Name
Will Eaker
Which site did you attend? What year were you there?
Three Springs, Class of ’21
After OneLife, what did you do/what next life step did you take?
OneLifeX, OneLife Institute’s experiential business and entrepreneurship program, which in turn led to a position in OLX’s LEAD program recruiting and coordinating volunteer work and a job with a local coffee shop in Greenville, SC, where I am coordinating, managing and expanding Bridge City’s mobile events.
How did OL help prepare for what you are doing now?
I used to say that God opened a door for me, but about halfway through the year, realized that wasn’t just what He did. Oh man, God quite honestly picked me up and pushed my life in a completely different direction and used OneLife to humble me, stretch me, and grow me. If God is a potter and I’m the clay, OneLife was His wheel and kiln. I learned so much about communication, confrontation, conflict resolution, stewardship, and so many other things regarding leadership. OneLife also affirmed that calling and vocation are two very different things, which gives me the freedom to live fully on mission for Him, no matter where I am or what I’m doing. Most importantly, however, He revealed to me exactly how weak I am and how much I need Him and Kingdom community to grow in my faith and pursuit of Him.
In what ways do you see the goodness of God in what you do?
Well first off, it’s not just His goodness but also His bigness. Very similar to how Lucy sees Aslan in Prince Caspian versus The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Mobile coffee has been a strong vocational interest for a long time, and He all but placed the opportunity to run Bridge City Coffee mobile events branch in my lap back in the spring of this year. The mission, the culture, the people, the coffee, and the leadership are all exactly what I’ve needed for so long. I get to invest in people and love them by serving great coffee. It’s my mission field. I’ve already seen so much of His goodness just in how my boss, Greg, has invested in me personally and actually gives a damn (pardon my language) about people instead of just talking about how much he does.
What is something you are currently learning (or continually learning) about yourself, others, or God?
God: Following Him and walking by faith isn’t easy, or safe, or comfortable, but it is good and worth it because He is so so good and so so worth it. I’d be blind to not see His hand over my life since before I was even born and He’s brought me through life-shaking and life-shaping events to where I am now, and I know those won’t be the only hard times I go through. He has proved over and over and over that He is the ultimate Way.
Others: People will surprise you and you can learn from anyone. Sometimes you just have to get past the differences and let them out of the box that you mentally put them into. Everyone is a beautiful work of art created in the image of the Living God. Who am I to tell them who they are aside from that?
Myself: As I am continually learning of my weakness, I am continually seeing His bigness. I am learning that He is equipping me for everything He’s calling me to do, and that when I am at the end of myself, which is quite often, He is using me for His glory. My worship is my weapon.
What is something that you would like to tell prospective students or current students about life IN OneLife?
Find the balance of time spent investing in community and taking time alone to practice being in the presence of God. That’s where true contentment and peace come from. Also, it may not always feel like it, but your leaders really freaking love you and care for you and truly want to see you grow into the person God’s shaping you to be. Take constructive criticism and encouragement from them well.
What is something that you would like to tell prospective or current students about life AFTER OneLife?Community in OneLife is quite honestly something you’ll mostly not have again on that level. Some of you will be ok with that, and for some of you, it’ll be hard. All that to say, after OneLife, continue to invest in the close friends you make at OneLife and then live life along the lines of the OneLife core values with intentionality. They will serve you well.
What brings you joy?
Seeing others happy, sunrises, time with Jesus, learning about scripture, and seeing others grow!
