WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
The search for meaning and purpose in life is a common thread that binds humanity across the millennia. But the host of issues the next generation must tackle in this cultural moment has made the essential task of discovering life’s purpose more challenging than ever. Thankfully, as Keith Oglesby reminds us so well in his timely book, God has not left us to fend for ourselves all by ourselves. Live Your Purpose lives up to its purpose by showing seekers of all ages how to find their passion, discover their unique giftedness, and join God in His work to meets the world’s needs. Read this book, discover your purpose, and embrace God’s plan to use you for His glory and others’ good.
Dondi Costin, Ph.D.
President Liberty University
As a pastor, I’ve never met a person who, at some point in their life, hadn’t questioned God’s plan for their future. Finding, understanding, and pursuing God’s calling and purpose is a difficult task, and there are few resources designed to help us clearly discern God’s plan. Until now…Keith Oglesby has developed a terrific resource to help us all ensure God’s “next steps” and to live our God-ordained purpose. This book, Live Your Purpose, unpacks a three-step model which will help anyone, no matter their place in life, discover God’s will. I highly encourage you to read and implement these principles
in order to become all God intended for you to become.
Jonathan Falwell
Pastor, Thomas Road Baptist Church
“I have personally witnessed Keith live his purpose as his co-counselor, a husband and father, and throughout his career as a leader in Christian camping. Working with college student-athletes, I have had hundreds of conversations about majors, graduate schools, jobs, direction, passions, callings, and how to figure it all out. Live Your Purpose will serve as an incredible guide for mentors like me and for those I lead to be able to help
discern God’s Will for their life. I am fired up to put Keith’s model into practice with my guys!”
Chris Creighton
Head Football Coach Eastern Michigan University
“Keith is a wise, caring, and enthusiastic leader who has invested his life in discipling others. This book outlines a helpful process for guiding emerging adults to follow God's movement and call on their lives. Based on scripture and principles of human development, this is a powerful tool for engaging young people in conversations about vocation, calling, and life purpose. I urge your consideration.”
Rob Ribbe, Ph.D.
Executive Director: HoneyRock, Center for Leadership Development Associate Professor: School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership - Wheaton College
“When I was in my early 20s, a wise man told me, "find your gifts and build your life around them." That advice served me well, but it did not provide me with handholds to grip that truth and engage it well. Keith Oglesby, in his new book, Live Your Purpose, has provided a practical three-step tool for emerging adults to discover God's pathway for them toward a fulfilling and effective career.”
Dan Bolin
Author & President, Refueling in Flight Former President of Christian Camping International Worldwide Former Christian Camping and Conference Association Board Chairman
"I have been ministering to campers of all ages and a summer staff of college students for nearly five decades. I can confirm that answering the question, "What is God's will for my life?" is a very common problem for teenagers and college students today. I appreciate how Dr. Oglesby (KO) has spent a long time developing this simple but proven model to help others answer this question based on Biblical principles and a life of proven ministry experience. I highly recommend this book to any student, parent, youth pastor, or camp director helping students who are seeking God's will for their lives. Proud of you, KO! Great job!
Joe White
CEO – Kanakuk Kamps
“God has uniquely gifted and strategically positioned Keith Oglesby (KO) to impact
college students by helping direct them to serve the Lord within their gifting and
passions. KO is a godly man, biblically grounded, who genuinely cares for college-aged men and women to find their God-ordained vocation. I’ve seen firsthand that KO lives out his research as he has mentored my son, Caleb, helping him navigate the Lord’s direction in his life, for which I am deeply grateful.”
Mike Romberger
President/CEO – Mount Hermon Christian Camp
“This is a rare book! It artfully combines solid research procedures with practical and useful information about a very important topic. I have been guiding dissertation research for almost thirty years, and I can attest to the fact that Dr. Oglesby has done his homework. He grounds his biblical knowledge and decision-making insights in carefully crafted research. While many talk about the integration of faith and learning, this book actually does it, offering spiritual benefits of eternal significance to all who read it and use it.”
