We continue our series and effort to “catch up” with RS alumni past and present…

In light of our recent Finding/Forging Conference, and the due emphasis on such issues as Biblical manhood and womanhood, marriage, and the process leading to marriage in a way that glorifies God (dating/courtship)… I was very pleased to sit down (via email!) with Victoria Collins-Eldridge and hear her passion about motherhood and homemaking - as a form of missions in this culture!

We honor the high-calling she desires and aspires to…

We acknowledge full Christian liberty on vocational choices, yet find it refreshing to know that RockSolid is not only impacting young people who will go on to various ministry and missions callings and careers in business, education, technology, etc… but also impact future husbands and wives, fathers and mothers - who will shape a generation yet to come for the glory of God!

Meet Victoria.

Catch us up again on where you’re living, what you’re doing school wise and work wise, etc..?

I’m living in Odessa, WA with my parents and 3 siblings. Along with my online college courses through Whitefield College, I do a number of things.

I work: at a Coffee Haus on part-time and fill in basis, at my dad’s Chiropractic Center where I do secretarial and cleaning duties, for an elderly lady where I go to basically keep her company and do odd jobs that she’s not able to do anymore, for another elderly lady who needs meals made and pills set out, for various people who need babysitters/house cleaners/yard help/pet sitting/ you name it!.

I’ve been helping with the JR/SR. high youth group at the church my family now attends here in Odessa.  While I’m at home I am the chauffeur, laundress, chef, referee, and try to do as much cleaning as time allows.

From the time I first became a Christian I really wanted to do mission work.  When I was twelve I went on a short term trip with a church group from Post Falls, and then got a passion for mission work right here in America.  This summer, when a friend of mine spent a week in Panama working on a school down there with a mission team from several churches, I realized, “You know….Victoria, you are a missionary of sorts right here in Odessa.” So, that’s what I like to think of myself as!  I wear all the hats that I do not for money, not for “status”, but for Christ.  Some days I wonder if I’ll ever get it all done, but God’s been teaching me that He’ll give me grace to get through each day and whatever it holds.

When did you attend RS?

I attended RS2006 and RS2007.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan on getting married, starting a family, and raising up the next generation for God.

Amen!  That’s exciting…so, how has RS helped you in your relationship with the Lord?

RS put feet to my faith. It helped me to unpack loads of thoughts, facts, truths, etc. and then truly begin to live out my faith like never before. RS helped me discover the “’Now what?’ after the ‘Now what?’”.

How has RS helped you in your preparation for what you are doing now?

RS is one of the biggest reasons I am where I am now. After my experience there I began considering God’s plan for my life and how He would have me pursue it.  I’m able to live counter cultural, and know I’m in obedience to God, even when most people call me crazy.

What challenged you the most?

The biggest thing that challenged me was realizing that God’s primary concern for giving me salvation wasn’t “ME”…but Him. You know, it’s so obvious, but I so didn’t get it. Now that I do, my relationship with God is better than ever before.

What’s your favorite RS memory?

Hmm…I guess small group time with the “Pink Bananas” (RS2007). It was a great group of girls and God placed us together for a reason.

Would you recommend RS to other 16-20 year olds? (why/why not)

I would recommend this to ANY 16-20 year old I know. This is an event that will change your life forever by showing you what it means to BE a follower of Jesus Christ.

Any fellow RS alumni you would like to give a special message too here?

Pink Bananas: (How’d we ever come up with that one??), We’ve gotta get together soon.

To everyone else : Keep on fighting, RS was only the beginning!

Thanks for the great update Victoria and the encouraging testimony.  Keep us posted on the Lord’s leading and provision in your life and how we can be praying for you!

aj

Continuing our series…

I was able to catch up with Ryan Bushy - just after he finished an Organic Chemistry test at Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, where he is enrolled (and yes, I meant to capitilize those words!)

Ryan will be attending the Finding a Mate - Forging a Love Conference this coming weekend in Cashmere, WA.

If you’re interested in attending, there’s still time to register - GO HERE.

See you this weekend Ryan!

The rest of you (hope to see you too!)…and enjoy, if you know Ryan, you’re blessed! Don’t forget to leave Ryan a comment.

When did you attend RS?

I attended RS in the summer of 2006 and 2008.

What are your plans for the future?

Ha, thats a good question. I can hear God chuckle everytime i mention “my plans”. Currently i am attending Whitworth University and majoring in biology. I have been looking into teaching biology at a high school level. However, I am also very interested in ministry and would love to use biology as a tool in overseas missions. Whether that means going to Africa and helping people get clean water, plant food, fish, etc, or teaching biology at Christian schools that are in need. I may minor in spanish and would also love to minor in theology. I am looking forward to these next couple of years as God continues to guide and direct me. It’s exciting. Wherever I end up I know I will always been doing one thing, and that is seeking to truly satisfy myself and those around me with that which will and can only infinitely satisfy our souls, Jesus Christ!

