For YOKE Alumnus Eric Palmer, YOKE was an answer to prayer. “I remember specifically praying for the Lord to quench my spiritual dryness,” Eric shared. “It was my way of saying I wanted to know God more and serve Him more deeply.”
Shortly after that, Eric ran into Stephanie Enger, a high school friend, at Down Under, the old student center bowling alley at the University of Tennessee and invited him to serve with YOKE. Eric views that conversation as an answer to his prayer and says that it would shape the course of his future and family. He loved the unique way that YOKE blended the Gospel and fun. “I loved the club meetings, the late-night team gatherings, and serving alongside other college students who had a passion for kids and for Jesus,” he explained.
Eric also credits YOKE with helping him get to know Liz, his wife of 26 years. They had met through the Baptist Student Union but connected at a YOKE leadership retreat. He remembers a hike that weekend as a tipping point in their relationship. “During the hike a gnat flew into my ear, and I was hopping around like a crazy person,” he recalled. “Liz dug the gnat out of my ear, so, it had to be true love. We must give YOKE the credit!”
At camp that spring, they also fell for a John Coatney classic. “John sent us to look for his lost pocketknife. That was his classic trick—to send budding couples off on a mission,” Eric explained. “Of course, the knife was in his pocket the whole time.”
Together, Eric and Liz served for a decade at schools like Powell, Carter, and Northwest. Eric also held various staff roles, from mowing the lawn to leading summer programs. John used that time to mentor Eric. “John has always been a rock in my life,” he said. “Through my time with YOKE, God gave me a vision for outdoor ministry—whitewater rafting, backpacking, and sharing the gospel in peaceful settings, free from the distractions of the world. That same vision continues today, as I still lead student trips across the U.S. to some of our most beautiful National Parks.”
Liz also credits YOKE with her own spiritual development. “When I was invited to serve with YOKE, I wasn’t in a good place in my faith journey,” she recalled. “But through YOKE, I met John and Helen Coatney, who immediately welcomed me with unconditional love. They believed in me and saw potential I didn’t see in myself. Twenty-eight years later, many of those YOKE friendships are still a vital part of my life.”
Eric and Liz have two children: Gracie and Matthew. Gracie is a junior at Lincoln Memorial University, where she plays softball and studies physical therapy. Matthew graduates from high school in May and is headed to the University of Tennessee. Liz works as a speech-language pathologist, serving children in Knoxville. Eric is the Athletics and Development Director at Berean Christian School. “YOKE set the course for our family,” said Eric. “Serving and leading together over the last 25 years has shaped every aspect of our ministry.”
“I love YOKE for its specific mission to reach kids at that critical stage,” added Liz. “YOKE made me who I am today. I was encouraged to serve and to give my life to others—and through that, Jesus did something amazing.”