We continue our new grad series with Ola Ogunaike, an IIT grad now working as an engineer in Chicago. Despite having his own apartment, Ola reflects on why he spends nearly half his week on a couch at Sawmill (the post-grad housing) and how he found a "family of brothers" he never had growing up. He opens up about the challenge of letting go of his autonomy to join a high-commitment church staff and the humbling realization that he is loved for who he is—not just for his competence or what he can contribute.

We continue our new grad series with Luke Walker, a recent UChicago graduate who's now finishing his Master's in Humanities at UChicago. He reflects on his journey from being a student in our ministry to becoming a team apprentice (a role we totally made up in Chicago). He opens up about the perspective shift of moving behind the scenes—from realizing the tech and planning that goes into service, to learning thankless roles like ProPresenter. Luke discusses how pouring out in ministry has forced him to craft stronger personal spiritual disciplines and the blessings he’s found in a deeper level of Christian service.

We kick off our new grad series with Aaron Besa, who recently graduated from Illinois Tech. Aaron reflects on his upbringing in Chicago, the shift from serving in the church as a "hobby" to developing a personal conviction, and the practical impact that living in a close-knit Christian community has had on his post-grad life.