We want to take a few minutes and introduce you to Brad Janiszewski. Brad joined the Eagle staff in the middle of March and we are excited to have him on our team working with Eagle Students. Brad has hit the ground running, but took a few minutes to answer some questions so we can all get to know him better...
Brad! Welcome to Eagle! We’re so happy to have you here. Could you take a couple of minutes and tell us about yourself: where you’re from, what’s your family like, where you went to school?
Yeah, so I’m a Michigander. If you look at your hand my hometown would be at the far edge of your bottom thumb knuckle. I grew up with an amazing, goofy family. I was the third of four and the middle boy. I grew up there my whole life, nestled on the banks of Lake Huron. Some of my fondest memories took place while tubing, having bonfires on the beach, and playing games with my brothers. For school I went to a small K-12 Christian Private School of roughly 200 students. I attended that school from Jr. Kindergarten through High School graduating in 2012. I went on to get my Associate Degree in Business Management from my local community college before heading off to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where I graduated with my Bachelors in Youth Ministry last December.
Could you tell us a little about what you’ll be doing here at Eagle?
Of Course! My position here at Eagle is as the Middle School Director. My main responsibility is to come along side parents and help them disciple their 5th-8th graders in the Lord through programming, encouraging and fostering life on life training through life groups, and by providing spiritual leadership and understanding.
Middle School students are a unique group, what are you most excited about when it comes to working with them?
As most people could attest the brain goes through a very dramatic transformation as children grow into adults. Middle School world is where we first begin to see this change. Though awkward at times these students are beginning to develop into the adults they will one day become. In the midst of this change, comes confusion, questions, and the beginning of independence. I am excited about this because I get the privilege of helping students realize their worth in Jesus Christ, expelling lies they may believe, and seeing them begin to take their faith seriously as individuals.
Let’s get to the important questions! What fictional place would you most like to go?
I’m going to say the Shire from Lord of the Rings. It’s quaint and beautiful and it may just lead to a great adventure.
What is the most annoying habit that other people have?
Oh, I’m to have to say mouth breathing. (YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!)
What would be the most amazing adventure to go on?
Okay so this is my plan...With my three closest friends, we would travel all the way from Indy to the Southern tip of Chile. How we would get there is still up in the air, but I physically want to go through every country on the way, so no airlines. You do however come into a bit of a problem when you hit dead end roads in southern Panama. Yes, I’ve looked at it before. That would be my amazing adventure.
Let’s end on a serious note…What’s your dream for Middle School ministry here at Eagle?
My dream is to see students not just be Christians when it’s convenient or cool, but I want to see them give their everything over to Christ. I want to see them grow from believers to fully developed disciples who find their hope, peace, identity, and worth in the God who sent His Son down to die for us.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know Brad a little better! If you see him around on Sunday, take a minute to stop, say hi and introduce yourself!