Brainerd House with Nick: Celebrating 10 Years of the House System

Favorite House System memory?

One that comes to mind off the bat is our Brainerd-Fuller competition from spring ’25, which was ’80s themed. We had a ball, and it was just so fun. I absolutely loved it.

If I picked something other than a house competition, I would probably pick my time as a house leader and our leadership retreats. Those retreats were the first time I was introduced to a half-day of prayer. I didn’t know what that looked like at first, but it was really just spending an extended time with the Lord in prayer, in his word, in worship, and even just sitting in his peace. It’s honestly changed the way in which I do my quiet times and love the Lord.

First House System memory?

Kickball, my first year here, fall ‘23. I came into Brainerd House with one of my best friends from back home in Wilson, Jonathan. We became fast friends with the people in our house and the guys that lived across the hall from us, Brandon and Elijah.

Then we actually won kickball that year. I think we got knocked out early in the tournament, and we had to run the losers’ bracket and win twice in the championship because it was double elimination. We ended up winning the whole thing, and that was awesome. I’m a big competitive person, and being able to do that with people that I love — it was just an awesome time.

Upperclassman who impacted you?

The person that I think of off the top of my head is Micah Conner. When I came in, he was my chancellor, which was absolutely amazing. Being able to watch him lead and serve our house and care for people was such a blessing. He’s one of the best listeners I’ve come across in my life. We’ve had the privilege of continuing to catch up over the years, even while I served on house leadership. He’s definitely taught and encouraged me, not just about abiding in and loving the Lord but also how to love people. Sometimes it’s not necessarily about giving advice; sometimes people just need a listening ear, and then you let God do the rest.

House value that you resonate with?

If I had to pick, endurance is probably the one in which God has tested me the most. In my time on house leadership last school year, end of spring ’25 going into summer ’25, my prayer was that the Lord would show me what it meant to abide. I had met a lot of trial and difficulty, hitting rock bottom that spring, but I watched God restore me. What I ultimately came to understand about endurance is that it takes abiding in the Lord and trusting in him. When we’re met at the crossroads between choosing God and choosing the things of this world, it is God’s desire that we would choose him, our love for him would increase, and we would recognize our need for him.

What I ultimately came to understand about endurance is that it takes abiding in the Lord and trusting in him.

Suffering plays a part in that. Romans 8:28 comes to mind: “For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Our suffering, as Romans 5 says, produces endurance, which produces character, which produces hope.

Humanities Day or Field Day?

Field Day. Humanities Day is great, and it’s wonderful to be able to see people take their gifts and apply them in the music, literature, and art competitions. But I’m a competitive person, so being able to go and just do stuff with our people — even if we’re not necessarily going to win — is just fun for me. I love the high energy, people covered in powder and paint, and the big slip-and-slide after we’re done. It’s just a great time of fellowship.

Fall Retreat or Calibrate?

Fall Retreat. I love Calibrate. However, since summer camp is such a big part of my story and the ministry I’ve gotten to serve in for the last four summers, I love to get to go see other camps and the work that they’re doing there, how God is using them. But, also retreats are always a way that God uses to refocus our attention on him, allowing us to slow down, build fellowship, build new relationships with people we haven’t met, and also strengthen relationships with people we’ve gotten to do life with.

Niche Brainerd House fact?

Our mission statement, “Building a Cross Culture,” can be taken a couple different ways, one of which refers to community and unity within the house system and with other houses. But Micah Conner sent me this, which is what the house was built on: Building a cross culture is picking up your cross daily and following Jesus. That’s from Matthew 16:24-28. And when you think about David Brainerd’s life and the way in which he lived and did ministry — and the fact that he was still doing ministry until his last breath while having tuberculosis — that brings a lot more meaning to the mission statement.

Building a cross culture is picking up your cross daily and following Jesus.

Kickball or the Juddies?

So that I can be the most Christ-like version of myself, I have to pick Juddies because there are times when I get too competitive and I have to take a step away. Last school year was amazing when we switched from Showcase to the Juddies and got to do it in Binkley and watch those videos on the big screen. It was a surreal event.

Moment or memory you’ll remember 10 years from now?

Probably my time as chancellor, fall ‘25 to spring ‘26. Having to live a life in which abiding is so crucial was a wake-up call for me. The part of John 15:4-5 that came to life was the end of it, which says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” As soon as you believe or think that you can do anything in this life in your own strength apart from the Lord, then you’ll figure out very quickly that you can’t. God let me figure that out for myself. Ultimately, my love for him increased, and that produced so much more growth in me than at any point I’ve seen in my life. As hard as it was, I am thankful, and I wouldn’t be in the spot that I am now without that hard year.

Biggest lesson that your house has taught you?

I think, building upon my time of serving with youth and college ministry, my house taught me what it looks like to love people. That can be taken a lot of different ways. In the middle of the Lord growing me in that difficult season as chancellor, he started bringing people to me who were also having a difficult time. That prompted such amazing conversations and times of prayer, bringing everything back to God’s word. I couldn’t have navigated those conversations without the Lord, and it was a blessing to see him at work. In all of it, I’ve grown a lot with close friends and gained many younger sibling figures. They know who they are, and it’s been a blessing to know and to love them.

Advice you would give an incoming freshman?

I think the biggest thing that I could tell an incoming freshman — and something I think even we as students tend to forget sometimes — is that we are saved by grace through faith, and not the things that we do, which James and Paul would refer to as our works. The things we do are the very action and reflection of the work that God does in our hearts. As soon as we believe that the knowledge in our minds becomes more important than the work that God does in our hearts by his grace and Spirit, then we will find out very quickly that this will be a very difficult season.

Advice or encouragement you would give Brainerd House for this coming year?

One verse that has meant a lot to me in this season is Ephesians 2:10, which says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” I would remind Brainerd House and our people — and myself — that everything we do is by grace through which we are saved, and every decision that we make does not define us. Yes, it shows a reflection of what we believe, but our identity is in Christ alone. If we forget that, then we will have a much harder time here at school than we might think.

Keep an eye out for other upperclassman house spotlights, and learn more about Judson’s House System by visiting judsoncollege.com/housesystem.