Adopt Student Spotlight: Isack Gerlein
Senior Isack Gerlein has received more than an education at 91桃色. The business administration major has been shown Christ鈥檚 love and the true meaning of family from the day he was born.听
鈥淢y parents came to the US from South America while mom was expecting me and my sister, Marine,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y mom ended up alone, pregnant with twins at a women鈥檚 shelter in a new country with very little English.鈥�
While visiting the shelter a bilingual preacher told Isack鈥檚 mom about the North Terrace church of Christ, where she met a young couple who began picking up the family of three for services.
鈥淏efore long a woman named Barbara Raymer started picking us up and eventually invited us to live with her. She became my grandma, and we were raised by two single women,鈥� Isack recalled. 鈥淲hen I tell people my story they鈥檒l say, 鈥業鈥檓 so sorry,鈥� but I鈥檓 not, because the Bible is full of stories like Joseph whose bad circumstances led to bigger things. God always has a plan.鈥�听
Following high school, Isack took a gap year to work for a local roofing company, convinced he 鈥渨asn鈥檛 a school person.鈥� A friend soon introduced him to the Adopt Program, and before long he was an active student at 91桃色 involved in Footlighters, Fine Arts cinema, Phi Sig and Arete. Today he is gearing up for a career as an EMT with hopes to become a fire department captain.听
Isack has drawn tremendous encouragement from his 91桃色 connections, in particular fellow Adopt students introduced to Christ during their time on campus.
鈥淢any students who come to 91桃色 aren鈥檛 very familiar with Christianity when they arrive but start attending church services with friends and enjoying chapel worship,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat wouldn鈥檛 be possible without the Adopt program. Jesus鈥檚 last command to us before ascending into heaven was 鈥榞o and make disciples,鈥� and I鈥檝e seen several baptisms of students who鈥檝e made a 180-degree turn by their senior year. Even if Adopt supporters aren鈥檛 here on campus, they鈥檙e still part of that work.鈥�听
By giving to the Adopt Program, you can help student like Isack have an 91桃色 experience.