When did you start coming to YOKE?
6th grade
What’s your favorite part of YOKE club and why?
I really liked YOKE Theatre–the YOKE Folk always made the stupidest skits so funny! Also I just enjoyed watching the YOKE Folk get involved in whatever we were doing.
How many camps have you been to? Which ones?
Honestly I have no idea how many camps I’ve been to–probably about 10. I remember Mystery Camp, Superhero Camp, and I think I’ve been to several Boot Camps.
What’s your favorite YOKE camp?
Summer camp because you get to meet so many new people.
What’s your favorite part of camp and why?
The best part about camp is probably the free time we spend in the dining hall–just playing four square and [singing] “Little Sally Walker.” I also love Cabin Time because it always showed how much the YOKE Folk really care about us.
What has your leader taught you?
Alan has taught me SO much. But specifically, he has taught me a lot about relationships. He seemed to gain a lot of wisdom from some of his relationships so he was relatable when discussing mine. But I guess on a larger scale he taught me about being a godly man. I owe him a lot when it comes to that.
How has YOKE impacted your life?
YOKE taught me how to be a leader and how, as a Christian, we are held to a higher standard.As a YOKE Folk or Future Folk you’re held to and even higher standard and even if you don’t know it, someone is always watching what you do.
How did you hear/know about YOKE?
I started doing YOKE in my second year of college after a friend introduced me to it. I visisted a Messy Club and thought, “Wow, I can be crazy and have fun and still let kids know about having a relationship with Jesus….sign me up!”
What’s your favorite part of YOKE club and why?
Probably Chug and Crush – I love Mt. Dew and to see the kids hyped up and that it means a lot to them to compete and be a “champion” at something is awesome!
How did you meet Michael?
Michael and I went to church together and he was a part of YOKE club at Whittle Springs Middle School while I was a YOKE leader there.
Describe Michael.
Michael is an awesome young man who has a passion for following Christ. It has been neat to see how mature he was in his faith at an early age. Even in middle school, it was easy to see that he was already developing into a leader.
What kinds of things have you and Michael done together?
Wow…Michael and I have spent quite a bit of time together, both with church and YOKE. We’ve hung out and played paintball, spent time serving God together through service projects at church and as Future Folk serving middle school kids at YOKE camp. He was also one of the ushers at my wedding.
Has Michael made any decisions for Christ while in YOKE?
I’ve seen Michael grow and realize that his life is more than just about him. I’ve watched him as he’s made decisions to be a camp staff so he can give back to kids in an effort to help them to know Christ as their Saviour.
In what ways has YOKE helped Michael?
I think it has given him an opportunity to be a leader and a servant, while at the same time giving him a place to grow in his own faith.
Anything else you want to tell us about Michael?
Michael is a great young man, and I know that God is going to do great things through him. It has been a pleasure to work with him and watch him grow and I look forward to seeing him grow in Christ over his last couple of years of high school and beyond.
How many camps have you been to? Which ones?
Umm…pretty much all of them a couple of times.
What’s your favorite YOKE camp?
Western Weekend.
What’s your favorite part of camp and why?
Cabin Time – it’s the time that pretty much the rest of the time spent in YOKE revolves around – club time, kid time, the rest of the camp weekend – it all comes together when kids have the opportunity to come face to face with making a decision to follow Christ because the light that has been demonstrated to them by their YOKE Folk.
What has Michael taught you?
Michael has taught me that even in just living life, we each have a responsibility to those who look up to us. Sometimes we struggle, sometimes we stumble, but we have to remember that people are looking up to us and we need to trust Christ to help us live a life that will have an impact on those around us.
How has YOKE impacted your life?
Tremendously – it has been a huge part of my life for quite some time and it helps to remind me that there are young people–who may have no one who truly cares about them anywhere else except YOKE. They need to see Christ in us.
What decision(if any) have you made for Christ while in YOKE?
To trust in Him to walk life each day and to take advantage of opportunities daily to live for him instead of just living a “destination” lifestyle where I’m always waiting for the next big event to let my light shine for him.
Anything else you want to tell us?
Transitioning from being a YOKE Folk to being a Future Folk leader was difficult initially, as I’d been in a middle school for 6 years, and change is tough. I will say that now though I saw that it was God moving me in that direction and growing me during the time leading up to it to prepare me for it. I also have to say that YOKE has been a blessing to me in that it introduced me to my fiance’ and soon to be wife and God has truly blessed me with a woman who loves Him dearly.