Student Brandy Burtchell may have had to leave her hometown in Texas to train for ministry, but she was able to come to a place with at least the same name.

“I was not raised in church and only went a handful of times,” said Brandy. “My great-grandmothers were the only people I knew who went to church regularly. I walked down the aisle a couple of times with friends and said a prayer, but I didn’t really understand what it was all about. In my early 20s, my dad and stepmother started going to church and I began to ask her questions about God. That Sunday she pushed me down the aisle to say a prayer I didn’t understand for the third time. I remember asking myself if it worked this time and thinking that since my family celebrated, it must have. For many years I believed that, and I tried to be a “good Christian,” but it was exhausting and I failed so many times.”

“When I was 39 years old, I felt God pulling,” said Brandy. “I found my radio on K-Love, and they were doing a challenge to listen to Christian music for 30 days and I accepted the challenge. A week or so later, I was cleaning house and came across my husband’s old Bible. Written inside was the plan of salvation. One of the steps was to read the book of John, so I started reading until I finished the book. In those pages, I met my Savior and fell in love with Him. On Jan. 10, 2013, I finally understood and gave my life to Jesus.”

“Soon after I felt Him leading me to further my education and serve Him full-time. I mentioned this to my husband, and he felt the same way. We didn’t think there was any way we could both go to college full-time and support our family, but God led us to Clear Creek. Thank you, God, for Clear Creek and its supporters!

“On July 26, 2016, we left Bell County, Texas and headed for Bell County, Kentucky. When we came around that corner and saw the school, we knew we were right where God wanted us. I am not certain what God has planned for our future, but He has placed a burden on my heart for abused, abandoned and orphaned children. I am ready to serve Him whenever, however and wherever He leads us.”