In High School, Isaiah Denhoff ’26 Was on a Path to Success.
His job at Yellow Rose Transport was empowering, and he was one email away from signing on to a high paying career with Caterpillar (CAT). With a workaholic schedule during his senior year and a passion for mechanics, his next steps seemed obvious.
Until he served in a vacation Bible school at the prompting of his pastor, who had been encouraging him toward ministry. Working with the kids at that event planted seeds of calling in Isaiah’s heart: “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.” And with that, he turned down the job at CAT and prepared for a career in ministry.
Next Steps
At a local Christian music festival, Isaiah discovered Grace Christian University. He stopped by their booth almost on a whim, but the conversation that followed lingered in his mind. “Grace was like a calling, God was telling me I needed to go here,” he says.
After a tour of Grace’s campus, he was locked in. And so he enrolled. But following God’s direction didn’t mean the road was smooth. While he was eager to serve, ministry opportunities were few and far between. It seemed like he’d never be able to “spread his wings,” and he struggled to balance his passions for mechanics and ministry.
A Turning Point
In his junior year, he hit a wall of discouragement. Old friendships pulled him away from full devotion to the Lord. He was torn between loyalty to his friends and the realization that they were leading him away from Christ.
He decided to invest in friendships with peers who were running toward God. It was a difficult choice, but a turning point. Where there had once been silence, there was now abundance. The darkness gave way to light. Opportunities began to pour in. Internships opened up. Ministry doors swung wide.
“Staying faithful when God was silent made me realize that now, in these opportunities, I have to stay faithful too,” he says. “It’s not forgetting God on the mountain just because I cried out to Him in the valley.” One class in particular, about modernity and theology with Dr. Mat Loverin ’98, played a pivotal role in reshaping Isaiah’s understanding of God and theology.
He realized it was okay, even necessary, to wrestle with faith and rebuild it with conviction. The process allowed him to claim his beliefs as his own. “That class started the snowball,” he says. “It opened my mind to realize what actually matters: it’s not about every little doctrinal detail. It’s about salvation, knowing Jesus as your Savior. Everything else flows from that.”
The lesson hit even closer to home when his grandma passed away. Watching her face eternity crystalized what he had been learning: at the end of life, only two things matter, did you love God, and did you love people?
Freshman and sophomore year, he had lived as a severe workaholic, stressing over finances and future plans. Grace provided a space, and mentors, who reminded him: these years are about growing in Christ, not about hustling for money.
Looking Ahead
“Be patient, and trust. Fully let go of control of your life because God is sovereign. Whatever you try to do in your own strength will never work. You have to trust the incomprehensible power of God.”
Falling in love with Jesus, he explained, means realizing just how deeply Christ loves you, and responding with trust. He says it’s like riding a tandem bike. For much of his life, he had been steering while God pedaled. Now, he’s handing over the handlebars too.
His prayer for his life is simple, but profound: that people wouldn’t see him at all, but would see Christ through him. Whether fixing engines, preaching sermons, or simply being a faithful friend, he wants his life to echo one truth: Jesus is everything. “I want to leave a legacy where, when people think of me, they think of God,” he says. “Not for selfish gain, but because my life pointed to Him.”
About the Author: Stephanie Maendel ’26 is a Communication & Christian Studies student at Grace Christian University. She’s passionate about missions and inspiring her generation to live out the Great Commission. After graduation, she hopes to pursue ministry and community outreach, serving and empowering individuals and families locally and globally.
