Jon Rich

Q1: Jon Rich

Q2:

Q3: Las Vegas, NV

Q4: Mental Health Technician (working with children and adolescents)

Q5: Donel

Q6: Stepdaughter: Noel Brown, Granddaughter Kya, Grandson Jude.
Stepdaughter and husband: Jacqulyn and Richard Hidlago, Granddaughters Sierra, Serenity, and Jayden.
Stepdaughter: Shawnna Burress, Granddaughter Ryan and Grandson Phillip.
Foster Daughter: Aliea Foshey
Foster Daughter: Ariel Pittman, Foster grandchildren Alize', Ricky, Michael

Q7: "every thing rises and falls on leadership"

Q8: What I learned form Gordon became a foundation to build on for the rest of my life.

Q9: I have been through many trials including being homeless. However it has all been a growing experience in the Lord. For the past 18 years I have been working in a state psychiatric hospital with children from ages six through seventeen year of age. I have been able to organize and bring in Pastors from local churches to lead Bible studies and seeing many come to the Lord. Also I have been volunteering as a Chaplin at local homeless shelter for veterans with addictions.


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Angie and Gary Hunt

Q1: Angela (Elwell) and Gary Hunt

Q2: Elwell

Q3: Seminole, Florida (near St. Petersburg/Clearwater/Tampa)

Q4: writer/middle school youth pastor

Q5: each other. :-)

Q6: Two children: Taryn, age 25
Tyler, age 24

No grandkids yet, but we have two mastiffs. Do they count?

Q7: So many! But the one that resonates with me is "Love is a decision to make someone else precious to you." I've used that precept more times than I can count!

Q8: Impossible to measure. First, we found each other through Gordon. Second, his work made it possible for us to complete our educations and solidify our life's work. Third, his philosophy of youth work as a permanent calling has led to Gary's making it just that. I think he may hold the record for longevity in middle school ministry . . .

Q9: First, it was a youth aflame trip to Korea that led us to adopt two children from South Korea. And that journey--parenting, period--has led to more joy and more heartache than we expected. It's made us VERY sympathetic as counselors, and has given me reams to write about.

Q10: Just that it's been a joy to reconnect with so many of you. We look forward to seeing you face-to-face, both in Lynchburg and in heaven. :-)


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Danny Scruggs

Q1: Danny Scruggs

Q2:

Q3: Kernersville, NC

Q4: Rural Mail Carrier

Q5: Susan (Dykes) Scruggs (1987 Liberty Grad)

Q6: Stephanie Alice Scruggs, a 10 year old REDheaded Spark-plug!

Q7: I remember Gordon rightly blessing us out on Treasure Island, after someone set a "Water Trap" over the door that doused him when he came in. I was a teen working on the grounds crew that summer.

Q8: I remember that he was all about excellence. I've tried to keep that goal in view in whatever I do, even if I seldom hit it!

Q9: There have been dark days, failures, career upheavals... There have been victories (Wife and Child!), fun(I got my pilot's liscense), and achievement (Paid off Mortgage!) Through it all, my LORD has been so precious to me. He NEVER let go of me. He ALWAYS has been faithful!

Q10:
Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Dan Wagner

Q1: Dan Wagner

Q2: "Danny"

Q3: Winfield (Chicago suburb), IL

Q4: Minister of Music

Q5: Vickie (Nyberg) Wagner

Q6: John Daniel - age 20
Natalie Christine - age 12

Q7: The heights of leadership are piteously cold. (Gordon via Henrietta Mears)
I know you're tired ... we're all tired ... you have to learn to work tired!

Q8: more later!

Q9:

Q10:


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Richard Matteson

Q1: Richard Matteson

Q2:

Q3: Rockwall, Texas

Q4: Realtor and Life & Business Coach

Q5: Debi Holdren Matteson

Q6: Children:
Jamie, Erin, Evan, Holly, Andrew
Q7: Scaremare, what a giant opportunity to share the gospel.

Q8: Gordon was a get it done and do it as good as Disney would guy. He always gathered a great group of men and women around him that were creative and innovative.

Q9: God has guided me through a wilderness time of 10 years. I came out of it stronger and ready to serve. He gave me a wonderful wife, Debi, and a good church to serve in in Portland, Oregon. We were there 16 years and enjoyed every moment in Singles and Adult Ministry plus building a small groups program. Now God is using many of the things we initiated there to be of help to our present church in Rockwall, Texas. We are teaching a 5 week course in Blended Families, developing coaching among the lay men, teaching in classes and ministering in the community through other outlets.

