Student Life

John Cartwright
Dean of Student Life
(518) 494-1437
johncartwright@wol.org

From: Philadelphia, PA
WOLBI Grad: 1991
Favorite Sport: Football (Eagles)
Favorite Book: Instruments In The Hands of the Redeemer
Favorite Activities: Family time with my wife and kids & anything related to football

I was raised in a Christian home. My dad is the pastor of a church he planted in the late 70’s. I always had a godly example in both of my parents. I understood the gospel and trusted Christ at age 4. Throughout most of my life, I was exposed to church life and ministry. As I look back, I now realize how blessed I really was to be in this environment. When I came to WOLBI in 1990, all of the truths that I was raised to believe in growing up began to culminate into a changed life. All of the head-knowledge was challenged and channeled into a life that desired to live for God & His glory above all else. After WOLBI, I went to Liberty University as well as their Theological Seminary. Since then I spent 6 years teaching in Miami and have been here at WOLBI since 2003. What a privilege it is to now be able to minister to students the life changing truths of God’s Word that so impacted me as a student many years ago!

Todd Kinzer
Dean of Men
(518) 494-1520
toddkinzer@wol.org

From: Winston-Salem, NC
WOLBI Grad: 1998
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Activity: I’m a huge college basketball fan. I also love any other kind of outdoor activity like football, soccer, hiking, and skiing.
Life verse: 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
I had the privilege of being born and raised in a Christian home. Both of my parents had been Christians for some time when I was born and were involved in full time ministry as well. As a result, I was in church every Sunday where I heard the gospel at a young age and made a profession of faith at the young age of 4. As I grew older, for some reason I could not remember anything about this decision and that bothered me for some time until I was 8. Finally after wrestling with this salvation decision, my mom helped me come to the place where I understood that Jesus loves me, died on the cross to pay for my sin, and rose again the third day. I finally understood this gospel message and prayed to receive Christ as my Savior. I came to Word of Life for camp for many years, and at the age of 10 I dedicated my life to the Lord for him to use. Since then, I have had many up’s and down’s in my life but the Lord has been faithful to me. For that I am most grateful!

Kazuaki Kato
Assistant Dean of Men
(518) 494-1420
kazuakikato@wol.org

From: Tokyo, Japan
WOLBI Grad: 1995
Favorite Color: Master Chief Green
Favorite Food: Thai
Favorite Activity: Playing Guitar Hero 2 with the students

Growing up as a multi-cultural missionary kid, I struggled to solidify my personal identity during my impressionable pre-teen and teenager years. I drifted from one sub-cultural group to another looking for acceptance and popularity. I was searching for abiding fulfillment in every place but in God. However, when I seventeen years old God’s grace brought me closer to Him. On November 29th, 1992, He opened my heart and allowed me to see that being reconciled back to God was the only way for me to enjoy my true purpose in life. That night, I recognized and trusted that Christ died on the cross for my sins so God can declare me righteous. I am continually enjoying God’s all-sufficient grace that is working in me daily since the day I trusted in Him. Lord willing, My wife, Amy, and I will go to Japan as missionaries in 2009.

Ellen Garland
Dean of Women
(518) 494-1476
elleng@wol.org

From: Churchville, NY
WOLBI Grad: 1981
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Food: “Dessert”
Favorite Activity: Snow Skiing

The Easter Season has such a hold on my heart, because it was during that time of year, as a chunky little 7 year old, that I trusted Christ as my Savior during a Junior Church service. The speaker was a homely looking woman, but to this day I count her as one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met, for her love for the Savior became contagious to me. That very summer, my grandparents came to Word of Life Inn for a week vacation and brought my immediate family with them. That was about to change my life, as WOL became an integral part of my growth each summer, igniting my heart as I attended camp, and paving the road to attend the Bible Institute. That Bible Institute year was a life-changing 12 months that lead to other dynamic domino decisions. While serving at WOL I met my husband and our lives have been intertwined as a team ministering through the tool of WOL. What a great opportunity and what a great path that also included 3 tremendous kids!

