Dear Younger Me... Love, Me with Liz Adams Irick

Sara Payne is the Director of Marketing and Branding at Magnify Learning, a good friend, a loving wife, an amazing ministry leader for Huntington Campus Life, and on fire for Jesus! We sit down and talk through the struggles she experienced growing up and the perfectionist pressure she put on herself. Sara talks about the day she truly understood God's grace and the freedom that it brought her. The pressure to perform and to strive was now gone and she could experience true freedom. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.

Brad Buckley serves as the Youth Pastor at College Park United Brethren Church in Huntington, Indiana. Before hearing a clear direction from God that ministry was where God wanted him, Brad struggled to know what he was supposed to do with his life. While all his friends left high school for college or a trade job, he took a year and a half gap-year to figure out what direction God had for him. We talk a lot about how mentors were so important in his life when making these decisions and the importance of taking life one step at a time. Then, he reads his letter to his younger self.

Laura Roth is a pre-school teacher, a mom, a great friend, and someone who cares deeply about being available for he kids, her people, and the community around her. We talk about some periods of her life that were difficult: losing a good friend, miscarriages, at-risk pregnancies, leaving her career to be a stay at home mom and more. Laura talks a lot about how letting people into her life has made her grow the most as well as the importance of cheering people on! Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.  

Buckle up! Dave Rahn is a youth ministry researcher, author, futurist and missional leadership strategist. After beginning his ministry with Fort Wayne Area YFC in 1972, he joined the faculty of Huntington University in 1985 and served there full-time for 22 years before rejoining the mission of Youth for Christ/USA in 2007. There is so much wisdom packed into this episode. Dave's newest book, Disrupting Teens with Joy: Helping Youth Discover Jesus-Focused, Gritty Faith is packed full of well researched and tested wisdom on what real gritty faith looks like! Dave talkes about how he started Campus Life here in Huntington County (my current ministry site!) and its a full circle conversation as we are celebrating 50 years of Campus Life in our county next year. Then, Dave reads his letter to his younger self. Disrupting Teens with Joy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P8W8SV6/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3

Nygel Sims is the National City Life Lead at Youth For Christ. He is passionate about reaching young people and sharing Jesus with them. Nygel shares his story of moving from always hustling, serving, and moving at 100 MPH, to learning rhythms of rest even in difficult times. Then, he reads his letter to his younger self.   https://www.mosaiccelebration.com/

Bobby Kemp is the Lead Pastor at Huntington First Church Of The Nazarene and shares his story of continually choosing to play it safe instead of risking failure in his life. Over the years, He learned that the words people say matter and the stories he's believe in his life from something someone's said to him when he was young. Bobby talks a lot about the power of our words and that they can be uses to plant life or death. Then, he reads his letter to his younger self.  To hear Bobby's sermons and to learn more about HNaz church, visit: https://hnaz.org/

Naomi Richison is a college student at Indiana Wesleyan University and we sit down and talk about her path to learning how to love herself as God made her. She grew up in an orphanage in China and was adopted and brought to the USA when she was 7 years old to a wonderfully loving family. Naomi shares about her experience of realizing she looked different that other kids, losing confidence, and then gaining it back through Jesus working in her life. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self. 

Hanna Whitney is starting her first year at Hanover College running Cross Country. We talk about her adoption journey, wanting to fit in and belong, and how it's easy to fall into the comparison trap in life. Then, something hit her where she felt like she lost herself. Hanna describes how it felt to not understand why she was struggling or even how to put into words what her struggle was. She shares her journey through that time and how journaling and praying to God helped her through it. The, she reads her letter to her younger self.

Ashley Campbell is a '20 Huntington North High School grad and beginning her Sophomore year at Indiana Westlyan University as an Elementary Education major. After years of avoiding hard conversations because she wanted to just have fun and be positive, she finally couldn't hold it in anymore. Her parents had gotten a divorce when she was young, but Ashley never wanted to deal with how it effected her. After years of avoiding things, she finally realized how important it was to share how she was feeling and ask questions. God has shown her how important it is to have these kind of conversations and how free forgiveness is. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self. 

Grace Koons is entering her 3rd year at Indiana Westlyan University this fall as an Elementary Education major. She shares about how her dad's illness sent her into a spiral of depression and other mental health issues. Through a long journey with depression, panic attacks, and anxiety she finally got the help she needed. Then, after years of searching to hear God's voice, she finally heard it in an unsuspecting time and place, and it changed everything for her. Finally, she reads a letter to her younger self. 

