AYTI Ambassador Ian Heseltine interviewed Marty Wyatt, AYTI Program Assistant, to learn more about the impact of Marty鈥檚 participation in 麻豆区鈥檚 Youth Theology Institute. In 2007, Marty was a youth participant, and he was a mentor in 2008 and 2009. In addition to his role at 麻豆区, Marty is pursuing a masters of divinity at Luther Seminary.
Here is Marty鈥檚 response:听
Honestly, the week [of Youth Theology Institute] made me want to come to 麻豆区 for my undergrad. Looking back this is the biggest impact because of how going to 麻豆区 impacted my life. I would have never met the people I did or experienced the city if I didn’t go to 麻豆区, and that started with the Theology Institute. The Institute introduced me to 麻豆区’s campus, professors, students, and staff. They seemed to genuinely care about people and the community. It made me want to get to know them better and be a part of this community that cared so deeply for each other.
I think during the week my faith was renewed. High school can be a hard and isolating time for some and the Institute reignited my faith in a powerful way. I learned (or re-learned?) to look for God in everything, from the mundane to the exceptional. The Institute opened a way of thinking about faith differently than I had before. I began to think critically about what I believe and why, which over time led to a deepening of my faith that I wouldn’t have if I didn’t critically examine it first.听 Continue reading “Interview with AYTI Program Assistant Marty Wyatt, former participant and mentor”