ALC LEADERS

Over the next few weeks we will feature a short bio of one or more of Adventure-Life's Leadership Team members. This week we feature Laurel Marshall, Elder and Ryan DeVries, Deacon. Each was asked to either give answers to a few questions or just share something about themselves.

Ryan DeVries

A favorite Bible verse 
 1 Timothy 4:12: Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Favorite Hymn or Song
- Stronger (by Mandisa) and Because He Lives
 

Favorite Bible Character - Paul
 

Who led you to Christ 
There really isn't one person I can point to but there is a good a list of them: My parents would have to be first on the list given the life they brought me up in.  I also had a lot of youth leaders in church in middle and high school who made a difference (a numerous list of them) including one by the name of Al.  He always lead the youth and always cared for them.  Also, all the Sunday school and VBS teachers and the pastors I've met over the years have influenced me.  Christian speaker Ken Davis was also a part of this as I gave my life to Christ after hearing him speak one night when I was in high school.
 

What has God done in your life, what is He doing now, and how will your future be shaped by him 
When I look back about one or two decades, I can see God speaking to me and working His way into my life and wanting to become more a part of it and also to make and mold me into something new.  The relationship I have had with God in my prayer and devotional life has grown and changed rapidly.  Right now, He still continues to work into my life and changes me into what He wants me to be.  It is hard for me to predict what the future and end result will be since part of that would be my own desires and not the Lord's.  However, I don't think I'll argue with the end result.
 

Something funny
The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.


Laurel Marshall

Hi, my name is Laurel Marshall.  I’m married to Brandt and we have three terrific kids; Emma is 10, Will is 7 and Jacoby is 4.  I stay at home full time with them, although I do work Saturday mornings for Vander Ploeg Bakery at the DSM Farmer’s Market.  So, as my brother says, I only work 5 hours a week for six months out of the year. J
 

I became a Christian at the age of 5 and was raised in a wonderful Christian home in Pella.  One night as I was going to bed, my dad talked to me about my sin, my need for a Savior and what it meant to invite Christ to live in my heart.  It seemed like the most natural decision in the world and I was happy to pray with my dad about that.  My dad was thrilled; he cried and danced me all over the house.  My mom was doing laundry so we went to find her and then the three of us danced together.  I remember feeling surprised at their elation because Jesus was all I knew, so I assumed everyone invited Him to be Lord of their lives.  But whatever the case, I was glad to stay up a little later so I celebrated along with them. J

Since that time, my relationship with Christ certainly had higher points and lower points, but God has been very faithful and steadfast in my life. Rocky Mountain High in high school and then connecting with Campus Crusade for Christ in college helped solidify my faith and make it my own.  I met an out-of-this-world godly man in CCC (yes, I’m talking about Brandt), got married after college and now we’ve been walking, learning and growing in this journey together. 

We’ve been at ALC for 7 years, after moving to Altoona from living in Minneapolis and we love it here!  I care a lot about the people in our church and the direction God wants to take us for the future, so I’m excited to be serving as an elder!