Staff

BJ George

Youth Minister, Kentwood Christian Church

Hometown: Little farm town of 500 people in Neapolis, Ohio
Occupation: Youth Pastor (Jr. and Sr. High)
Favorite color: blue
Favorite food: Japanese Hibachi
Doppleganger: Matthew David McConaughey
How you serve at Philo: Oversee and enjoy
What you love about Philo Student Ministries: Feeling the PHILO from the students and recognizing God’s vision for the ministry as well as for individual lives
Verse that encourages me most: 1 Cor. 2.10-16; “The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Who ever knows what you’re thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God—except that he not only knows what he’s thinking, but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. We don’t have to rely on the world’s guesses and opinions. We didn’t learn this by reading books or going to school; we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we’re passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way.“

Beth G.

Hometown: Sawyer Michigan
Occupation: Director of Field Development, Better Way Imports
Favorite color: All GREENS
Favorite food: Sushi La La
Doppleganger: Karim Abdul Jabar
How you serve at Philo: Worship Leader
What you love about Philo Student Ministries: The KIDS!!
Verse that encourages me most: 2 Corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.“

Anna P.

Hometown: Cambridge, Ontario
Occupation: Student, Librarian
Favorite color: Purple
Favorite food: Steak, Cheese, Pasta
Doppleganger: Tsarevna Sophia Alekseyevna
How you serve at Philo: Worship, hanging out with students!
What you love about Philo Student Ministries: The themes and activities that challenge both the sponsors and the students; the awesome people!
Verse that encourages me most: 1 Peter 1:18-19 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.“

Spencer H.

Hometown: Portland, Michigan
Occupation: Student, Part-Time worship leader
Favorite color: HOT BROWN!
Favorite food: Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Doppleganger: With my beard and long hair, I’ve been hearing Jesus a lot lately. I’ll take it!
How you serve at Philo: Leading worship, and doing whatever needs to be done
What you love about Philo Student Ministries: Everything. I’m the kind of person who always has to have things going on, and that can make me pretty busy sometimes. But honestly, even though I do a lot, PHILO is the highlight of my week…EVERY week.
Verse that encourages me most: John 21:25 “But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” In a beautifully and fantastically poetic way, John explains to us that Jesus’ impact on this world is not limited by paper and ink. I look forward to someday hearing everything that Jesus did.

Jake C.

Hometown: Byron Center, Mi
Occupation: Law Student
Favorite color: Green
Favorite food: Italian
Doppleganger:
How you serve at Philo: Sponsor, Prayer Ministry Leader
What you love about Philo Student Ministries: Interacting with the senior high students and getting to know them on a personal level in order to encourage their realtionship with Jesus Christ and grow personally.
Verse that encourages me most: 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.“

Alyssa C.

Hometown: Byron Center, MI
Occupation: Engineer
Favorite color: Pink
Favorite food: Heath Bar Cake
Doppleganger: Huh?
How you serve at Philo: Sponsor, Prayer Ministry Leader
What you love about Philo Student Ministries: Seeing youth’s love for Jesus Christ in action.
Verse that encourages me most: Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.“

Katie E.

Hometown: Kentwood, Mi
Occupation: Staff Accountant, Lia Sophia advisor
Favorite color: Orange
Favorite food: Chocolate
Doppleganger: Huh?
How you serve at Philo: Sponsor
What you love about Philo Student Ministries: Spending time with the Students
Verse that encourages me most: 1 Peter 1:8-9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.“

Mike E.

Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mi
Occupation: Network Technician/System Administrator
Favorite color: Blue/Black
Favorite food: Pizza/Chinese food
Doppleganger: What?
How you serve at Philo: Audio/Video/Lighting design, Website, and graphic design
What you love about Philo Student Ministries: Using my skills to serve
Verse that encourages me most: 1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.“

Amanda V.

Hometown: Alma, Michigan
Occupation: Reading Interventionist
Favorite color: Teal
Favorite food: Enchiladas
Doppleganger: I look like myself, because everyone is unique!
How you serve at Philo: I have the privilege of living life with the students.
What you love about Philo Student Ministries: I love watching the students form relationships and live out brotherly love. Laughing with them and loving with them is the ultimate joy.
Verse that encourages me most: Lamentations 3:21-23 “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Jake M.

Hometown: Wyoming, Mi
Occupation: Mr mom and self employed handy man and landlord
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite food: Steak
Doppleganger:
How you serve at Philo: Sponsor
What you love about Philo Student Ministries: The positive, uplifting environment
Verse that encourages me most: Isaiah 30:21 “Wether you turn to the right or the left your ears will hear a voice behind you saying this is the way, walk in it.“

Gina M.

Hometown: Jenison, Mi
Occupation: CSR for Medical Company and Lia Sophia Advisor
Favorite color: Purple
Favorite food: Cake
Doppleganger: What is this?
How you serve at Philo: Sponsor
What you love about Philo Student Ministries: Everything
Verse that encourages me most: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me“

Justin K.

Volunteer Counselor

My name is Justin Kuhl I currently live in Kentwood with my wife, Michelle, my dog Birdie, and my
sugar glider (an Australian flying squirrel), Hans.

I grew up in a small farming community in the thumb of Michigan in the town of Sebewaing. I
attended Spring Arbor University for my undergraduate work, were I double majored in Psychology and
Sociology. For my graduate work I have been attending Grand Rapids Theological Seminary pursuing
a Masters in Counseling. I have finished all of my coursework and am now concentrating my time on
finishing the requirements for my internship.

I have gained a wide variety of experience since I have started my masters degree program.
Shortly after I started school I also started working at Wedgwood Christian Services in their residential
program working directly with the highly at-risk youth of this community. My experiences there
have taught me how to work through several different crisis situations. Also through Wedgwood
Christian services I have had a chance to work with the in-home therapy services allowing me to work
with families and children in their home environment. I also currently intern at Tri-Cities Ministries
Counseling in Grand Haven. Through this agency I have worked with clients whose ages range from
seven to seventy-eight facing problems from suicidal thoughts to just needing someone to talk to.

My main approach to counseling is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. CBT is one of the most
tested and proven therapies to help with anxiety, depression, stress, grief, eating disorders, addictions
and several others.

Anybody that feels like they might need to talk for any reason, please get a hold of me as soon as
possible. Anything that you are going through you do not have to go through it alone.