Tell us a little about your recent mission experience?

I had the opportunity to do a Discipleship Training School with YWAM from Jan.-June in Argentina. It was definitely life-changing. For 3 months we studied the Bible, the Character of God, and much more. Then we went on outreach in Northern Argentina for about 2 months. I was challenged in every imaginable way and learned so much about myself and my Savior. The Lord really revealed himself to me and I am a lot different in many ways because of this mission trip to Argentina. To evangelize to people we did a lot of clowns, skits, dramas in schools, plaza evangelism, soccer evangelism, you name it, we probably did something similar. I love to talk about it so ask me!

How did RS help you in your preparation for that experience?

RS changed my view of God dramatically. And as many RS alumni know your view of God shapes everything. RS gave me the tools and mindset to become passionate about God. It gave me a burning desire to glorify God in everything i do! RS also showed me that life is not about ME! Truly grasping this prepared me for mission experience because you are forced to get outside of yourself on the mission field. You will do things you are uncomfortable with, you will be challenged, you will not be in control (lol…are we ever?) If you have a wrong view of God and a self-centered view of the Gospel YOU WILL NOT SURVIVE ON THE MISSION FIELD! RS is the perfect Boot Camp for many facets of life!

What challenged you the most at RS?

I would say the thing that most challenged me at RS was trying to get outside of myself and my self-centered/oriented take on life. It’s hard because our flesh resists this like crazy. A key to becoming selfless is trying to channel all our affection and energy into glorify God. This is a never ending process and is only possible through the grace of God. This is what we were created to do and it is incredibly fulfilling and fun! Yes, glorifying God in everything is fun! The other way in which RS challenged me was to live out what i learned at camp in my life, 24/7. Learning and applying!

What’s your favorite RS memory?

Favorite RS memory…hmm…that would have to be the huge wrestling tournament we had in the guy’s dorm in 2006. The Tank wars and extreme volley ball/ping pong games are a given. Actually now that i think about it, gang tackling Josh with shaving cream and chocolate syrup was pretty sweet too. Going on the Bear hunt was also crazy awesome! There are just too many good times to list!

Would you recommend RS to other 16-20 year olds? (why/why not)

Yes, i would highly recommend RS. You are never too old for this camp and if you think you know everything or pretty much everything, think again! You will learn tons! There are not many other camps out there with the same caliber of sound teaching and awesome God-glorifying fellowship. Nothing is better than hanging and having fun with fellow hard-core, Rock Solid believers. You will not regret going and i can assure you that you will come away different.

Any fellow RS alumni you would like to give a special message too here?

Are the Men in the House?!! Hoooooraaaaah!!

aj

Laura Gerlicher (top right) is in Israel.  She wrote me an email, apologizing for a delay in replying because she was “in Samaria all weekend”.  I chuckled and then went quiet for a moment…wow.

Once you read her interview below, you should really take a few minutes and check out her travel blog and online photo album to see, in part, some of her incredible experiences studying in Israel.

As with all the lives that will be highlighted in this series, RockSolid in no way claims to have “produced” such remarkable young people, but we do count it a privilege to have served them in some small way, knowing for all of us, it is truly only by grace alone that lives get lived for the Glory of Jesus and His Cross.

Enjoy.  And thanks Laura - May the Lord bless you and KEEP you…

Shalom.

How did you hear about RS?

I heard about RockSolid from a dear friend Matt Jones. Though a few conversations with Matt regarding his experience and watching the transformation that took place in the aftermath of the camp showed me that Christ’s power was present and at work in the ministry of RockSolid. Where Christ is magnified, present, and moving is where I desire to be. So, I decided to check it out.

What was your experience like at RS?

My experience at RockSolid was wonderful, to put it quite simply. Not only was the Lord able to help me process through several circumstances and trials I found myself wrestling with at the time, it equipped me and prepared me for all that I have faced over the last few months. Please note that RockSolid was not all fun and games; it was challenging, draining, and at times even overwhelming. I remember sitting down on my bed Sunday evening after a day of intense lectures, crying out, “Lord! I don’t know if I can do this!” However, in being stretched out of my comfort zone of nominal Christianity, the Lord has granted me greater endurance and a heart that is continuing to seek after Him with everything that is within me.

How has RS helped you in your relationship with the Lord?

This last summer, I was coming off of a very physically and emotionally draining year off at school. My week spent at RS really helped me refocus and gain the drive to pull through for the Lord’s sake, not mine. I was so encouraged and blessed with the powerful and effective Christian leaders; the Lord very much spoke to me through them and inspired me through their simply obedience to savoring Christ and living solely for His infinite glory. Now that I have that I have seen that non-nominal Christianity powerfully at work, lived out by the RS staff and many of the campers, I cannot help but pursue it wholeheartedly for the sake of my King.