Ari Betterly just graduated from high school and is preparing for her Freshman year of college. She is a fun-loving, high energy girl that is on fire for Jesus. Ari has been on a journey of growth and learning how to be vulnerable over these last few years. Through hardships, disappointments, and hurts, she has learned how to embrace her life and make her feel like she isn't a burden when she opens up to others. God has truly become her foundation and her confidence. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.

Marissa Perkins is 23 and is starting her journey of to become a PA, Physician's Assistant, at Trine University this fall. She is an enneagram type 9 and shares about what "merging" with other's looks like for her. Marissa also shares about her journey through dealing with the pain of people not liking her and how she is growing away from pleasing others and towards pleasing God. We also talk a little bit about what getting married in the middle of a pandemic looked like for her! Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.

Autumn Anderson is a Sophomore at Grace College. She is a psychology major (for now) and a soccer player. Autumn has played soccer at a high level her entire life, traveling the world playing in national tournaments, futsol teams, and more. She has had 4 knee surgeries in her short time of life and that has made a huge impact on her. Through injuries and long recoveries she has learned to shift where she finds her value from what she can earn through soccer to who God says she is. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self!

Angel Moyer is a Senior at Huntington University. She grew up wanting to have this perfect family, but, with her dad in ant out of jail and abusing alcohol, it eventually lead to her parents getting a divorce and her world shattering. Angel talks about her independence and fear of being honest with others. Then, something changed all of that and she could open up about her story more and more. We discuss her journey of learning how to be real with the people around her. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.

Brian Biedenbach is the Director of Leadership Development at Youth For Christ of Northern Indiana. He has been working in the youth ministry field for over 20 years and is passionate about developing leaders in every walk of life. Brian is a soccer player and fan, has a youtube channel and a podcast where he shares about biblical truths (youtube) and ministry tips and stories (podcast). Brian's life drastically changed when he got injured while playing college soccer and felt the call into ministry when he was finishing his Biology degree. We talk a lot about the rewards of being wiling to try something new and the risk of failure! Then, he reads his letter to his younger self. Check out Brian's Practically Biblical YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1n03j_Gv9BvTuUs43lIBAQ Ministry Leader Podcast:  https://www.theministryleaderpodcast.com/

Autumn DeMott works as an admissions counselor for Grad and Undergrad as well as the Head Assistant Coach for the Huntington University Girls Soccer Team. Growing up with a single mom and her dad wasn't in the picture forced her to grow up fast. She struggled with trust and letting others in. This came to peak when she experienced abuse high school by an older co-worker at a camp. In college she began working through a lot of issues with a counselor and found healing through letting others in, including God. Then, Autumn reads a letter to her younger self.

Anna Ruth recently moved back to Indiana from working in the Ukraine for 2 years. She shares a lot about her faith journey growing up and how God has spoken to her in different gentle whispers through her doubts and struggles. She is passionate about Jesus and, during this season of her life, is being refreshed by God. We talk a lot about her journey, God, John 10, and more. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.

This episode is quite a bit different. Liz wanted to come on here and share a little bit of her heart on why each and every story matters. Many times we avoid hard parts of our stories, hoping that they will go away, but it ends up affecting our lives! How many times do we all just move past a hurtful experience, a painful memory, a mistake we've made and hope it never comes up again. If we do that, we will never learn from our past mistakes! Our story shapes who we are!

Maddy Robrock is finishing her 2nd year at Huntington University as a Social Work/Psychology double major with a minor in TESOL. She plays Basketball and Volleyball for HU as well and volunteers for Huntington Middle School Campus Life. What DOESN'T this girl do?! Maddy and I sit down and talk about her journey through learning how to love herself and be confident in who God created her to be. She shares about her journey through sacrificing parts of herself in order to fit in and then how she began to learn to be happy and confident in exactly who she is. Then, Maddy reads her letter to her younger self. Bracelet company mentioned: mudlove.com Follow Maddy Robrock on Instagram: @maddy.robrock

Raquel Martinez Kauffman is a graphic design artist for Smekens Education, a lover of obscure bands, born in Venezuela, grew up in Miami, Florida, and ended up here in the Midwest after falling in love with the idea of small town living. During her teen years, her family struggled a lot with different things that left her life feeling very unsteady and that caused a lot of pain, anxiety, and depression. Raquel talks about her feelings of losing hope and where God was in all of those experiences. She and I talk a lot about counseling and the things she's learned about herself and trauma over that time. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.

