漫天堂入口

Junior Austin Shaner has an impressive r茅sum茅 for just three years at 漫天堂入口, and after March 9, Shaner added one more achievement to the list: chapel speaker.

The opportunity came a week beforehand when Professor of Bible & Church Ministry Dr. Tim Dwyer had asked Shaner after class if he would be interested in speaking at chapel on behalf of the Spiritual Life Committee.

鈥淚t was a pretty huge honor to be asked, being a student, to preach at chapel,鈥� said Shaner.

Austin speaking in chapel

With complete command of the room and all eyes locked on him, Shaner spoke on the topic of priorities, and discovering them, along with the realization that though mess-ups happen, the importance is having the knowledge to not let them affect those priorities.

鈥淎ustin clearly has the hand of the Lord on him,鈥� said Dwyer. 鈥淗e is an excellent communicator, both Bible-centered and interesting, and his message was relevant to every Warner student and faculty member.鈥�

Shaner鈥檚 peers agree.

鈥淚t was awesome watching Austin share his heart and the Gospel of Jesus Christ,鈥� said friend and Warner student Jeff Stabe. 鈥淗e has a passion for the Lord and a heart for the students at Warner.鈥�

Even with a God-given gift, Shaner keeps one concept in mind.

鈥淚 love the thought for when you鈥檙e preaching to 鈥榟ave a point for the head and a story for the heart,鈥欌�� said Shaner. 鈥淲e need to think about something intellectually and what it means for our life, but also be connected emotionally and be touched in our heart as well.鈥�

With both parents Warner alumni and his dad on Warner鈥檚 board for the last couple of years, you would naturally think Warner was automatically Shaner鈥檚 first option.

Shaner with father and brother

鈥淒uring my sophomore year of high school, Warner was actually on the bottom of my list, although both my parents came here, and at the time I knew the Lord was leading me into sports ministry, but I was really struggling with what I would major in to get there,鈥� Shaner said.

But soon enough God put a decision in his heart, led the way, and Shaner didn鈥檛 look back.

鈥淕oing into my senior year of high school, Warner started an Interdisciplinary Ministry degree which was perfect for what I wanted to do, so I started praying about it and the Lord just opened door after door for me until it became overwhelmingly clear that this was the place for me.鈥�

And clear it was. Among his current roles, Shaner spoke in the Inauguration Ceremony for President David Hoag, was a part of CAB, and was one of the primary people for bringing FCA back on campus. His reason behind his motivation for the imprint he鈥檚 leaving behind is simple.

Shaner speaking at Inauguration

鈥淐hrist is the center of all my priorities, and all the decisions I make are so I can put Him in those areas and bring glory to God,鈥� said Shaner. 鈥淚鈥檓 willing to get involved with so many things because I know they point to Christ.鈥�

It鈥檚 undeniable that Shaner has been a leader on campus during these years at Warner.

“I have known Austin and his family for many years. He is an amazing young man and it has been a joy to watch him become a leader on campus,鈥� said Director of Alumni Relations Kareen Pickett.聽鈥淚 know his walk is genuine and his passion for leading others to Christ is evident.聽I’m so proud of him.”

Shaner is following his calling and is going into sports ministry. He is interning for the International Youth Convention at the Church of God and will continue after his graduation this December until the convention next summer.

鈥淚 want to use sports to be able to connect with kids and families, and be able to preach the gospel and help people,鈥� Shaner said. 鈥淥ne of my biggest heartbeats and passions is that other people can experience the life that Christ offers and experience all that He has for us.鈥�

Shaner鈥檚 way of living is one of simplicity and inspiration.

鈥淚f we should do everything for the glory of God then we should do it with excellence, so I try to do everything with excellence because of what He鈥檚 done for me on the cross.鈥