JEFF CUTTING

Jeff Cutting lives in Schroon Lake, New York, where he has worked as a teacher at Schroon Lake Central School for over 30 years. He and his wife, Natalie, have three children: Kotah, Kenzie, and Kason. Here is his testimony in his own words:

“I was raised in a Catholic family in Upstate NY. After high school and college, I was very atheistic in my thinking. I was hired in 1992 to teach at Schroon Lake Central School. Three years into my teaching, one of the students who played youth basketball invited me to Mountainside Bible Chapel. I had not attended any church since elementary school, but I didn’t want to disappoint the young player. The message I heard changed my life. I knew nothing about the Bible or its real teachings, but I knew I needed a Savior. On February 26, 1995, I accepted Christ as my Savior. Over the next several years, I went on several mission trips directing Word of Life basketball camps overseas during the summer months. I still struggled with what I had been taught about evolution and the origin of life. For many years, I studied anything related to creation and evolution. Discovering that God’s Word, the creation account, as well as the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are true and absolutely evidence-based has encouraged me greatly in my walk with the Lord. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4a). It is in that same spirit I want to pass on the truth of the gospel and encourage others with what I have learned in regard to creation and evolution.”

JORDAN WERTZ

Jordan and his wife, Bonnie, both grew up in Christian families and came to faith in Jesus as children. They attended Word of Life Bible Institute from 1998 to 2000. It was there that they met and began serving the Lord together. They saw the influence that Word of Life missionaries had in both of their churches, and with their youth leaders. They wanted to have that same kind of ministry – encouraging and training youth leaders, sharing the gospel, and seeing youth challenged to serve the Lord with their lives.
After being accepted as missionaries with Word of Life Local Church Ministries in 2003, Jordan and Bonnie spent the next ten years ministering in Eastern and Central Michigan. In 2014, they relocated to the Mid-Atlantic region where they continue to serve with Word of Life.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

PAUL O’BRADOVIC

Paul graduated from Tennessee Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry and an associate’s degree in American Sign Language. He graduated from Temple Baptist Seminary with a master’s degree in Religious Education. He is an area missionary with Word of Life Youth Ministries, a curriculum coordinator for children’s and student ministry curricula, and the overseer of the Youth Ministry Internship program. He has been married to his wife Tatianne for over twenty years. They have two children, Liana and Ciera. Prior to coming on staff with Word of Life, Paul spent 14 years in Monclova, Ohio, as a student pastor.

LUKE PETERSON

Luke is the lead pastor of The Capital Church in Columbus, Ohio. His heart for students compelled him, with a team of people, to start a church that is committed to helping people in the city of Columbus and on the campus of Ohio State University become more like Jesus. Luke and his wife, Shaelyn, have a son named Brooks and a daughter named Annie.

BOBBY BROWN

Bobby Brown serves as the Assistant Camp Director of Word of Life’s Ridge and Ranch camps. His first experience with Word of Life was as a camper at Florida Youth Camp (now called The Coast). The impact of the counselors and biblical teaching at camp led Bobby to attend Word of Life Bible Institute, where he spent two years in intensive study of God’s Word. Since that time, he has served in various positions with Word of Life ministries, including the Camp Crew Coordinator at The Coast, the leader of Overflow Legacy (Word of Life’s traveling recruitment team), and the Assistant Camp Director at The Coast. Bobby is married to his best friend, Quimey, and he is excited to help Ranch and Ridge campers take their next step in their relationship with Jesus.

MIKE EATON

Mike graduated from Word of Life Bible Institute and served at both The Island and The Ranch for many years. He is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ as well as a pastor, husband, and dad. He continues to serve families and youth in Northeast Pennsylvania at South New Milford Baptist Church. This summer, his three children will all go to camp where he first started serving the Lord. He looks forward to exploring God’s truth with youth and seeing lives changed at camp!

JOE ZILINSKI

Joe was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.  Pastor Phil and Tammy Zilinski adopted Joe when he was twelve years old, saving him out of an abusive home situation. After graduating from Griffin Christian School, God led Joe to attend Word of Life Bible institute. He attended the Bible Institute for two years, and he served on staff for four years with the Word of Life Ranch and Ridge as program coordinator and counseling coordinator. The Lord then called Joe to move down to North Carolina to pursue a career in the coffee industry. He met his wife Holly during that time, and they got married in 2020. Both Joe and Holly serve faithfully at Mercy Hill Church in Greensboro, North Carolina.

DANIEL WEBSTER

Daniel Webster (Born and raised in NC) has served in full time ministry for over 20 years. He served in youth ministry for 13 years before moving into an associate pastor role. He now serves as Lead Pastor of Harvest Baptist Church in Burlington NC.

While serving fulltime demands much of his time and energy, he loves to take opportunities to speak at camps and retreats. He is still a youth pastor at heart. But if he isn’t preaching, serving with his church, or speaking at other events, you can usually find him with his family.

Daniel met the love of his life, Joni Westfall, at Word of Life Bible Institute in NY in 1999. They have been married and serving together in ministry for 21 years. They have 3 children. Gracie who attends WOLBI in NY, Dean (17) and Nick (16).

Word of Life has impacted Daniel in every area of his life, and he could never repay this institution for that.