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ADRIAN GROFF ‘03, JON HEINLY ‘03, JOSH HYKES ‘03, and JARED NISSLEY ‘03 first met while attending Kraybill Mennonite School. They quickly became friends playing at recess. But what they didn’t realize was that they would become much more than just elementary recess playmates.
Throughout the years, their friendship continued to grow. As they moved on to LM for high school, athletics continued to be a favorite activity, whether soccer, basketball or baseball, or cheering on their favorite team. In their free time, they could also be found doing science experiments together, building on concepts they learned in chemistry class with Mr. Duane Evans, or spending time together at Adrian Groff’s family cabin.
After graduation but before they headed separate ways for college, they gathered a group of eight guys, ADRIAN GROFF ‘03, JON HEINLY ‘03, ANDY HOOVER ‘03, JOSH HYKES ‘03, RANDY KEENER ‘03, JARED NISSLEY ‘03, CLINTON SIMMONS ‘03, and JUSTIN WEAVER ‘03, for one last epic adventure. With the shared dream of seeing a polar bear, they all piled into an old Suburban and drove deep into Canada. Several breakdowns later, one of which included laying hands on the Suburban to pray for it, and then successfully driving all the way home afterwards, they arrived home with memories and friendships to last a lifetime.
After college this initial group of four guys had weekly calls to support and prayer for one another. They don’t agree on everything, but there is enough substance to their relationships that carry them through even the differences and help them learn from one other. Even now they continue to check in regularly with updates, prayer requests, and encouragement for each other.
Last year when Jared Nissley was being honored as alumni of the year, a group of these guys from their class surprised him by reserving seats at the Gala event so they could be there to support and celebrate with him. They acknowledge that these types of friendships are really unusual. Jon Heinly shares, “to have people that have known you for so much of your life, and walked through making major decisions together – career, relationships, and more. We have accompanied each other on these journeys – it really makes a difference.
His encouragement to current students is to, “have the courage to make the first move towards friendship with others. Your peers are looking for it too. Don’t be afraid to step towards them.”
