Nate Branson
Former SMOi missionary in Slovakia August 2006-June2007
SWO summer staff 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008
Birthday: September 20History:
Nate grew up in rural North Carolina playing army man and police officer. As a child he planned his life out to be a cop. His parents took him to church, and he started seeking the Lord at a young age. Throughout Nate's teenage years he was a quiet kid who didn't talk much. He went to church camps and youth group, but hesitated selling out to Christ. During high school he would be considered a lukewarm Christian, one who claims it but is a hypocrite. His social life and image became an idol before God. During his freshman year of college God convicted Nate of his indifference and sin. He showed Nate his pretending and called him to live a life of obedience. At the age of 19 he surrendered to Christ and trusted Him as Lord of all his life. Nate began to experience direction and purpose daily. He found a peace knowing that his identity is in Jesus Christ and not the world. He began to learn how to love people instead of his material possessions, image and popularity. Jesus gave him security after he sought to fill insecurity in many other areas. He quit trying to "find himself" and let God give him life. He is "the life." Nate says, "He is 'it' that we all long for."
He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington where he majored in English Literature and Writing. At college he had time to make relationships with other students, read God's Word and other great books, and participate in campus ministries (Overflow and Crusade). During the summers of 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008 he worked at Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters where he counseled middle school and high school students. At Snowbird Nate met an amazing staff and community of believers who took him in and discipled him.
During those three years in college Nate began to be interested in doing ministry. He had considered seminary and grad school, but he felt like he needed something practical - Do something. For those of you who know Nate, he thinks a lot. He needed the Holy Spirit to use him. He hadn't considered mission work until his friend, Seth Ervin, asked Nate if he wanted to go to Slovakia with him. Nate considered it for a month or two. He started to seriously feel God leading him there. He could see how Slovakia would be the place God would use him practically.
Nate told the Lord he would go if He provided the money to go. He did and he went to Slovakia for a year. God is good.
Contact info:
Strategy:
In Slovakia Nate lived in an apartment building relationships with university students and sharing the Gospel. He helped run the weekly Campus Crusade service and their final goal will be to enable Slovak nationals to run the ministry without exterior assistance. The approximate dates of this mission were August 21, 2006 - July 31, 2007.
