Colby and Kierstyn Benedict are about to hit the mission field and they are thankful for how much God used Joy El in their preparation.
“The first things that come to mind for me are the one-on-one discipleship and the Bible study,” Colby says. “Those are two of the main things that Joy El does, and they are key parts of our ministry with DiscipleMakers.”
Colby and Kierstyn both completed Joy El’s 4.12 Leadership Training Program during their high school years. Now they will be doing campus ministry with DiscipleMakers (https://www.dm.org/colby-kierstyn-benedict?rq=benedict) in Northeast Pennsylvania.
Colby was involved with DiscipleMakers throughout his college years. However, Kierstyn attended Lancaster Bible College, so her connection with DiscipleMakers began through her husband. “I’m so grateful for the ministry skills I gained through the 4.12 Leadership Training Program that prepared me to join DiscipleMakers,” Kierstyn states. “Through leading my peers, Bible studies and one-on-one mentoring, these are the same things that DiscipleMakers also does, so I may not have the same level of experience with their ministry, but I do have the preparation.”
Kierstyn points out an additional benefit to her participation in the 4.12 Program. “A lot of college students are wrestling with big questions about what they believe and what society tells them versus what the Bible tells them,” she describes. “The level projects we did in the 4.12 Program equipped us in those areas, which will help me come alongside students wrestling with their faith.”
Colby and Kierstyn also gained each other through their ministry at Joy El, a Christian Retreat Center in PA.
“We would not have met each other if it were not for Joy El,” Colby explains. “Joy El was our only connection. During our 4.12 years, we were friends, but nothing more. However, when the world shut down in 2020, where did we all go? To places that were familiar and safe to us. The Lord brought us both back to Joy El, where we reconnected.” (Above photo is from a carpetball game during summer 2020.)
“People don’t always realize the depth of friendship you reach when serving together at camp,” Kierstyn adds. “There is a bond created in that kind of service that is like no other. You develop intimate friendships because of the sweat, serving and giving of yourselves that you do together. That builds a solid foundation, which for us reached a new level when we were reunited in 2020.”
Both Colby and Kierstyn are thrilled about serving college students at Wilkes and East Stroudsburg Universities.
Colby & Kierstyn with their team.
“We have the heart and vision to see disciples of Jesus Christ made on college campuses, which are often thought of as spiritually dark, anti-Christian and anti-Gospel places,” Colby enthuses. “College ministry is strategic. These students are our next leaders and the future of our communities. They are tomorrow’s doctors, politicians, lawyers, police officers, teachers and parents. We want to help move them from the kingdom of darkness to light and to help them burn brightly with the light of Christ.”
Colby and Kierstyn will be part of a small staff team, but they will be the only staff members specifically living in Wilkes, enabling them to deepen the ministry at Wilkes University, where DiscipleMakers is the only official Christian group on campus.
“These students have very little Christian community,” Kierstyn shares. “Part of our ministry to the students will be having them in our home, demonstrating hospitality and just providing that community experience with us and with each other.”
The Benedicts cannot move to Wilkes until they raise the final $400 per month needed for their missionary support. If you would like to help meet this need, launching the Benedicts into active ministry to college students, follow this link and select their names: https://www.dm.org/ways-to-give.
The Benedicts also appreciate your prayers. Reach out to them via email ([email protected]) with any questions or to be added to their prayer list.