Ryan Payne is the lead singer of the pop/rock band Attaboy. He grew up going to church and attending a Christian school. When he was a teen, he developed a form of OCD called scrupulosity and was obsessed with doing the "right" thing. It began to rule his life and trap him into these compulsive patterns and obsession with rules. In this episode you will see how his story went from a simple thought to an compulsion that he couldn't control. Through his story you can see God slowly working to release him from this burden. This episode is Part 2 of Ryan's story! This week, Ryan gets a chance to read his letter to his younger self. After this episode, sit back and listen to the song Waking Up by Attaboy Check out more music at attaboyonline.com

Ryan Payne is the lead singer of the pop/rock band Attaboy. He grew up going to church and attending a Christian school. When he was a teen, he developed a form of OCD called scrupulosity and was obsessed with doing the "right" thing. It began to rule his life and trap him into these compulsive patterns and obsession with rules. In this episode you will see how his story went from a simple thought to an compulsion that he couldn't control. Through his story you can see God slowly working to release him from this burden. This episode of Part 1 of Ryan's story! Next week, Ryan will read his letter to his younger self. After this episode, sit back and listen to the song Fire by Attaboy Check out more music at attaboyonline.com

If you love the 80s, pranks, and a story of life-change, then you'll want to sit down and listen to Pastor Josh Kesler. Josh is the Pastor of Liz's church, The Well United Brethren Church, and shares about his rebellious teen and college years. Through 12 suspensions from school (mostly classic 80s school pranks), partying, and losing the love of his life, he finally surrenders his life to God. "My way got me here, now its time to try it your way, God." This story of redemption and God's faithfulness in Josh's life is inspiring and it was so good to talk to him about that part of his life. Then, he gets the chance to read a letter to his younger self. For more information about The Well, check out www.thewell.church

Are you the type of person who has a 5 or 10 year plan and wants to stick to it? Or maybe your plans haven't worked out like you thought they were going to. Courtney Megonnell is in the middle of changing careers and a (2nd round) Senior at Huntington University in their Nursing program. She is someone who loves to make lists, plan out meals months in advance, and has a huge heart. You won't want to miss the story of God's faithfulness in her life when he pushed Her into uncomfortable places and taught her how to surrender and rely on Him. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.

Laura Fooks heads up an organization called Light Speaks Loudest. This is a subscription box for teen girls and is all about providing support, encouragement, and recourses for girls to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus. Laura is also a communications rep for an aerospace company in Denver, Colorado. Her job is out of this world! (Pun intended). She shares about her struggle with pride when she was younger and her drive for things to be perfect. Throughout her years she had to learn about surrendering to God and learning that any little "yes" can be a big step in the right direction. Then, she reads a letter to her younger self. Laura put together an exclusive giveaway just for our listeners! If you'd like to get a subscription box from Light Speaks Loudest for FREE, go to lightspeaksloudest.com/giveaway and share your name and email address by March 14. She'll choose 2 winners to get their first LSL box for free! Check out lightspeaksloudest.com or follow them on Instagram @lightspeaksloudest

Vanessa Macias-Hannie is the Director of Healthy Living at the Huntington YMCA, a step-mom, a mom, and a Cross Country coach. She has so much joy and love to spread to everyone and her story is all about learning how to make intentional choices. Whether that was eating habits, who she gave her heart too, or how she spent her time, Vanessa has learned a lot in her life and shares that story with us. Then, she reads a letter to her younger self.

Braden Hale is in the United States Marines. He is extremely driven, but, for a period of time in high school, struggled with his purpose. Because of that, he filled his days with video games, sleepless nights, and struggled with his mental health. He shares his story and how the Marines gave him plenty of opportunities to grow. Then, he reads his letter to his younger self.

Lisa Leist is a fitness trainer at the YMCA and has more spunk, energy, and smiles than most of us combined! Growing up, she struggled with alcohol abuse, even getting behind the wheel while under the influence. Then, God woke her up to the reckless way she was living and everything changed. Then, Lisa reads a letter to her younger self.

Madi Waldfogel is in her final semester in Huntington University's Doctorate of Occupational Program. She has always been a hard worker and has balanced a lot of things in her life, leaving no time for herself. Busy-ness ran her life for a long time, and she finally hit a breaking point. We talk about moving from seeking perfection to being satisfied with progress. Then, she reads a letter to her younger self.

We have Liz's coworker and fellow Campus Life Director, Jake Johnson with us today. He leads the ministry in Columbia City, Indiana and has grown up in the church. He shares about the doubts he had in his faith, his experience running away from God, and what brought him from observing Jesus to actually engaging in an active relationship with Christ. We talk a lot about the Bible an what we've learned about Jesus through His word. Then, Jake reads his letter to his younger self.

