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Four years ago, YOKE staff was recruiting new YOKE leaders at Pellissippi State and met a college freshman named Nicole. God had called her to ministry. She said, “[God] used 2 Timothy 4:5 to confirm that calling in my life – ‘but keep your head in all situations, endure all hardships, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.’” She was looking for a ministry when her path crossed YOKE’s. She went through YOKE’s interview, background check, reference check, and training, and then she started as a YOKE Folk at Norris Middle. A short time later, she started bringing her little brother to YOKE club. She said, “When I first started in YOKE I convinced my little brother to go to one club with me. He and I didn’t really talk much before that. We developed an awesome relationship through the car rides there and back. It was a life changing experience for both of us. He found a place that he felt he fit in and loved every minute of it.”

Today, nine of 11 kids in Nicole’s family serve or participate in YOKE. The oldest, Alex, is a youth pastor and one of YOKE’s camp speakers. Jonathan, a theater major, is currently writing new skits for YOKE. Joseph and Rachel are YOKE Folk. Ethan is involved in the Future Folk program, and Isaac and Haley are both YOKE kids. Nicole mentioned, “My YOKE team has become a second family to me – well, those that are not already in my family – but, the bond I have been able to attain with my family because of this ministry has been amazing!”