Kristen Yoder currently resides in Elmhurst, Queens, NYC, one of the most ethnically diverse places on the earth. She loves city living and is especially partial toward NYC. She is currently completing her BA in English while participating in different church activities. She is thrilled by the beauty of the multiple countries represented in Elmhurst and her multi-ethnic church because it represents a glimpse of what the throne room in heaven will look like. Out of her passion for cultures and upbringing at the Mission Training Center (mtcinnyc.com), one of her dreams is to see more ethnic diversity in Anabaptist circles.
Through research paper assignments in college and Bible school, Kristen learned to enjoy writing both as an intellectual exercise and as a way of influencing people with the truth of Scripture. One of her goals for writing is to proclaim the Gospel, challenging other believers to do the same because she believes all Christians have been given the responsibility to make disciples wherever they are.
Currently, Kristen is learning to trust God with her whole life and hold to the promises He has given in His word. Sparked by a study on God’s immutability, or His unchangingness, she wants to continue studying more about His specific attributes, as revealed through Scripture. Besides learning about His immutability, she is also realizing the importance of His other character traits, including His goodness, faithfulness, omnipotence, and wisdom. Studying the character of God gives her a solid foundation on which she can trust Him with her whole future.
Oh, and she will immediately jump into any conversation about the Myers-Briggs and DISC personality types or about favorite books and relieves stress by cooking new dishes, laughing with her siblings, or playing board games.
ABUSE AND COMMUNITIES No matter what our upbringing is, we all have ingrained beliefs about abuse, church structure, authority, and victimization. Maybe you’ve seen this book lying on a friend’s bookshelf or advertised on social media and you’ve already decided your response without reading it. Dylo Cadet’s story of abuse … Read More
The first day saying “My pleasure!” The first day I walked into my new job at Chick-fil-A in Queens, New York, I realized just how out-of-place I felt. Even though I had grown up in Elmhurst, Queens, nothing could prepare me for working in a tiny, sometimes-crowded-on-Saturday-shift-changes, fast-food restaurant. I … Read More
Introduction Maybe the title of this article conjures up memories of your middle-school English teacher forcing you to write out your entire spelling list for homework, every night! Or maybe you remember sitting in 11th grade grammar class listening to the voice at the front of the room drone on … Read More
If you’re like me, you bought a brand-new planner at the beginning of 2022, full of empty boxes and white spaces to make new plans and new goals. It can be a confusing topic: to set goals or not to set goals—that is the question of the new year. However, … Read More
While avoiding the thought of my long shift and the inevitably grumpy customers ahead of me, my mind swirled as it tried to organize my long to-do list. Don’t forget about this assignment for that class. You need to message her about youth tomorrow. Oh snap, I need to exercise this afternoon.
Introduction Over eight million people live in my hometown. Many call it the Big Apple, a financial hub, an artist’s inspiration, a tourist’s destination. I call it home. When I think about New York City, I don’t picture the Brooklyn Bridge, the World Trade Center, or yellow cabs. My mind … Read More
Feast and wilderness. These two words create an antithesis. Two words that create confusion in our minds through their dissonance. A wilderness is “an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region.” A feast is “something that gives unusual or abundant enjoyment.” We only think about them simultaneously when we are longing for … Read More
While higher education is becoming more common among Anabaptist women, many people, including myself, still have questions. Is college worth the investment? What if I get married and don’t use my degree? Should Anabaptist women even think about careers? In my first article, I told my story and explained some … Read More
To be honest, I never intended to go to college. And yet, I am currently in the end of my junior year in my quest for an English B.A. My journey to reach this point involved more than stressful finals or scholarship applications. It also contained truth-seeking dialogue with friends … Read More