This week’s delight is DAVID BROWN. David has a heart for missions, all things red, and true friendships. David and I met through a circle of friends (read below to see how crazy it is!) and since we met I have really been inspired by the way David loves everyone by his actions.
It makes me so excited to be able to share with you his heart and a little bit of his humor. We traveled far and long…. all the way to the campus dining hall. Don’t worry we took pictures in downtown Lynchburg so you wouldn’t have to suffer from the image of musty colors and sloppy joes. (plus downtown’s pretty cool)
So, David Brown who are you?
Hi. I’m from Miami, Florida. I attend school in the mountains of Virginia. The first time I saw snow was last year. I love Jesus. I love the outdoors. I love my family. I love my friends. I love my school. I love scrabbled eggs and tomatoes.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small beach town called Sebastian until I was nine. Then, I moved to Miami.
What’s your favorite color?
Red. Everything that’s good in life is red. Tomatoes. Fire. Blood. My watch. My face when I’m embarrassed.
7 random facts about you:
1. I was adopted
2. I hate watching movies.
3. I love tomatoes a lot (there are 5 slices on table this very second)
4. I hate waking up
5. I like fire, but I can’t start a fire
6. I have bad gag reflexes so I throw up every time I go to the dentist.
7. I love sushi, but hate seafood.
What did you want to be when you were little?
The President of the United States… up until junior year of high school. You can check your sources on that.
Food that best describes you?
Cherry. I like to add excitement to peoples’ lives. I want to be the cherry on top.
When did you find Jesus?
I grew up as a pastor’s kid. I was five when my dad led me in prayer after church one Sunday in my room. Following believers baptism, I just did church. When I moved to Miami I started going to a Christian school that wasn’t really a Christian school. I became a very stagnant believer there.
The summer before 7th grade, it was at church camp that I realized I was just doing church. I rededicated my life and was put into a good Christian school that fall. There I grew a lot but, by the time I got to high school I became so busy doing everything. I could never say no.
So senior year came and I went on a mission trip as a student leader with the 8th graders to the Bahamas. It was there that I realized the influence I had, that I should practice what I preach. So when I came to Liberty, I decided to not get involved as much, and because of that my walk with Christ has been an uphill climb.
Favorite Passages of Scripture:
1 Timothy 1:8-14--- It reminds me to not be ashamed of the Gospel because our testimony is in everything we do.
Philippians 3:12-14--- This is written by Paul who started killing Christians who was later converted. In my life this passage encourages me to press on towards Jesus. Forget about the past. Our future is that goal of the calling that God has for our lives.
What is a passion you have?
Overall I have a passion for injustice. Those specific areas include abortion, poverty, and unreached people groups.
Abortion: I was adopted because my birth mom was counseled out of abortion. I have this passion because it is personal to my story and I am thankful for my parents who were willing to adopt me.
Poverty: I am about to go on my 8th trip to Haiti in December. The first time I went was the summer before my senior year. I thought that it was just a normal mission trip until I got back and the missions high lasted forever. It’s one of the reasons I feel called to a Global Studies major at Liberty. Haiti really is my biggest passion. I get to go there and love people like Jesus loved them. Yeah, they need physical needs but they just want true love. Every time I go, I feel like I cut out a piece of my heart and leave it there, because one day all of me will be there forever.
Unreached people groups: Parts of the world in the 1040 window have really been on my heart. A lot of these nations have never heard of Jesus and a lot of churches don’t focus on reaching them. Oswald Chambers said, “No one has the right to hear the gospel twice while there remains someone who has not heard it once.” We need to focus on everyone. Not just one group, but especially those who haven’t heard about Jesus.
the crazy story of david and mikaela’s friendship circle.
What does being radiant mean to you?
It means to be extreme, to go far beyond the limits and exceed everyone’s expectations. To be radiant means nothing is going to stop you and you are going to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal.
I am David Brown and this is my R A D I A N T story.
It makes me so excited to be able to share with you his heart and a little bit of his humor. We traveled far and long…. all the way to the campus dining hall. Don’t worry we took pictures in downtown Lynchburg so you wouldn’t have to suffer from the image of musty colors and sloppy joes. (plus downtown’s pretty cool)
So, David Brown who are you?
Hi. I’m from Miami, Florida. I attend school in the mountains of Virginia. The first time I saw snow was last year. I love Jesus. I love the outdoors. I love my family. I love my friends. I love my school. I love scrabbled eggs and tomatoes.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small beach town called Sebastian until I was nine. Then, I moved to Miami.
