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the Avenue Bios
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Justin Schafer |
Name: Justin Schafer
Birthday: September 28
Hometown: Valparaiso, Indiana
Schooling: Currently at Grace College, majoring in elementary education
Interests: First and foremost, striving to be the man that God wants me to be. I love to play the guitar and violin, but mostly the guitar (sorry, mom). I also like to write songs, work in the yard, and procrastinate like crazy.
Strange/interesting fact: I enjoy chick flicks. There. I said it.
Role(s) in the Avenue: Acoustic guitar, violin, vocals
Instrument I wish I could play: Piano
Favorite…
Food: You name it, I eat it!
Drink: Cherry Coke
Movie: Disturbia
TV Show: The Office
Book: A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards
Music: David Crowder Band, Jeremy Camp, Steve Fee, John Mayer, and much more!
Article of clothing: My flip-flops
Sport: Baseball -- go Cubs!
Color: Navy blue
Bible verse: 1 Peter 1:15-16 -- “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
How I came to know Jesus: As I was growing up, my parents would tell me who Jesus was, and when I was six years old I decided to invite Him into my life at a Vacation Bible School at my church. Since then, I’ve been striving to live for Him, constantly failing, but always knowing that my God is a God of forgiveness.
Prayer request: That I would constantly strive to please God in every area of my life.
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Name: Elizabeth Morley
Birthday: November 22
Hometown: Valparaiso, Indiana
Schooling: High school junior
Interests: I love music -- playing it and listening to it. My true love is classical piano, especially music composed by Schubert and Chopin. I have a sweet Arabian horse named Charm that I like to ride when I'm not banging on the piano. I also like Celtic music (I'm in a small Celtic band), hanging out with my brother, writing poetry, reading, and taking walks in the woods.
Strange/interesting fact: My brother and I have the same birthday, but I'm three years older. Also, I've never been to Boston in the fall.
Role(s) in the Avenue: Keyboard
Instrument I wish I could play: Violin
Favorite…
Food: Spaghetti pie, salad, and chocolate, but I like everything
Drink: Fresh-squeezed lemonade
Movie: The Lord of the Rings trilogy
TV Show: The Dick van Dyke Show (oldies are the best)
Book: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Music: Bebo Norman, Third Day, David Crowder Band, Jill Philips, George Winston, Howard Shore, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Article of clothing: Chuck Taylors
Sport: Baseball -- go Sox!
Color: Shire green
Bible verse: Psalm 37:3-4 -- "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act."
How I came to know Jesus: I was always afraid. I tried to find comfort in the things of this world, but nothing helped me until I saw that God was the only One capable of taking away my fear. It was when I was nine years old that I completely surrendered my future to God. He took the broken fragments of my fearful life and changed me into His child. Everything I had ever learned about Christ became real when I began to know Him. Now He is everything to me, and I know that I never need to be afraid again. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear...." (II Timothy 1:7)
Prayer request: That I would daily take up my cross and surrender everything to Him -- my hopes, my dreams, and my own ideas -- so that Christ may be glorified somehow through me.
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Elizabeth Morley |
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Joel Birky |
Name: Joel Birky
Birthday: November 2
Hometown: Kouts, Indiana
Schooling: High school sophomore
Interests: My main interest is trying to be who God wants me to be. That is a very hard task sometimes. I also enjoy playing sports, playing music, being with friends, and just having a good time.
Strange/interesting fact: I went to Africa when I was in the 5th grade.
Role(s) in the Avenue: Drums, some vocals
Instrument I wish I could play: electric guitar
Favorite...
Food: Any kind of meat
Drink: Cherry Coke
Movie:Paycheck
TV Show:That 70's Show
Book:Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
Music: Hawk Nelson, David Crowder Band, Third Day, and much more!
Article of clothing: Athletic shorts
Sport: Basketball
Color: Blue
Bible verse: Psalm 105:1 -- "Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His
greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done."
