Catching Up; With Markese
Catching Up
Editor’s note: Youth Horizons is launching a new series in its newsletter, titled Catching Up. The new series is a way to, well, catch up largely with the young people who were once protégés in Youth Horizons’ one-to-one mentoring program as well as others who have contributed across our ministry. Catching Up will appear on an occasional basis in this space but might also make an appearance across other YH platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can help us catch up with old friends by emailing communications@youthhorizons.com. We hope you enjoy our first Catching Up, which focuses on Markese Wise.
CATCHING UP; With Markese
Hello, I am Markese Wise, a former protégé, a proud and grateful graduate of Youth Horizons mentoring program. My mentor was (and still is) Eric Eakins. Eric and I have stayed in touch through my young adult years and he remains supportive in many ways. We recently spent time together when I made a return trip to Wichita. While I was home, he and I visited Youth Horizons’ new downtown office. It was nice to see how God has blessed Youth Horizons.
He also continues to bless my life. I am now 23 years old, and I am a flight attendant for American Airlines based out of Dallas. I enjoy the travel and visiting different cities, but I am also planning for a different career. When I am not greeting passengers in the skies, I am also studying to be a nurse. I am planning to pack up my Dallas condominium and move to Philadelphia for work in August. I will soon complete my bachelor of science in nursing, and one day I want to open a care home for the elderly.
Eric and I have stayed in touch. We talk nearly every day. He has remained an influence in my life, a mentor who still gives me keen advice. That is only part of our relationship. Eric has done much more than give me advice. Eric has steadfastly demonstrated to me how a man of God walks in his faith by not just going to church every Sunday but by applying what he believes in his everyday life. When I became a protégé, I figured Eric and I would just be grabbing lunch or dinner a few times a week, but Eric has been so much more than a free lunch. He has been someone who has walked beside me through my toughest, saddest and most proud moments. We have laughed and cried together though we have mostly laughed. Eric has shown me how to be a man of my word. He has demonstrated what it looks like to lead your family and, most importantly, exemplified what it looks like to know and love God and make His love known to others.
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