Fusion Alumni: Where Are They Now?

Mara Masters

Fusion Alum 2008-2009; East Africa

Current Vocation: Student; Nelson Project Founder

Education
I am currently enrolled in the College at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina where I am majoring in Biblical Studies and Missions.

Current Ministry Involvement
I am currently involved in a small church plant in Jacksonville North Carolina and of course I am always working on the passion that is growing in my life: The Nelson Project.

What Fusion Has Meant to You
Fusion was the hardest and most growing experience of my life. There were days I woke up for PT and wanted to just give it all up right there instead of running another mile. There were definitely days in Africa that going home to my comfortable life was much more appealing than getting malaria again (take your prophylaxis; it's well worth whatever side effects you experience). There were times that we craved ministry to the depths of our bones and there was no ministry to be found. In the midst of all of this, however, God made His purposes apparent to me. His utmost purpose, and thus MY utmost purpose, is to glorify HIS name above all else; above all other people, all ministries, all illness, everything. Fusion was the catalyst of this in my life and honestly, now when I am not suffering these kinds of heart aches and body aches, I wonder what is wrong.

If you aren't prepared to be changed, prepare yourself, because you will never be the same again.

Future Plans
The future undoubtedly holds a career in North East Africa working with orphans and those who have been overlooked by the rest of the world. I'm going to open an orphanage: one that will reach the lives of those who have suffered the most horrific tragedies. For more info feel free to visit http://www.thenelsonproject.org.



Jeremy (Last Name Withheld)

Fusion Alum 2005-2006; North Africa

Current Vocation: Military Intelligence; Arabic Translator,  United States Air Force


Education:
I have recently completed the Arabic course at DLI. God has blessed me with a love for this language and the ability to perform well in class while keeping up with the military side of the house. I have a 3.9 GPA and was at the top of my class (all glory to God). Aside from military requirements and duties, the school was extremely intense with a very high attrition rate. We studied the language for 7 hours a day and have a few hours of stuff to do every night. The most difficult part was vocab retention. We got a few hundred words a week and twice that in extra vocab in the units not listed in glossaries. Fun times.

Current Ministry Involvement:
Due to my current military duties, there has been little time for anything organized. However, my wife and I attend an awesome church that meets in a high school gym of about 30 members and have sought involvement there. She is deeply involved in a military wive's Bible study and we both attend a Bible Study on Sundays together.

My face to face ministry occurs often and I have been given several opportunities to witness to and share with fellow airmen. This place is a spiritual desert and has been extremely hard to navigate through, therefore everyone is in great need of Christ.

It has been quite frustrating to have so much time taken away from what feels to be more important, but I know that God has me here for this purpose and I will perservere till the end.

Future Plans:
As for my job, it's classified. I am currently in Texas for training.   

I would really like to get back together with [other Fusion Grads] and form our own ministry... and if God wills, live in another country with Angel (my wife).


What Fusion Has Meant to You:
And as for Fusion, it is the vessel God used to reach me and anchor me to Himself. It taught me everything I know about commitment to Christ and ministry. Though I have not been perfecty consistent, I now know what it feels like to walk the closest to Christ and will always have that as a means to measure my current walk.

Fusion fueled my fire for international work and for the Word of God. The most important thing to me is showing people Christ and being selfless in doing so.

Fusion produces leaders who know how to avoid complacency, and feel it when they begin to back-slide. Fusion is fellowship; and when committed to, is an optimal tool used to show someone what being sold out for Christ reallly means.



Joshua (Last Name witheld)

Fusion Alum 2008-2009; South America

Current Vocation: Student

Education: 
I am currently working towards a degree in accounting.  Additionally, I have been studying the Chinese and the Spanish languages on my own. 

Current Ministry Involvement: 
I am on staff at my church as an intern for the youth group.  I assist wherever I am needed in addition to teaching classes, discipling youth, and aiding in the process of organizing events.

What Fusion Has Meant to You: 
Fusion has possibly been the greatest experience of my life so far.  Before I came to Fusion, I rarely witnessed to my friends.  Fusion gave me valuable evangelism training and practice.  Furthermore, I feel that my focus in life has been changed.  I am now more consciencious about being on mission for God every day of my life, regardless of where I am.  Now, my greatest desire is to be in the center of God's will.  Finally, I have never been in an environment where I had so many Christian brothers and sisters close to my age.  I have made some very close friends. 

Future Plans: 
I plan to get my CPA.  It is my goal to do some non-vocational ministry abroad.   



 

Andrew Smith

Fusion Alum: 2007-2008; West Africa

Current Vocation:  Minister of Youth

Education:  
I am currently attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, completing a Masters of Arts in Christian Education with a concentration in Student Ministries.

Current Ministry Involvement:
I am on staff at Seven Oaks Baptist Church in Wills Point, TX as the youth minister. 
 
What Fusion Has meant to you:
While going through Fusion I learned a lot about myself and about others. I learned quickly that I could not rely on only myself to get through the different obstacles, but I had to rely on my teammates and most importantly on God. If I had not read my Bible every day then the work we were doing seemed to drag itself out and it was just that, work. Every time I read my Bible I was reminded time and time again that what we were doing was not for our own satisfaction, but rather that God would be glorified through all that we did. I learned that keeping God first in one’s life has so much more importance than the lack of attention we usually give it. We seem to get caught up in our busy schedules, even if that is doing ministry work, that we forget to give God the time He deserves. I also learned how to be a better leader and how to be a better servant at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed my Fusion experience and I am very grateful for all the things that I was able to learn during my time with them. Since my time with Fusion I have put forth the effort to keep God first in every area of my life and strive to serve Him with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength. My goal in life is not to see how much I can do for God, but to see how much God can use my simple life to glorify Him.

Fusion is for those who want to live, and learn how to live, for Christ with every fiber in their body and have a passion and desire to reach the world with the gospel message of Jesus Christ. It is not for the weak or faint of heart, but only for those who are willing to put their own desires aside to see God glorified in all that they do. There are not many days that go by that I do not think of my time and friends in Africa. It was an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget.

Future Plans:
To continue in student ministry!




Drake Dietrich

Fusion Alum 2006-2007; North Africa

Current Vocation: Registered Nurse and Orphanage Ministry.


Education:
BSN, Spring 2010. Current Seminary Student

Current Ministry Involvement:
I currently attend church at Restore Community Church here in KC. I do a lot of ministry work with an organization called Global Orphan Project (www.globalorphanproject.org). They build orphanages all over the world. I get to travel a lot during the summer, and I get to use some of the skills I've learned in nursing school and Fusion--going around collecting information on different cities and networking.

What Fusion Has Meant to You:
I can't begin to list the things Fusion did for me and my walk with Christ. It gave me a direction to go in life, made my faith more real than it ever had been, challenged my spiritual life constantly, and gave me skills I need to know for the future.

Future Plans:
After I graduate and get some work experience, I fully plan on living overseas doing missions work and nursing. I don't know where I'll end up living or working for but I have a few years to figure it all out.



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