Fun Facts and Updates About Some People From the Past:
Note: I’ve noted the original update(s) people were highlighted in, so you can go back and see how far they’ve come under the Lord’s guidance, and your generosity and prayers. You may type their name in the Search Site box for easy access to the updates.
Todd Katter (Mar 2010 Update) – Todd was a young CPA working at a prestigious public accounting firm, who had a huge heart for the Church, when the Lord began spiritually mentoring him through Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc. Fast-forward: Todd has currently been the Lead Pastor at Willow Creek Huntley for 5 years. During that time, Todd has seen hundreds of people baptized and seen significant growth in group involvement and attendance. Up until recently, the church met in a high school. That is until Todd and his team led the congregation through a church building project that finally came to completion. In September, the church celebrated the grand opening of their new building. Congrats, Huntley…and Todd! May your church continue to love people beyond the walls of the new building.
Dave Cooper (Dec 2011, June 2016 & Aug 2017 Updates) – Before the Lord took Dave on a transformational journey, Dave worked in a dead-end job where his gifts were greatly underutilized and he felt no sense of purpose. Over the years (while meeting and since), he has taken on jobs and creative projects that are moving him closer to living out his unique redemptive design and purpose in the world. Dave currently works for One Collective (“We bring people together to help the oppressed”), formerly International Teams, where he mentors leaders overseas and facilitates short-term mission trips. Since 2017, he has also been a director on the Board of Directors for Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc. Dave has been an invaluable asset to this ministry and to me personally.
Jason Feffer – (One of the website’s original testimonials) As long as I had known him, Jason yearned to be a full-time pastor. The opportunity just wasn’t presenting itself…until three years ago, when his dream came true. For the past three years, Jason has led The Practice at Willow Creek Community Church. The Practice incorporates a spiritual practice each week that attendees are guided through during the gathering time, with the hope that people will continue to live out the practice throughout the week. Check out the podcast. It’s a great spiritual formation tool and resource. The Practice meets on Sunday evenings.
Louis Dooley (Oct, 2014 & Jan, 2015 Updates) – In general, people who have done prison time are not supposed to ever be allowed back into prisons or jails. Louis’ story is an “Only God Could Do That” story, as has been described in past updates. One cool update is that Louis has been going into Cook County Jail and leading Bible studies for the past couple years. Initially, he was only allowed in one cell block. Recently, the jail has requested that he expand into other cell blocks. The jail did surveys of inmates and guards. Louis got rave reviews! The guys love him and want him to come, and the jail continues to see improvement in behavior within the population. Louis believes jail is a perfect time to impact men, giving them a firm foundation before they either go to prison or are set free back into their unstable home environments. It’s a time when men are very receptive, having to face the possible consequences of their actions. God is also using Louis mightily in a youth prison, which also seems like an ideal time to impact young lives before they completely destroy their futures and others.
Randi Bahnick Johnson (June & July, 2010 update) – Eight years ago, Randi became a pastor’s wife. She’s a pediatric intensive care unit nurse, a mother of two, a co-leader of her church’s women’s ministry, and a church planter. Three years ago, she and her husband (an associate pastor) helped plant Stateline Church in Rockford. Attendance is currently around 900 souls. Recently, in addition to everything else she’s doing, Randi has been caring for and ministering to a young girl (whose parent are their dear friends) who accidentally fell off a golf cart, hit her head, and suffered severe brain damage. They are praying and believing God for a miraculous healing. It’s heartrending to follow along on Facebook, and it’s so beautiful to see Randi being who God designed her to be.
Mission Church, where much of the staff and many key volunteers have been spiritually mentored through Legacy Shepherding Ministries, officially began meeting in their first building, in Bloomingdale, at the beginning of the year. They previously met in a school gym and then a school auditorium. I appreciate Mission’s view on the new building. Mission Church equates itself to an aircraft carrier that sends people out into the world, to return periodically to be refueled. They see the church building as a launching pad, a place to equip people to do ministry outside the church, not as a place to get overly comfortable inside. People with similar passions are encouraged to form Missional Community groups that do impactful serving to meet the needs of their neighborhoods and communities. It’s a challenging process getting people to see church as a place that equips them for service to others beyond the walls, rather than simply a place that feeds them, gives them a place to socialize, and provides them a sense of belonging. I admire these young leaders for trying.
Andrea Wittig (Feb, 2013, July 2015, Oct 2018 Updates) – Andrea climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa to help sponsor children through World Vision. Her extraordinary efforts checked off another item on her bucket list and got 50 children sponsored by donors. Andrea summited! She said it was the hardest thing she has ever done in her life. Andrea continues to be a gifted spiritual mentor and Holy Yoga instructor, as well as a mother of three boys.
Nick Rode (Oct, 2009 Update) – Nick continues to impact the lives of high-schoolers through being a school counselor and varsity girls basketball coach. A huge desire on Nick’s heart throughout the years I’ve known him was to be married and have a family. Nick recently got married for the first time at age 39! Wahoo! I was blessed to be present to witness the wonderful event. Congrats, Nick & Danielle!
What Can You Do?
Your participation makes a difference. I joyfully invite you to take action and partner with God and me in developing young Christian leaders who will make a loving impact on our world.
Will you please join my financial support team and join me in praying regularly for these young leaders?
Contributions are tax deductible.
In His Love,
Randy
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