Today, we sat down with one of my mentors, Roger Vezeau. He works for our Youth For Christ national office as a chapter consultant and was my boss for about 10 years, locally. Roger has over 35 years of experience in ministry and we talk a lot about how to keep going when we get tired. He shares his story of taking a broken home when he was a teen to how God used that to minister to countless teens and adults over the years. Then, he gets a chance to read a letter to his younger self.

Shawna Balsiger works for Huntington County as the volunteer opportunities coordinator. She is a former Campus Life director and has so much joy in her life. She shares about her journey through saying "yes" to Jesus in high school and learning how to slowly step aside so that God works through her. We talk through what the Holy Spirit have done for her over the years. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.

Makayla Dumato is a Freshman at Indiana Wesleyan University, a cheerleader, enneagram 7, and she is adopted. During this podcast we sit down and talk through her adoption story, how God has taught her about belonging and love, and what it feels like to be "adopted into love" by her heavenly Father. Makayla is super fun and I loved sitting down with her! Then, we give her a chance to read a letter to her younger self.

Jess Hatcher is a Resident Director at Huntington University and a Mental Health Counselor. She shares about her experience with abuse and trauma that she experienced when she was a teen through some unhealthy co-dependent relationships. In this podcast she shares about her journey through counseling herself, how she began working through the distorted thinking she was experiencing, and her journey to healing. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self. We will return with our Dear Younger Me, Love Me podcast for season 2 in January 2021!

Kody Hope is the Director of Youth Ministries at the Huntington First Church of the Nazarene. He has been working at the church for almost 8 years and also is a volunteer for our Huntington Middle School Campus Life program. Kody talks about how, growing up, he didn't have much of an example of what making mistakes and bouncing back from them looked like. His mom had him at a young age and they didn't really have much involvement with any church or God. When a friend invited Kody to a youth group with him in middle school, everything changed. Thats when he said "yes" to Jesus and started following Him. During his first years as a Christian, Kody struggled with a lot of black and white thinking. He thought good Christians didn't make mistakes and judged others when they did, inevitably, make a mistake. Over time, God transformed Kody's heart to be more open to others and that its ok to offer grace instead of judgment, because thats what Christ did for us! Then, he has the chance to read a letter to his younger self. To learn more about ministry at HNaz Church, click this link: https://hnaz.org/

Maddee Haupert is a Kindergarten teacher in Huntington County, Indiana and a ministry leader for Huntington North Campus Life. She shares about her journey about learning to release control in relationships, especially when they don't go they way she expected them to. We talk a lot about how God can restore our relationships to the way he intended them to be and the freedom we feel when we hold on to things with open hands, instead of trying to control others and their opinions of us. Maddee talks about the power of forgiveness and what steps she had to take to release any bitterness she was holding on to in relationships that have hurt her. Then, we give her a chance to read a letter to her younger self. The Magdela Painting Maddee referred to: https://magdala-gift-shop.myshopify.com/products/encounter-magdala-encounter-chapel-mural-canvas-replica

Megan Weirrick is a Senior at Huntington University. She is a double major in Psychology and Sociology and has been helping with Huntington North Campus Life for 4 years. After some injuries when she was younger, she experienced deep loneliness and began to feel like she didn't belong anywhere. Through a struggle with an eating disorder, pretending everything was okay, and isolating herself from her friends and family, she realized she couldn't keep living this way. Megan began to let others in and get the help she needed. She shares about her journey through all of that and more. Then, we give her a chance to read a letter to her younger self.

Langston Ginder is 21 and a Junior at Huntington Univesity. He played D1 baseball at Ball State then transferred to Huntington University to play baseball and pursue a major in Psychology with a Christian Ministries minor. Langston shares about his struggle with feeling like he had to earn his value. The expectations he placed on himself what that anything he achieved was to earn love and praise from others. After a difficult time in his life, he realized that he needed to shift his mindset and that God already loves him exactly as he is! He changed from giving himself the glory to giving God the glory! Then, we give Langston a chance to read a letter to his younger self.

Nichele Harrison is the Redemptive Arts Pastor at Life Church in Huntington, Indiana and one of my close friends. Today, we sit down and talk about what it looks like to give up our own expectations for what God has planned for us. Nichele has been on a journey to be a parent for over 4 years. She and her husband have struggled with unexplained infertility and have been trying to adopt for over 2 years now. This is not the life that she expected to have, but she talked about how God has brought her through many of her own expectations (Dating, Job, Marriage, ect) and teaching her to surrender them to His greater plan! Then, she reads her letter to her younger self.