Q10: If you are in the Dallas area and want to buy a home, my son and I have a great real estate company that can be of help to you. www.themattesongroup.com see our new video blog at www.RockwallTexasLiving.com
Also, I have been trained and continue to train as a personal coach for missionaries and pastors. I do life coaching also for those working on areas within their life. I would love to connect with you if you are searching for a way to make your life more productive. Contact me at Richard@RCMcoaching.com


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Gene Kanagy

Q1: Gene Kanagy

Q2:

Q3: Mt. Gilead, Ohio

Q4: Whirlpool Corp.

Q5: Kristi Austin

Q6: Children: Joshua, Kalvari, Paul, Sarah, John, and Levi

Grandchildren: Aliah, Sammi, Annabelle, Andrew, Austin, Charlie, Katlyn, Isaiah, Christopher, Donovan, Ana Marie, Aubrey

Q7: I will always remember his enthusiatic spirit to 'get the job done'!

Q8:

Q9:

Q10:


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Mark Hardy

Q1: Mark Hardy

Q2:

Q3: Coeur d' Alene, Idaho

Q4: Senior Pastor

Q5: Julie Dee Hardy (i.e. Julie Smith--LBC Chorale, SMITE)

Q6: Daughter: Jessica Lauren Allen (age 22) Her husband (Jerry) and her had our first grandson in August 2008 (Cohen Ray Allen)

Son: John Richard Hardy (age 17)

Q7: I appreciated so much his saying that "Christian leadership is servantship."

Q8: I often think of his various teachings on Christian leadership and the book on such that he recommended by Mary Frances Johnson Preston.

Q9:

Q10:


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Paula Oldham Johnson

Q1: Paula Johnson

Q2: Oldham

Q3: Lynchburg, Virginia

Q4: Art Director, Thomas Road Baptist Church

Q5: 35 years of marriage to John Emery Johnson!

Q6: My duaghter, Jamaica, has been married to Terry Conner for ten years. They have our only grandchild, Laura Grace, who is named for my mother and grandmother. Jamaica and Terry are online professors at Liberty University.

My son, John, has not yet married, and is a nurse at the Medical College of Virginia. He is involved in medical missions as well.

Q7: I remember Gordon as a blur! A bundle of energy and movement...bull dog determination and a vision for reaching young people.

Q8: Although I was not an official member of Youth Aflame, I was there during the early years and remember all the "old", original students. It has been a privilege and a joy to follow the lives of these YA kids through the years. So proud of you all!

Q9: Lord have mercy. Where does one begin? Every day has been an adventure, every moment a transformation. The one event most everyone would remember would be the last days of the PTL network...the televangelist wars. John and I lived in Charlotte and worked for Jim and Tammy. We had just come on board after Dad had worked there for three years. In the horrendous days that were to follow the fall of the Bakkers and the leadership of Dr. Jerry there, we saw the almighty Hand of God reach down and put a hedge of protection around our family that to this days sends a shiver down my back. Through that trial we learned to trust the Lord in every situation. He is good! He is great! He is God!

Q10: I am so looking forward to seeing everyone this fall. You will find Lynchburg and Liberty changed...and yet, the same. Our desire is to continue to live out the vision Dr. Jerry gave us in 1971.


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Randy Smith

Q1: Randy Smith

Q2: Smith

Q3: Recently it feels like I spend half the month in New Jersey - the other in Lynchburg

Q4: Pastor

Q5:

Q6:

Q7: "Don't judge others until you get the log out of your own eye"
Favorite memory - Working for hours on Scaremare and then redoing it because Gordon said it wasn't right...and it wasn't!

Q8: Gordon taught me persistence, vision, and the necessity of excellence.

Q9: The last few years have been a time of incredible ups and downs. Through it all I am amazed by God's faithfulness and His dependability. He is God and I am not!

Q10:

Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Darrell Cothran

Q1: Darrell Cothran

Q2:

Q3: Spartanburg, SC

Q4: Minister of Media, First Baptist North Spartanburg, SC

Q5: Shawna Cothran (Atkins)

Q6: Megan, Marisa

Q7:

Q8: Having no Christian influence at home, being a part of Youth Aflame helped to lay a foundation in my faith and prepared me for full-time ministry.

Q9:

Q10:


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Jim Bates

Q1: Jim Bates

Q2:

Q3: Greer, SC

Q4: Associate Campus Minister/Director of Athletic Ministries

Q5: Becky (Elwell) Bates

Q6: Brad and Cherie Bates, son and daughter-in-law
Jamie Bates, daughter
Chris and Lyndsey Bates, son and daughter-in-law
Rhylee Bates- granddaughter

Q7:

Q8: His commitment to youth ministry has kept the focus of my ministry on youth regardless of what and where I was serving. It has led me full circle back to college ministry where I rediscovered my passion for ministry.

Q9: The years of ministry have been interesting, to say the least. Serving as a Christian school teacher, a youth minister, and a pastor took me in directions never anticipated. Out of the frustrations of ministry God gave me a restored joy and passion as He opened up the opportunity to work with college students. It was like finding out what you want to be when you grow up at the age of 49. However, I would not want to change anything about the journey.