How I came to know Jesus: My dad is a pastor, so I have been going to church, youth group, etc. my whole life. However, I was baptized when I was in the 5th grade, and that's when I
really started to know Jesus.
Prayer request: That I would learn more about God and what He wants me to
do with my life.
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Name: Derek Lucas
Birthday: October 17
Hometown: DeMotte, Indiana...well, Malvern, Ohio, but that was for only the first half of my life
Schooling: Attending Lincoln Christian College.
Interests: Music...wow, I love music! I also love off-roading vehicles.
Strange/interesting fact: I seem to like Frank Sinatra's music. I know it's for old people...but I don't care!
Role(s) in the Avenue: Electric guitar
Instrument I wish I could play: Saxophone, bagpipes, piano
Favorite…
Food: I’m not too picky. I do love Italian food, though.
Drink: Cream soda, milk (especially chocolate), fruit juices
Movie: Deja Vu and almost anything with Adam Sandler or Ben Stiller
TV show: Everybody Loves Raymond
Book: I hate reading, but I suck it up and take it like a man when I need some Bible.
Music: Skillet, Kutless, Falling Up, Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar, 12 Stones, Number One Gun, Jeremy Camp, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Lincoln Brewster, Hillsong United
Article of clothing: I love the shorts-hoodie combination;.the fall season is perfect for it.
Sport: Baseball or basketball (playing, not watching)
Color: Blue or green, depending on the shade
Bible verse: James 1:2-4 -- "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
How I came to know Jesus: I grew up in the Christian church and had awesome Christian parents. I've never really known a life outside Christianity. Although I've come into contact with some not-so-great lifestyles and have had my share of mess-ups, God has been there every time to pick me up.
Prayer request: That God would be glorified with my entire life.
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Derek Lucas |
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Beth Guzzo |
Name: Elizabeth Guzzo
Birthday: April 4
Hometown: Wheatfield, Indiana
Schooling: Graduating from high school on June 3, 2007
Interests: I am very interested in my walk and relationship with Jesus
Christ...without Him nothing is possible and without Him I am nothing. I'm
also interested in singing, acting, and music. I love little kids, and
that's probably who you'll see me talking to most of the time after Avenue events. I also love to
eat....most anything that's put in front of me, especially if it's
Italian.
Strange/interesting fact: I am not yet 5 feet tall. (Yes, I know...SHOCKING!)
Role(s) in the Avenue: Vocals, looking adorable ;)
Instrument I wish I could play: Any!
Favorite...
Food: Italian -- but as stated above, I'll eat anything that's put in front
of me.
Drink: Any kind of tea, hot or cold
Movie:The Goonies, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Peter Pan (cartoon style), Pirates of the Caribbean (all three)
TV Show:Grey's Anatomy
Book: I know this answer might be controversial, but...Harry Potter
Music: Oh, my...John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Taylor Swift, David Crowder,
Chris Tomlin, The Wreckers, basically all the music from the 90's, N'sync,
The Goo Goo Dolls, Miranda Lambert, Toby Mac....too many to actually put
down!
Article of clothing: I'll agree with Justin...my flip-flops
Sport: Football or baseball...this is just watching, right? Cuz if we're
talking about playing, then I'd have to say cheerleading! (It's definitely a sport, OK?!)
Color: Rainbow! I love all colors.
Bible verse: 1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT) - "Don't let anyone think less of you because
you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way
you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity."
How I came to know Jesus: I was brought up in the church from infancy. I remember getting baptized only because my sister was, so there's no real story there. I would probably say that I didn't really know Jesus until my freshman year of high school. I knew about Jesus -- all the Sunday school answers -- but I didn't know Him. My freshman year of high school was a pretty
rough time for me and my family. We had to put aside everything we knew and "jump" toward God and what He wanted for us. During that time, God really revealed Himself to me, and since then I've been trying to live my life for Him. Temptations and roadblocks are common, but God is faithful. He will never allow anything in our lives that we can't handle!
Prayer request: His guidance
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