How has RS helped you in your preparation for college/ministry?

Again, one of the greatest things that I gained was the example of the leadership in RS. They continuously pointed us to Christ and the power of His cross. As I prepare to enter ministry after college, Lord willing, I know that the only way that I personally will be able to affect change in people’s lives is by pointing only to the life and redeeming work of my Lord and Savior. That seems so obvious but is so difficult to find people that live it as well as teach and preach it. May the motto of “that men might not see me but Christ in me and Him crucified” become a defining reality for each of us.

What challenged you the most?

Oh, goodness. What didn’t challenge me? What has continued to challenge me even into this school year is the age long question of application: “What do I now do with what I have learned?” The massive intake of information over the course of those 8 days sometimes felt overwhelming: “How am I ever going to retain all of this information?” “Lord, help me apply every iota of this in a way that pleases You!” It’s so easy to allow life to go on and not live in light of a dawning truth! I will say that I am very thankful for the sermon outlines and “the notebook” so that I can continue coming back to all that we learned.

What’s your favorite RS memory?

This might sound more on the unspiritual side… I would have to say one of my favorite memories was trying to wash what seemed like a gallon of chocolate syrup out of my left ear and hair from under a freezing cold water hose. Nasty.

Would you recommend RS to other 16-20 year olds? (why/why not)

I very highly recommend the camp to those who desire to spend a week growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, dying to sin and dying to self. Those who come with a willing and open heart will not be disappointed.

Any fellow RS alumni you would like to give a special message too here?

To all my fellow RS alumni: “This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in all knowledge and depth of insight. That you may be able to discern what is best and may remain pure and blameless until the day of Christ- filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ Jesus, to the glory and praise of God the Father.” (Phil 1:9-11)

Keep fighting the good fight, my friends!

I’m starting a new “Catching Up With RS Alumni” series here on the blog that I hope will help share a little of the fruit and impact that RockSolid is having on lives, and in addition, the impact those lives are making wherever the Lord leads them (and there are some pretty cool places!  Stay tuned…).

Our first Alumni to catch up with has earned this spot - after all, Matt Jones has been to RockSolid the last 3 years in a row!  Matt is now enrolled at Wheaton College.

I interviewed Matt about his RS experiences and what impact RS has made on him.   Enjoy, and be sure and leave Matt a comment here on the RS blog!

How many times have you attended RockSolid? (what years?)

RS 2006, RS 2007, RS 2008

Are you trying to set a record??

Haven’t I already!?! I was told there would be a cash prize…

How has RS helped you in your relationship with the Lord?

Rocksolid has become an integral part of my testimony. It revolutionized my way of thinking about God and my relationship with Him, and it showed me (as opposed to simply telling me) what it truly means to live as a Christian. I cannot emphasize enough how huge an impact Rocksolid had on my Christian walk.

How has RS helped you in your preparation for college?

It gave me a new perspective on how I wanted to spend my college years. I’d always just seen myself as going to college to have fun for four years so I could get a well paying job and live comfortably. Now I’m considering missions in eastern Asia. Bit of a difference! College is now about growing intensely in my faith as I prepare to go out and impact the world for “Christ and His Kingdom” (my school’s motto, haha…go Wheaton!)

What challenged you the most?

Actually seeing the leaders and counselors living what they taught. The fact that they were so filled by God’s Word (and humble about it!), so knowledgeable and dedicated, yet also hilarious, awesome and normal!! I think I’d given up on there being people like that in the world, and it really inspired me to to strive for such a consumed yet accessible life.

What’s your favorite RS memory?

Endless ping-pong, Tank Wars, graduation…so many more! I think one that will stick for a long, long time actually took place two months after RS 2007 ended. Some friends I’d made there invited me up to go bear hunting in the remote central WA wilderness (I think it was a cruel joke at first). It ended being one of the most awesome things I’ve ever done. Seven days of intense fellowship can really create some incredible friendships.

Would you recommend RS to other 16-20 year olds? (why/why not)

Without any doubt, yes. Three years in a row, Rock Solid has been a phenomenal and basically indispensable part of my life. God works in awesome and powerful ways every camp! Come here no matter the cost!! There is no price tag big enough to match how much this awesome week is worth.

Any fellow RS alumni you would like to give a special message too here?

Andrew Eichler (Itchybear): Get facebook! Also, come visit Wheaton. Now.
Everyone else: Come to Wheaton too!!

Thanks, Matt!  We’re excited to see where and how the LORD leads you from here.  For His Glory!

Be sure and visit his website:  www.jasonchina.net to find out more about what he is doing and how you can support him in prayer and through donation.

And drop him a note through email at jasonrmarquardt[at]gmail.com.