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Terri Ott

Q1: Terri Ott

Q2: Arnold

Q3: Forest, VA

Q4: Sales

Q5: Single

Q6: Cody is 18 and graduating from Liberty Christian Academy and going into the Air Force. Ashley is 16, a sophomore at Jefferson Forest High school and going into the cosmetology school while still attending regular classes at JF.

Q7: If it weren't for Gordon offering me a scholarship to sing in YA, I wouldn't have gone to college. For that, I am truly thankful. I went to Dallas for about a year with YA and then went back to Lynchburg to finish my degree in Human Resources Management. Thank you Gordon for always opening your home and your heart to all of us. You and Dottie were such a blessing.

Q8: I remember always being so nervous that Gordon would call on me to speak...you know how he would just point and we had to give a testimony; therefore, I never made eye contact with him. When I attended LU I took 5 speech classes to get over the fear and then went on to be a trainer in Human Resources and had to speak in front of people all the time.

Q9: Unfortunately, like many of us, I've had to rely on God for a lot in the past to get me through and he has been faithful. I sometimes questioned if he was still there but deep down knew he was. I've learned that if you wait to be "perfect" to have a relationship with God, you never will.


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Stephen Linton

Q1: Stephen Linton

Q2:

Q3: Concord, VA

Q4: Waste management supervisor at Liberty University

Q5: Rita Craft Linton

Q6: Samantha Joy Linton - LU Graduate
Sarah Janel Linton - senior LU

Q7: Rita's favorite memory is riding in the station wagon after church to get to the island and set up the dining room for lunch on Sunday. There were probably 10 of us squeezed into the car with Gordon, who was not known for keeping to the speed limit.

Q8: Steve worked with Gordon at Lassen Pines for a couple years. It helped him develop a real desire to be a imitately involved in ministry from a layman's position.

Q9: Steve has been a part of the mission's committee at our church (Timberlake Baptist Church) and we have had the opportunity to go on several missions trips. Steve has been able to use the gifts God has given him in construction and me in teachng to minister in Asia and Africa and the Caribbean.

Q10: We are grateful to the Lord for two girls who love God and want to be in ministry. They remember our time at Lassen Pines with fondness; Samantha spent some time there too in the past few years. She will join a church planting team in Florida this summer. Sarah will graduate in December and wants to teach English overseas. I am still teaching except I have moved on to Junior High. Hard to believe its been 33 years. Steve loves his work at LU and his interaction with students. We still open our home to many of them at holidays.


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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David Hendricks

Q1: David M. Hendricks

Q2:

Q3: Banning, California

Q4: School Teacher

Q5: Christy Jo Hendricks

Q6: Derek Paul (12 years old)
Allyson May (10 years old)
Joanna Elisabeth (7 years old)

Q7: My favorite quote is "No excuses--just results"
My first favorite memory has to be the first time I heard him speak in chapel. My second, third, fourth, etc. has to be every message, trip, Sunday school lesson, youth ministry classes...

Q8: I have remembered him often and thought about him saying to us, "Be willing to do something no one else has done before." His philosophy helped me to try to accomplish something great.


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Anita Lewis Ferrante

Q1: Anita Ferrante

Q2: Lewis

Q3: California

Q4: Educator


Q5: Mark
Q6: I have two beautiful, intelligent, sweet girls. Jessica my eldest and Becca my baby.

Q7: Arriving in Korea and then going to a TV studio the next day to sing in Korean. Yikes! Walking behind Gordon through those dusty streets and calling him Mokesime or just "The Moke".

Q8: During my first year at Liberty I took a Youth Ministries class to see what all the "hype" was about Youth Majors. I did not know what was in store for me. Sitting in one of Gordon's classes after seeing his passion and love for the youth I caught the bug.

It has been one great ride. I have worked with youth all my life in some form or the other. And it all started with my curiosity of those guys and girls in the maroon Youth Major jackets.

I still work with youth albeit they are about 3 feet tall. But you can never start too early!

Q9: When we had Youth Conferences I would often listen to a speaker by the name of Bill Stewart. He was also another man with vision and passion and Gordon called him the "Godfather of Youth".

During my Senior year one of the teams came here and ministered at a church called First Baptist. One of my good friends told me "you have got to go there". So with nothing to lose I checked into the ministry and was thrilled to find out it was the church where Bill Stewart was the Youth Pastor/Administrator!

As Bill wrote in his letter to me...You can move here "lock, stock and barrel" and see what the Lord has in store for you. So that is what I did however, it was only one duffel bag.

I began a life and several ministries here. God brought my wonderful husband into my life, blessed me with my teaching career and all because He lead me to take one Youth class at Liberty.