Carla Gray
Assistant Dean of Women
(518) 494-1448
carlagray@wol.org

WOLBI Grad: 1974
Books I’m enjoying - The Saving Life of Christ by Major W. Ian Thomas; The Mystery of Godliness by Major W. Ian Thomas

I was asked to be a bridesmaid in my cousin’s wedding the summer I graduated from high school. During that weekend I heard the gospel and asked Jesus Christ to be my Savior! After working at Back to the Bible Broadcast for three years, I was a student at the Word of Life Bible Institute. Following graduation, I spent three years working at the Bible Institute in Sydney, Australia. In June, 1979, Bob Gray and I were married and have been a part of the Word of Life ministry since then.

Jason Headlee
Campus Life Coordinator
(518) 494-1546
JasonHeadlee@wol.org

From: Marysville, MI
WOLBI Grad: 2001
Favorite Color: Black
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Activity: Football

I grew up in a home where my parents loved the Lord and were very involved in our local church. I accepted Christ at a young age and grew up loving the Lord and being involved in church and youth group. I graduated from Schroon Lake Central School and went on to attend Word of Life Bible Institute and Cedarville University, where I graduated with a B.A. in Business Management. The time I spent in soccer and camp ministry while at Word of Life ultimately lead me to come back on staff with the Ranch and then the Bible Institute after finishing at Cedarville and spending a year working in business in Philadelphia. Throughout my life I have been able to witness God’s sovereign hand leading me and working things out in amazing ways and I am now very excited about my ministry as the Campus Life Coordinator at WOLBI and getting to work with both Snow Camp and Word of Life Ranch. It is amazing to minister to youth of all ages; from watching six year olds accept Christ at the Ranch to teaching college students how to disciple and evangelize others God has truly blessed me with the opportunity to minister to so many different people with Word of Life.

Tom Goodrow RN
Health Services Coordinator
(518) 494-1405 or (518) 494-1423
TomG@wol.org or HealthCenter@wol.org

From: Holland, Michigan
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite activity: Hiking

My family and I following God’s will in our lives moved to Schroon Lake, NY in 2000. Prior to coming on board full time as Health Service Coordinator, my wife and I served with Word of Life as lay leaders in Local Church Ministries, and short term medical missions with Nehemiah Network. I served over 21 years in United States Army Medical Corp, and was deployed oversees for the Persian Gulf War and Iraqi Freedom In 1979 in Traverse City, Michigan I trusted Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Savior in a college dormitory. I am excited to be use of God as a servant. My wife Nancy and I have four children Amanda, Jaime, Paul and Matthew.

Wendy Williamson
International Students Coordinator
(518) 494-1406
wendywilliamson@wol.org

Favorite book: The Persecutor by Sergei Krouchavov
Favorite color: green
Favorite hobby: scrapbooking
Favorite ice cream: watermelon sherbert
Favorite verse: Lamentations 3:22-26

I was saved at the age of 8 during Sunday school. My teacher went through the meaning of John 3:16 and what that meant to me personally. It was at that time, that I confessed my sins, asked Jesus to be my Savior and gave my life to Him. At the age of 17, I went forward at a Bible Conference at my home church to do “whatever” God led me to do. I majored in Teaching English as a Second language in graduate school and the Lord brought me to South Korea to use these new skills. I ministered there for three years. I now have the privilege to serve the international students here at WOLBI and I love it!

Kendra Lytle
Administrative Assistant to the Student Life Department
(518) 494-1515
KendraLytle@wol.org

From: Roaring Spring, PA
WOLBI Grad: 2002
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Food: Elegant Chicken
Favorite Game: Dutch Blitz

I had the privilege of growing up in a wonderful Christian home. My parents have been with Word of Life Local Church Ministries my entire life, so it was also a privilege to grow up in a home that was focused on ministry. I was five years old when I trusted Christ. One evening my mom sat down with me and asked me if I had ever trusted Christ as my personal Savior. Even though I had heard the gospel many times, it was the first time I realized that I was a sinner and needed to accept Christ as my personal Savior. I attended both years of the Bible Institute, went on to complete my degree at Baptist Bible College, and I am excited to be back at the Bible Institute working with and discipling students.