What’s your favorite color?
Red. Everything that’s good in life is red. Tomatoes. Fire. Blood. My watch. My face when I’m embarrassed.
7 random facts about you:
1. I was adopted
2. I hate watching movies.
3. I love tomatoes a lot (there are 5 slices on table this very second)
4. I hate waking up
5. I like fire, but I can’t start a fire
6. I have bad gag reflexes so I throw up every time I go to the dentist.
7. I love sushi, but hate seafood.
What did you want to be when you were little?
The President of the United States… up until junior year of high school. You can check your sources on that.
Food that best describes you?
Cherry. I like to add excitement to peoples’ lives. I want to be the cherry on top.
When did you find Jesus?
I grew up as a pastor’s kid. I was five when my dad led me in prayer after church one Sunday in my room. Following believers baptism, I just did church. When I moved to Miami I started going to a Christian school that wasn’t really a Christian school. I became a very stagnant believer there.
The summer before 7th grade, it was at church camp that I realized I was just doing church. I rededicated my life and was put into a good Christian school that fall. There I grew a lot but, by the time I got to high school I became so busy doing everything. I could never say no.
So senior year came and I went on a mission trip as a student leader with the 8th graders to the Bahamas. It was there that I realized the influence I had, that I should practice what I preach. So when I came to Liberty, I decided to not get involved as much, and because of that my walk with Christ has been an uphill climb.
Favorite Passages of Scripture:
1 Timothy 1:8-14--- It reminds me to not be ashamed of the Gospel because our testimony is in everything we do.
Philippians 3:12-14--- This is written by Paul who started killing Christians who was later converted. In my life this passage encourages me to press on towards Jesus. Forget about the past. Our future is that goal of the calling that God has for our lives.
What is a passion you have?
Overall I have a passion for injustice. Those specific areas include abortion, poverty, and unreached people groups.
Abortion: I was adopted because my birth mom was counseled out of abortion. I have this passion because it is personal to my story and I am thankful for my parents who were willing to adopt me.
Poverty: I am about to go on my 8th trip to Haiti in December. The first time I went was the summer before my senior year. I thought that it was just a normal mission trip until I got back and the missions high lasted forever. It’s one of the reasons I feel called to a Global Studies major at Liberty. Haiti really is my biggest passion. I get to go there and love people like Jesus loved them. Yeah, they need physical needs but they just want true love. Every time I go, I feel like I cut out a piece of my heart and leave it there, because one day all of me will be there forever.
Unreached people groups: Parts of the world in the 1040 window have really been on my heart. A lot of these nations have never heard of Jesus and a lot of churches don’t focus on reaching them. Oswald Chambers said, “No one has the right to hear the gospel twice while there remains someone who has not heard it once.” We need to focus on everyone. Not just one group, but especially those who haven’t heard about Jesus.
the crazy story of david and mikaela’s friendship circle.
- First, Mikaela met my friends Briette, Hannah, and Chelsea at a camp in Texas this past summer. They told me I should meet her. But I didn’t just meet Mikaela.
- I met her RA partner, Hannah, in my one of my classes.
- Then I met her best friend, Caitie in another class.
- Then I am on the same hall as her guy friends from last year.
- Then met one of her roommates, Camille, one night.
- Then FINALLY met her at Josh Rich’s house, a guy she worked with at camp and a friend from my high school back in Florida.
- Then the rest was friendship history. Here we are doing the craziest of crazies living up sophomore year.
What does being radiant mean to you?
It means to be extreme, to go far beyond the limits and exceed everyone’s expectations. To be radiant means nothing is going to stop you and you are going to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal.
I am David Brown and this is my R A D I A N T story.
David, you have the biggest heart of S E L F L E S S N E S S. Your heart overflows with the gift of giving, whether that’s lending your car, buying a meal, giving encouragement, or spending Saturday mornings at the nursing home playing bingo.. If I walk around Liberty’s campus with you I realize how you are so loved. I’ve also noticed that between high-fives and how-ya-doins, you know names. You takes the time to make the people you encounter feel cherished. From the sweet text messages to fun adventures, you are truly radical, spontaneous, and R A D I A N T.
ps cant wait till spring break 2k14 : )
[mikaela]
ps cant wait till spring break 2k14 : )
[mikaela]