Christopher Yuan to speak at Linville Hill spring banquet

When organizers of the yearly Linville Hill Christian School spring banquet search for a speaker, they consider whom the entire community, not just families associated with the school, might like to hear. They also look seriously at questions facing youth. "A major challenge for young people in our nation is tremendous confusion around things that were considered basic 20 to 40 years ago," said head of school Matt Buckwalter. After considering those challenges, school representatives chose Christopher Yuan, author of "Out of a Far Country" and "Holy Sexuality and the Gospel." "(Christopher) has a fascinating journey," said Buckwalter.

Christopher will be the featured speaker at the Linville Hill 2024 spring banquet on Friday, March 22, at Beechdale Farms, 458 Beechdale Road, Bird-in-Hand. Appetizers will be served at 5:15 p.m., and dinner will begin at 6 p.m.

Christopher is the son of Chinese immigrants. His father, Leon, a dentist, and his mother, Angela, raised him in Chicago. Buckwalter noted that Christopher was brought up with the understanding that he should get good grades, obey his parents, and follow in his father's footsteps. While still in college, Christopher announced to his parents that he was engaged in an alternative lifestyle that did not align with their beliefs. He also began using and selling drugs. Three months before he was scheduled to graduate from dental school, he was kicked out. Christopher then moved to Atlanta. Before Christopher was kicked out of school, both Leon and Angela had become born-again Christians, and Angela spent much time in prayer focused on the hope that Christopher would find Christ. Arrested on drug charges, Christopher was in federal prison when he learned that he was HIV positive. One day, his focus was drawn to graffiti on his ceiling that referenced Jeremiah 29:11, which reads, " 'I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Christopher became a Christian who now finds his identity in Christ alone. Upon leaving prison, he studied at Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College Graduate School, receiving his Doctor of Ministry from Bethel Seminary.

Claudia Landis, business manager at Linville Hill, noted that several staff members had heard of Christopher's story. She said that Christopher wrote "Out of a Far Country" with Angela. "It's a beautiful story of his conversion," Landis reported, adding that chapters written by Angela testify to "how hard it is for parents to watch their children go through a season of such darkness and not become hopeless."

Buckwalter acknowledged that the speaker was chosen with whole families in mind. "Oftentimes behind the story is a praying mom or grandmom who changed (the outcome)," he said. "We hope this evening will create space for young people to hear a journey to truth and to offer encouragement for those praying (parents) whose children are stuck in a really dark place that breakthrough will come."

Buckwalter added that guiding children in their own stories is a mission of Linville Hill. "As a school, we recognize the responsibility to train our children ... and part of our job is to help them tell a better story," he said. "To do that, we have to put in front of them stories (of) finding truth and finding God that are victorious and hopeful even though sometimes those journeys are filled with pain and difficulty."

Sponsorships and tickets are available by calling 717-442-4447, ext. 1017.