Being a Youth Major will always be a part of me. I still quote some of the things I was taught there though the great people in the Liberty Youth Department. And I have made life long friends that I can just "pick up" where I left off.

My other adventure and transformation was after trying for two years, then a preemie baby the miracle of my two children. God taught me to trust in Him and wait in His time. With his timing all things are perfect.


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Diana Murphy Turley

Q1: Diana Murphy Turley

Q2: Diana Murphy

Q3: Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

Q4: missionary

Q5: Tom Turley

Q6: Joshua Turley - son
Charity Maria Turley - daughter
Hayden Turley - grandson

Q7:

Q8: Have been in Brazil for 22 years, a great part of that working in camp ministry, or with a church planting team made up of youth (seminary) students.


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Jana Brewer Disney

Q1: Jana Brewer Disney

Q2: Brewer

Q3: Woodstock, GA

Q4: Administrative Assistant to Executive Director of EPIC International

Q5: Phil Disney

Q6: Children:
Tyler Disney - 23 (graphic designer)
Kristen Disney - 19 (Missions/English double major at Liberty)
Casey Disney - 14 (quarterback, strong leader in his church youth group)


Q7: One of my fondest memories is when my father, Roscoe, and Gordon would sit and talk about ministry. I loved their enthusiasm, vision and laughter as they dreamed and planned.
Scare Mare was probably one of the most memorable events working with Youth Aflame. What fun!! I always tell my kids about it, although I am sure I sound old to them when I talk about it!

Q8: Gordon always made me believe that reaching kids with the Gospel while they are young is extremely important. Now that Phil and I have been in ministry for 27 years, it has proven true. We must reach them while they are young, it may be our only window of opportunity!!

Q9: All of it! It is hard for me to nail it down to one adventure in which He transformed me. I would have to say that if there is ONE that was transforming it would be 1976 when I spent the summer with the many young people that traveled to Guatemala to rebuild 10 of the churches after the earthquake that took place with SMITE.
It was that summer, at the age of 16, that God called me to follow Him and work in full time ministry. It has been a great adventure and I would have never guessed that I would have ended up living in Guatemala as a missionary later in my life.
We are still working in missions with EPIC International now! What could be more of an adventure and more exciting!

Q10: I met my husband at Liberty traveling with SMITE. We have been in ministry (pastoring or missions) for 27 years. If you are ever in the Atlanta, GA area, call us. We are the only Disney's in Woodstock, GA!!


Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Marquis, Shauna

Q1: Shauna

Q2: Marquis

Q3: College Station, Texas

Q4: Business Development Coordinator

Q5: Divorced

Q6: Garrett

Q7: My favorate memory of Gordon..... I smile when I think of the days and nights spent doing Gordon's "Rock Parties" and then after a long hard day watching Ben Hur, Ten Commandments, or one of Gordons favorate movies with everyone. It was a special time that all of us worked so hard together and got a chance to bond with Gordon. He was stern a lot of the times but it was only because he wanted us to turn out to be Winners "Like David".

Q8: If Gordon has taught me one thing in life it is whatever you do , do it for God's glory. I work hard for my employer in hopes that he see's Christ in everything I do.

Q9: My biggest adventure has been my son Garrett. God has taught how to survive divorce and raising my son by myself. This has turned out to be the biggest adventure and learning experience.

Q10: I would like to say that if it were not for God bringing Gordon into my life I don't know if I would be saved today. My mother had raised me a Jehovah's Witness. It took two years befor I accepted Christ as my Savior. In those two years I watched everything Gordon said and how he lived his life. It was Christ radiating from him that impacted me most in my decision to come forward that day in church. I was 15 years old at the time.

Gordon and his wife Dottie took me in and treated me as if I were one of his own. Through him I had the amazing privege of being under such great leadership and training. I was given the opportunity to go away to Word of Life Bible Institute in New York (I had the best year of my life there). I was also given the opportunity to attend Liberty University because of Gordon. I believe that God brought the Luff's into my life to give me what my parents couldn't. I feel so blessed after coming from the enviornment that they saved me from. Thank you Gordon & Dottie! I love you both so much. I wanted others to know how much you impacted me as a young girl,young, woman, wife, and a mother to a wonderful boy who adores God.

Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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Marina Guenther

Q1: Marina Guenther

Q2:

Q3: Lynchburg Va

Q4: Media Consultant

Q5:

Q6: Son, Mikhail, 10 years old.(My wonderful surprise late in life!!)

Q7:

Q8:

Q9:

Q10: How I miss the "good old days"!!! The early 70's were the best Youth Aflame years!

Q1 Name | Q2 Maiden name | Q3 Where do you live
Q4 Occupation | Q5 Spouse | Q6 Kids/grandkids
Q7 Memory/quote of Gordon | Q8 Career affected
Q9 Walk with God | Q10 Other

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