Adopt Student Spotlight: Isack Gerlein

Senior Isack Gerlein has received more than an education at Florida College. The business administration major has been shown Christ’s love and the true meaning of family from the day he was born. 

“My parents came to the US from South America while mom was expecting me and my sister, Marine,” he said. “My mom ended up alone, pregnant with twins at a women’s shelter in a new country with very little English.”

While visiting the shelter a bilingual preacher told Isack’s mom about the North Terrace church of Christ, where she met a young couple who began picking up the family of three for services.

“Before long a woman named Barbara Raymer started picking us up and eventually invited us to live with her. She became my grandma, and we were raised by two single women,” Isack recalled. “When I tell people my story they’ll say, ‘I’m so sorry,’ but I’m not, because the Bible is full of stories like Joseph whose bad circumstances led to bigger things. God always has a plan.” 

Following high school, Isack took a gap year to work for a local roofing company, convinced he “wasn’t a school person.” A friend soon introduced him to the Adopt Program, and before long he was an active student at Florida College involved in Footlighters, Fine Arts cinema, Phi Sig and Arete. Today he is gearing up for a career as an EMT with hopes to become a fire department captain. 

Isack has drawn tremendous encouragement from his FC connections, in particular fellow Adopt students introduced to Christ during their time on campus.

“Many students who come to FC aren’t very familiar with Christianity when they arrive but start attending church services with friends and enjoying chapel worship,” he said. “That wouldn’t be possible without the Adopt program. Jesus’s last command to us before ascending into heaven was ‘go and make disciples,’ and I’ve seen several baptisms of students who’ve made a 180-degree turn by their senior year. Even if Adopt supporters aren’t here on campus, they’re still part of that work.” 

By giving to the Adopt Program, you can help student like Isack have an FC experience.