree. Our current plans involve preparing for a three-year term in Cambodia with Grace Brethren International Missions. Our deepest passion is to share Christ’s love and truth with all whom we come in contact!
 Dan Benyousky (BS 04)
Student, Pursuing M. A. in Clinical Psychology
My parents taught me what it meant to be a Christian when I was young. I even prayed to God for my salvation when I was eight years old. But there was a disconnect somewhere in my heart. Growing up, my faith was a cognitive process. I wanted to experience life on my own. So I did.
Quickly, pleasure became my god. I indulged in sex, drinking, and experimenting with drugs. This idolatry led me to two overnight stints in jail. I was expelled from Grace College in the spring of 2001, three-quarters of the way through my freshman year. In the ensuing ten months, God moved. He moved through my relationships with Dave Nicodemus (BS 01, MA 03), my RA from my freshman year; Matt Stewart (BS 04), my roommate from my freshman year; and Jack Rants, the chaplain during my time at Grace College.
He also moved deeply through my pastor and friend, Kent Denlinger (BS 83, MABC 86, CBS 87, MDiv 90), who is a Grace College graduate. Kent helped me listen for the Holy Spirit. He taught me of God’s forgiveness and of the freedom found in His grace and mercy. They were shepherds when I needed leading to Christ. These men, together with the firm love of the Student Development staff - who both kicked me out and accepted me back - opened my heart to the Father, whose love I denied for so long. God used these people during my time at Grace to reveal Himself to me.
|
