On March 27, the YOKE family gathered in the fellowship hall at Calvary Baptist Church for an alumni dinner to celebrate decades of life change and shared history. Around 80 former YOKE Alum filled the room—representing former YOKE Folk, YOKE Kids, Team Leaders, and both past and present Board Members. It was a powerful reminder that while generations may change, the impact of YOKE continues forward.

From the moment guests arrived, the atmosphere was like “coming home”. Alan and Letha Hancock prepared a home-smoked BBQ meal of pork, chicken, and all the sides, creating the perfect setting for fellowship. It was great to see old friends reconnected, photos were taken, and stories—some long forgotten, others often told—were shared once again.

One of the most memorable parts of the evening was the open mic session, led by Stephanie Enger and Leah Carter. Through thoughtful questions alumni were invited to reflect on how God used YOKE in their lives. What followed was one story after another, some of them meaningful, some hilarious, but each of them a testimony to God’s faithfulness to the ministry. One of the more funny moments came when Laura Biddle unexpectedly led the room in a few lines of the classic YOKE silly song “Granny’s in the Cellar,” bringing laughter and not a little bit of confusion from some of the younger YOKE Alum.

Adding to the evening’s entertainment, Fred Walker and Alan Duncan delivered a “throwback” YOKE Theater presentation of “The Little Black Book”. Fred also shared briefly about his experiences in the early days of YOKE, offering a powerful perspective on God’s faithfulness through the years. He spoke of how that same movement of God is still alive today—something he witnessed firsthand while participating in the YOKE Folk Leadership Weekend this past January.

The night concluded with a heartfelt word of encouragement from Helen Coatney, reminding everyone of the eternal significance of investing in the lives of middle school students.

As we reflect on this special evening, we are deeply grateful for the countless individuals who have poured their time, energy, and love into YOKE over the years. Their faithfulness has built a foundation that continues to support and inspire the ministry today.

As we look ahead to YOKE’s 50th anniversary, we do so knowing we are standing on the shoulders of those that have gone before us. While much has changed over the years, the heart of YOKE remains the same: YOKE still serves the same God, still proclaims the name of Jesus, and is still connecting middle school students with caring adults who point them toward a life-changing relationship with Him.