vision for our current ministry. We want to share life with students
and minister to them up close. Under Mark Irving’s leadership, I
learned the art of “focusing on a few” — facilitating small-group
discussions, writing Bible study guides, providing a listening ear
over coffee or pizza, and serving together.
We’vemodeledmuch of our of youthministry after Discipleship
Ministries’ multiplication approach. As with Discipleship Council,
we train both our adult and student leaders to minister to smaller
groups of students. Our young-adult ministry is also built on
building community and sharing in each other’s lives. Our home
has become a place where we regularly discuss the Word, share
both struggles and victories, and our students know where to find
the dishes (and food) in our kitchen.
I often wonder how different our ministry would be if I had
not experienced intentional relationship-building as a member
of Discipleship Ministries. I’m eternally grateful for the desire
instilled in me at Cedarville for being “passionately insignificant”
for the cause of the Kingdom. I am confident it will follow me
wherever the Lord takes us.
Andy Johnson ’14
is a biology premed major from Lowell, Michigan.
He is a member of Discipleship Council.
Michael Brittan ’15
is a mechanical engineering major from
Mattawan, Michigan. He has been a Discipleship Leader for two years.
KristinWright ’14
is a nursing major fromLong Grove, Illinois. She has
been both a member and a team leader of discipleship small groups.
Megan (Bartoletti) Johnson ’06
and her husband, Adam, lead the
youth and young adults at Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church in
Pennsylvania. There she applies what she learned as a Discipleship
Council member.
What We Pray About
Kristin Wright ’14
Discipleship Ministries has had a profound impact on my college
experience. My favorite part has been the opportunity to hear
others share testimonies about their journey with the Lord (we
call this a “life map”). I have had several opportunities to share
my life map, but one experience stands out. After sharing my story
with nine other leaders, the group circled around me, thanked the
Lord for my journey, and prayed words of blessing over my future.
I walked away unspeakably blessed by this gift — the power of
encouraging prayer is hard to articulate.
Discipleship Ministries has taught me so much about prayer.
As a leader, I don’t always know how to address the challenges
that my team of girls face. But I have learned that when words fail
me, God provides ultimate hope. God’s Word promises that the
prayers of the righteous “avail much” (James 5:16). Regardless of
the circumstances, I can rest on the encouragement of that promise.
As I have sought to develop my prayer life, I have learned
how much the Lord delights in giving good gifts to His children.
He loves to answer our prayers to grow in righteousness. I am
overwhelmed to know that the God and Creator of the universe
not only knows my future — He walks with me, guides me, and
joins me in the journey.
How We Live It Out
Megan (Bartoletti) Johnson ’06
Last night our home was overrun by teenagers and college students.
It was loud. It was messy. It was a late night. And we loved every
minute of it. There’s no need to check our sanity; it was just another
night in youth and young adult ministry.
After graduating from Cedarville, I married my
husband, Adam, and joined him in his youth ministry
adventure. It’s become increasingly evident howmuch
the Cedarville experience has shaped both our
hearts and ministries in the last eight years.
Howard Hendricks said, “You can impress
people from a distance, but you can only impact
them up close.” My involvement in Discipleship
Ministries at Cedarville formed the heartbeat and