The audio is a bit different because we had to record on Zoom today. I apologize for the quality! Though my mic is a little messed up, Brooke Richison's words are filled with wisdom and truth! Brooke is a Senior History Education Major at Huntington University. She has spent her whole life chasing after fun and joy, but, for a while, she was looking for those things in the wrong direction. The phrase, "I just wanna do what I want when I want it" was a mantra for Brooke for a while and, though she thought she was finally living free to do what she wanted, she found out it actually held her down and caught her in chains. She talks about what true freedom looks and feels like and then reads a letter to her younger self.

Adrianna is an admissions counselor at Huntington University and one of our leaders with Huntington North Campus Life. She shares about a time when she felt like she had made too many mistakes and was too far gone for God to forgive her. She talks about the power of being honest and vulnerable with God and a community of believers and how that changed her life. Then, she reads a letter to her younger self.

Meg is a Freshman at Huntington University. She is a cross country and track athlete as well as a pre-med major studying Biology and Chemistry. She is someone who has struggled with busyness and a very filled scheduled her entire life. Through that time she began to feel the pressure to perform perfectly in everything she did in order to make everyone happy around her. Over quarantine this year she realized what a life of healthy rhythms of rest and relying on God can really to with transforming the pressure she was putting on herself. Then, she read her letter to her younger self.

In this episode we talk with Shonah Landes, a jeweler and designer at our local Bowers Jewelers about her life-long struggle with healthy body image. She has struggle with disordered eating habits and negative body image thoughts most of her life. This led to a lot of hurt, a pursuit of affirmation from guys, and a very poor view of herself. She shares her journey of learning to see herself through God's eyes and how God created her in His image. Then, she reads her letter to her younger self. Beloved Dust by Shonah Landes You Hem me in - behind and before - my liquid, scattered self. Dust. I am diffused. But you hem me in - encircled and enclosed - my fearful, knitted self - your own beloved dust.

In this episode, Nick Balsiger, the Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Student Ministry at The Well Church in Huntington, shares about his lifelong journey with control. We talk a lot about God's calling on Nick's life into ministry when that wasn't Nick's plan for his own future. He shares about what it looks like to trust God with control even when he doesn't understand why God is letting certain things happen. Then, he shares his letter to his younger self.

In this episode we talk to Jacob Allred. He is a math teacher at Homestead High School, a recent Huntington University Grad, and a former Campus Life intern. Jacob share about his journey with pride and praying the dangerous prayer of asking God to break him and reveal things in his life he needs to surrender to Him. We talk a lot about sitting in God's presence and how being with God is so important instead of doing all the time. Then, we give Jacob a chance to read a letter to his younger self.

In this episode we have Syanna Bonewitz, Freshman at Western Michigan. She shares about her struggle with talking about her faith with her friends, how God provides through little and big things in our lives and we can see that when we're paying attention and trusting him. Syanna talks about how important sharing your faith in your deepest friendships is and how transformational that can be for your own faith! Then, we give her a chance to read a letter to her younger self. Check out Syanna's online boutique: https://annaalexisboutique.com/

In this episode we have Freshman at Ball State University, Grace Dimond. She shares about some painful parts of her life and how she dealt with that pain in unhealthy ways. Then, she began inviting God to fill the empty, hurt parts of her heart and everything started changing for her. She, then, gets the chance to read a letter to her younger self.

In this episode, Ashley Feemster, a local business owner and soccer coach, shares with us her lifelong battle with control. She has always resisted change and felt like she needed to control everything in her life. Eventually, she found her breaking point when she was doing ministry overseas in Germany. God really began to show her how to begin releasing that need for control and to trust Him more! Then, we give her a chance to read a letter to her younger self. Downtown Nutrition Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DowntownNutritionMuncie/

Sophie Smekens is a musical theater student at the Hart School Of Music in Connecticut. She is passionate about authentically sharing the love of Christ with the people she is in relationships with. Though she has been following Jesus her whole life, she struggled when she was younger to put Jesus first instead of her community. She had a secret pride that snuck in thinking she was the "best" friend anyone could have, elevating herself over God. Maintaining this lifestyle was exhausting and inauthentic, so she realized she needed to make a change! Then, we give her a chance to read a letter to her younger self.

In this episode, Madeigh Reust sits down and shares about a time in her life where she had this realization that she had put a person over God. When that person moved away, Madeigh went through this journey to learn how to put God first in her life...

In this episode we sit down with Tyler Gates. He is the Worship and Discipleship Pastor a Huntington First Church of The Nazarene and one of our leaders for Huntington North Campus Life. Tyler shares about his experience with abuse growing up, broken...