Stephen D. Lowe, Ph.D. (Michigan State University)
Professor of Christian Education: John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Liberty University
“KO has lived his life on purpose! Over the last three decades, I have had the privilege of seeing him live out that purpose as a husband, father, friend, camp director, and professor. He passionately pursues Christ and models what it means to know and experience God’s will as he shares in this timely book. As this and future generations navigate God’s call on their lives, I cannot think of a better guide for them than KO and the lessons he has learned over a lifetime of pursuing and doing the will of God.”
Mike Taylor
Vice President of Mobilization Greater Europe Mission
“Dr. Oglesby (KO) is one of the most respected and skillful leaders I have ever met in
any field. The caliber of his experience as a practitioner and researcher is unrivaled. He
is humble, persistent, and thorough. I highly recommend anything he has researched
and written to my students and their parents and any NexGen leader looking to teach
their high school students a model to help them discern God’s will for their lives.”
Dr. Derik Idol
Professor, Executive Director of Center for Youth Ministries Liberty University
“One of the most basic questions burning in the hearts of college-age students centers
around purpose. Plenty of books and podcasts validate that we have a purpose on this
planet, but few unpack how to know what it is… until now. Dr. Keith Oglesby’s book Live
Your Purpose presents a biblical model for finding and fulfilling God’s plans for your
life. Not only are the principles grounded in Scripture, but college-age students are
hungry for direction in this area. In fact, KO offered to teach the content to my staff of
100 college students. 90% voluntarily showed up with journals in hand… before
breakfast! KO is experienced, informed, grounded, and has a message that college-age
students want and need to hear!”
Jon Estes
Director & CEO Woodlands Camp and Retreat Center
“It is so common for young, committed Christians to struggle to know God’s will for their lives. Having read Dr. Oglesby’s dissertation and new book, Live Your Purpose, I truly believe that the simple model he has created has great potential to help anyone searching for God’s will or for those who are mentoring those who are searching.”
Bruce Dunning
Author of God of Adventure Past Executive Director of Medeba Adventure Learning Centre in Canada
“I have heard dozens of summer staff say they will leave Kanakuk and start a camp. Keith Oglesby did it. His story of utilizing proven tactics, combined with his passion and perseverance in chapter fifteen, is both compelling and challenging. I highly recommend his book.”
Ward Wiebe
Director of K-West KANAKUK MINISTRIES
“Dr. Oglesby is an exceptional practitioner, a skilled communicator, an educator, and, as this research shows, a dedicated and gifted researcher. I had the privilege of having Keith, with his wife Carrie, as our Keynote speakers at our National Conference in Australia. They remain standouts, even after several years. I have been engaged in a vocational ministry for many years where most staff have felt a very strong calling on their lives to this particularly unique ministry. However, having
also worked in other sectors, both commercial and for purpose, I know this is not always the case.
Thus, I am excited to see the work Keith has done in developing this tool to assist in guiding a person to discern their particular vocational calling in their lives. We need more people who are gifted, called, and passionate, working where they should be, whether that be as a motor mechanic, an accountant, or a preacher. I pray that as these emerging adults adopt this tool their eyes will be opened, and their thinking becomes clearer as they discern God’s purpose for their lives.”
Thus, I am excited to see the work Keith has done in developing this tool to assist in guiding a person to discern their particular vocational calling in their lives. We need more people who are gifted, called, and passionate, working where they should be, whether that be as a motor mechanic, an accountant, or a preacher. I pray that as these emerging adults adopt this tool their eyes will be opened, and their thinking becomes clearer as they discern God’s purpose for their lives.”
Graeme Janes
Chief Executive Officer Australia Christian Venues Association
“This is a book in which theology and praxis intersect. Many of my students have trouble discerning God’s will for their lives, but Dr. Oglesby’s model has resonated so strongly with them to such an extent that a year after he presented his model in my class, students are still talking about it. This practical resource should be made available to every Christian student because it offers a concrete method that is easy to understand and life-changing in its impact.”
Dr. Mary Lowe
Online Chair and Professor - John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Liberty University