Adrian Dykstra’s Charis experience began at a Starbucks in Michigan.
As he was going on his lunch break, he saw a man reading his Bible.
At that time, Adrian was struggling with anxiety and fear and wanted answers to many questions that he had. The man reading his Bible opened up to Adrian and gave him the answers he was seeking. That man was Charis Colorado graduate and Ann Arbor, Michigan, pastor, Mike Gonyer.
Mike gave Adrian his number, and said, “Hey, if you have any more questions, just let me know. I’d love to stay in contact with you.”
Fast forward six months.
Faced with a major decision between attending an accredited university and attending Charis Bible College, which isn’t accredited, Adrian called Mike.
“Mike, would you write me a reference letter to go to Charis because I’m still in between schools? I just don’t know where I’m supposed to go yet,” he told Mike.
“Adrian, I would love to write you a reference letter, but only if Charis is your first choice. If it’s your second choice, it’s going to be your fall back, and you won’t have peace, knowing that you’re supposed to go there. I know that God will tell you where to go.”
“Mike, I’ve waited six months for God to tell me where to go, and I’m freaking out right now!” he replied.
Mike assured Adrian that it was okay and that God would let him know by Monday. This was on Friday.
Adrian had been depending on his own logic. How was this going to pan out? How was he going to make his parents, who didn’t understand what Charis was about, proud?
And yet he knew there was just something about Charis.
He went down into the basement where his parents were watching TV. They turned it off and said, “Adrian, we want you to go where you’re going to get closer to Jesus.”
Immediately, Adrian knew he had his answer. He knew he needed to go to Charis.
Says Adrian, “It has been the best experience of my life. There has never been something I felt so passionate about and that is so truth-driven by the Word of God. I promise you, you won’t regret coming to Charis. It will change your life!”
