The Rippled Effect of a Life Transformed
In Chapter two of his recently launched book, “Foundation in Spirit and Truth: Discovering your strength and building the life you want,” Patrick Pence writes, “In 2018, my daughter got involved with a local group of the Young Life organization. They do a tremendous job helping young adults find guidance and community through the teaching and discussion of Christian principles. She attended Bible studies, prayer meetings, and then a large camp retreat in North Carolina. Her enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge to gain a deeper understanding of God led the two of us into many meaningful discussions.
I shared experiences from my childhood days in church and from my FCA days in high school. Sadly, after that I didn’t have much to contribute. After my mothers’ death, God had been just a desperate 911 call for me. Those prayers generally consisted of me trying to cut a deal. If You do this, God, I will do that. If I ever held up my end of the bargain, it wasn’t for long.
But, using the fuel of my daughter’s fire, we started incorporating Christian practices into our daily routine. We read and discussed the Bible, attended or watched different church services, and prayed before dinner.
With double fives in my age, it was this introduction, or re-introduction for me, to Christianity that became the spark for Foundation In Spirit and Truth. An idea that was the humble beginning of my journey to becoming the person I wanted to be, living the life I wanted to live. A journey that will continue until my very last day.”
A Daughter to Father Domino Effect
What Patrick Pence so eloquently communicates in his book, many have experienced or seen throughout the eight-plus decades of Young Life. Often, when a kid is impacted that impact reverberates through not just a school and a community, but the family they are a part of.
Patrick’s daughter was 15, a freshman in high school, when she was first introduced to Young Life. She was attending a sports camp in Illinois, when a friend kept asking if she would be interested in going to a Young Life camp later that summer. After watching the camp promotional video, she was “in.”
Following her trip to Windy Gap, a Young Life camp in North Carolina, in 2018, Patrick’s daughter wanted to discuss faith more with her father, the parent that had been the primary caregiver for many years. She was interested in her father’s story, and how they might explore faith together. Rather than fumble through her words, Patrick’s daughter wrote him a letter, clearly articulating why she wanted to delve deeper into her faith and how she wanted to do that with him. In Patrick’s words, “I wanted to give her the ability to dig in and explore what she believed and who she would be in that context. I loved her so much that I didn’t want to see her drifting along as I had for so many years.” According to Patrick, “We started with some simple things like praying before dinner, reading the Bible, attending a church or watching a service online.”
This initial start launched a season of tremendous discovery and growth for both father and daughter. While Patrick’s daughter grew in her new-found faith, continuing to be involved with her local club and Campaigners and even serving as a student leader in the local Wyldlife ministry (Young Life for those in middle school), Patrick became engrossed in his own personal revival. Looking back on his life, his faith and who he wanted to be moving forward. This entire process is outlined in “Foundation in Spirit and Truth.”
In Patrick’s words, “This book is a sixty year study of one subject; ME.” However, its contents will resonate with all who have drifted and struggled over the years. “Foundation in Spirit and Truth” is about a house being built up, rather than being torn down; it is a living testament to the impact of a life transformed and the influence of a daughter on a father. If you are interested in learning more about Pence’s book, you can do so here.
A Son’s Journey Impacting His Parents
Similar to Patrick Pence’s story, in 2018 the Watson family was featured in an article published in Young Life’s Relationships Magazine. The story was titled “Signing on for Young Life,” and was written by Stacy Windahl. In Windahl’s words, “It started as Young Life relationships often do. A leader serving as a volunteer coach discovers a discouraged freshman in the locker room and suggests they get together to talk. Before long, the athlete is coming to Club. This particular athlete, Joanne and Terry’s son, Chad, attended club and then camp at Breakaway Lodge. When Chad’s leader, Eric, had to leave camp to coach the state playoff game he invited Chad to come along if, and only if, the leader (Eric) could share the club talk they’d be missing. So, during their drive, Eric shared the “cross-talk,” and Chad made a faith commitment, then and there, and that changed the faith journey of the entire family.”
Windahl goes on to recount the story of how the Watson’s began to host Young Life club in their home the next fall; how club grew from 70 to 200 kids a week, and how a “few weeks” of hosting turned into “10 years” and thousands of kids entering their home. In fact, Joanne ended up becoming a volunteer leader and the region’s Student Staff coordinator! By the way, Chad is still involved with Young Life today, as he serves as the mission’s Senior Director of Global Field Development!
A Biblical Pattern Continues
Both the Pence’s and the Watson’s experienced first-hand the reality that often one family member’s encounter with Jesus will lead to multiple family members having an encounter with Jesus. Just as Andrew fetched his brother, Peter, in John 1:41, and introduced him to Jesus, God continues to be in the business of transforming not only individuals, but siblings, parents and entire families!