Check Out Andrew Kiste’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Kiste

Hi Andrew, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I spent eleven years as an educator in North Carolina. In the summer of 2021, we began considering a move back to Michigan. I found myself drawn toward Youth for Christ, a missionary organization that serves young people ages 11-19, providing mentorship, engaging students in conversations about faith, and fostering growth in young peoples’ physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual health.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am a person who really desires immediate results and measurable progress. When it comes to relationship building, mentorship, and guiding people to grow in their faith, these are not measurable goals and progress does not necessarily happen overnight. It has been critical for me to keep this in mind over the past few years and to trust that students’ relationships with God will happen in its proper time.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My job consists of engaging students in loving relationships and empowering caring adults to develop authentic, Christ-sharing relationships with students. We seek out students who have no church background or don’t yet know God, as well as disciple young people who want to grow in their faith. We believe that these next generations are hungry for God and His Word, and it is our job to train them up to take their place as the world’s next leaders.

We do this by going where students are: we engage them in their places, in the locations they hang out, the school cafeteria, the practice field. We also do life with students: we take them out for ice cream, invite them into our homes for dinner, play basketball together in the driveway, go shopping together, all to build deep relationships with them. We ask tough questions, we support students through some really difficult situations, and we teach them about a God who loves them.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Growing up, I always loved the time that I spent at church camp every summer. Getting to go into the wilderness, to slow down and be surrounded by God’s creation gave me an opportunity to connect with my faith on a deeper level.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sites.google.com/view/middlevillecampuslife/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tkcampuslife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087326413153