Burkett Johanns’ testimony was short and sweet as he shared in Senior Chapel last Friday morning. In just a sentence or two, he had the full attention of his fellow students. As he described some of the things he has walked through personally, most students realized quickly that his reality and story brought with it the kinds of pain and hardship that most of them will never have to face.

In the spring of 2016, he joined a group of LCS kids headed to Mexicali, Mexico on a missions trip. His daily reality was such a struggle that Burkett now realizes how hard his heart had become. Once in Mexico, he was surrounded by children in a third-world country that had a tough life. Despite a language barrier, Burkett remembered, “These kids understood me, and I understood them.” He identified with these kids in a way that softened his heart. In getting away from daily life, Burkett opened up his heart to the gospel message he had heard many times before but had never truly received until this point. In the middle of a trip he doesn’t even recall quite why he signed up for, he surrendered his life to Christ. Two days later, he was baptized by LCS Bible teacher, Brad Ourada while still on the trip. Burkett’s heart is for other’s to recognize the limits of the world’s wisdom, and in contrast, draw from the unlimited and perfect wisdom that comes from God. He cited 1 Corinthians 1:25 as he challenged the students in chapel. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” He ended by sharing the following with the students, “Until you call on the Lord for wisdom, and look to Him alone, you’re going to be looking in spaces that seem to have so much more to offer. In reality, those spaces are like small empty boxes that will never give you what you need.”

Burkett is a busy senior. He is a member of the LCS Golf Team, writes for the student newspaper, the LCS Herald, and serves as Vice-Chairman of the Young Conservatives Club. He works for Runza and sells concessions at the home Husker games. He also serves on the LCS Christian Leadership Team and disciples 7^th and 8^th graders at school. He remembers how LCS teachers and fellow students had been praying for him and reaching out to him in ways that prepared his heart for what was to come on that missions trip to Mexico just a short year and a half ago. He wants to pass on his faith to others, and in particular, has a heart for young men who come from difficult homes or have absent fathers. “The trip didn’t end for me in Mexico.” Burkett’s journey continues and he is a living example of how God is using Lincoln Christian for more than an education.