We had free food, free shirts for alumni, and even better — a house full of memories and Holy Spirit-filled connections and conversations. It was incredible to see brothers we haven’t seen in over 10 years come together for a night of worship, the Word, and fellowship. Watching pledges, actives, and alumni from every generation and various chapters share the same space reminded us that while time may separate us, we’re forever united through this fraternity — and more importantly, through Christ. We’re totally gonna do this every semester moving forward, and we’re so excited to see all the new and old faces come together. 

If you could not attend our gathering this semester, be on the lookout for the next gathering coming up this fall! 

#FraternityForEternityBaby

Brian Colmery (Alpha 752)

This has been a sad and frightening time for our city, but we are very resilient. And common grace is showing up across the city. Angelenos are not known for making small talk with strangers, but people in the grocery stores are sharing stories, even comforting one another. Neighbors are getting to know one another. God is at work in it all.

As in many disasters, even those not affected begin to realize how temporary things in the world are, and we are praying that we’ll see some of those people in the pews on Sunday in search of something eternal and a city that cannot be shaken. In my experience, the churches in LA have always felt like teammates, but this has drawn us together in deeper unity. Last night we hosted a last-minute prayer meeting, and 60 people from four or five churches braved LA traffic and ash in the air to be together and lament, intercede, and plead for God to grow his kingdom through all of this. I know of similar events happening the last several nights all across the city.

So God is at work in the disaster, as always, and we are probably only seeing slivers of what he’s doing. There are a lot of tears, but a lot of deep hope in the church that we’ll see even more of God’s goodness as things continue.

"Read the full article, where this quote is extracted from, here: The Gospel Coalition - Los Angeles Fires: How to Help"

This fall, we’ve welcomed in over 70 pledges across the country—70 new AGO men stepping into the brotherhood. That means 70 new leaders, 70 new disciples committed to making disciples. These 70 men represent the future of AGO, continuing the legacy of brotherhood, faith, and leadership. Each one has the opportunity to lead others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, empowered to use AGO as a catalyst for Kingdom work. These men will carry the torch forward, building upon the foundation laid by generations before them.

Pray for each of these men to not only cross the finish line of pledgeship but to be transformed along the way. Pray that through the pledge process, they will be refined, growing deeper in their faith and character. Also, lift up the active members so that they would welcome these new brothers, encourage them, hold them accountable, and be the iron that sharpens iron. May this journey continue to shape each man into a stronger man of God, united in brotherhood and their devotion to the Lord. 

By Schyler Marsh

I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with Officer John Koran (pictured on the right) on three different occasions. I first met him at our inaugural East Coast Founder’s Day in the spring of 2023 in Lynchburg, VA, and then again at both the West and East Coast Founder’s Day events in 2024. John is such a sincere and kind brother with a treasure trove of stories from his years of serving the Lord. He truly embodies what it means to live a life on mission—constantly striving to serve the Lord and to grow more like Him with each passing day. This is reflected in his story and testimony below. I am always inspired by men who challenge me to do the same, and I hope his testimony encourages you as well. Enjoy this 1-2 minute read!

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"I pledged AGO Alpha (UCLA) chapter in the Fall of 1975 and was an AGO active until graduation in Spring 1979. Jesus became Lord of my life between my junior and senior year of high school at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp, so I was a youn,g naïve Christian when I started college. I visited AGO shortly before school started, and Joe Grieco shared with me some of the things he loved about AGO and how his relationship has grown as a follower of Christ. I knew I wanted to be a part of that. I was fortunate to pledge with Jeff Pelton and James Hoffman as my pledge roommates; those dudes helped me make it through my first semester. I was on an NROTC scholarship, and I was most definitely busy with my involvement with NROTC and AGO during my college years.

Some of my fondest memories of AGO are the special events like Founder’s Day banquets, playing sports and representing the fraternity on the court and in the field, and getting to serve and spend time with the little sisters and the Alpha Delta Chi sorority. AGO held several retreats in the mountains. We had Wednesday night Bible studies, Monday night meetings, and we alternated swapping hosting the UCLA – CAL football games with the Beta Chapter of AGO. Clay Watkins and Kevin Kiner helped lead music on Wednesday nights. Dave Fredrickson initiated a challenge called “The Awesome Dude Award.” It was an effort to improve the fraternity's GPA by encouraging everyone to study more and keeping track of our study efforts. I was so excited when Dave awarded me “The Awesome Dude Award” one week ago (and I think it did help me improve my grades!).

AGO taught me to seek Christ first in my life. I always strive to be a better version of myself, but I learned that I needed to strive to be more like Jesus. To be more like Jesus in love, in service, in availability, in care, in compassion, and in everything I do. I was mentored at AGO and taught how to mentor (by both actives and alumni), I also learned more about how to be a disciple and to make disciples. I learned how to deepen my personal relationship with God through reading the Bible and fellowshipping with like-minded brothers. I grew closer to God by having men of AGO invest in me, challenge me, and encourage my spiritual growth. 

After graduating from AGO, I served as a United States Marine Corps Officer for over twenty years, flying the A-6 Intruder and later transitioning to the EA-6B Prowler. My service took me to many distinct locations across the United States, the Far East, and Europe. I also completed a tour as a flight instructor in Pensacola, Florida, where I was honored as the Flight Instructor of the Year in 1988.

During my career, I earned a master’s degree in Manpower Management, Personnel, and Training, and served at the United States Marine Corps Headquarters for several years. When the A-6 Intruder was retired, I was fortunate to transition to the EA-6B Prowler, where, despite my senior rank, I earned my Mission Commander qualification from the younger aircrew. This experience proved invaluable during the Kosovo War, where I participated in NATO's Operation Deliberate Force, earning several Air Medals.

Reflecting on my time at AGO, I realize how it prepared me to be a strong leader by teaching me to serve others and seek opportunities to encourage those around me. AGO taught me how to be a better son, husband, father, worker, leader, and follower by striving to be more Christ-like in my life. I know that I am a better Christian man because of the men of AGO and the opportunities I had to learn, serve, and grow in a Christ-centered environment. This foundation instilled in me the importance of setting a good example and holding myself to the highest standards. I actively sought out accountability partners in my work, which not only helped me grow personally but also enabled me to encourage others in their Christian walk.

Upon retiring from active duty, I initially thought I would become a schoolteacher. However, I was offered a position as a Flight Simulator Instructor, a role I enjoyed for another 19 years, teaching the next generation of Marine aircrew to fly and fight using advanced electronic warfare technology.

Now fully retired, I enjoy traveling to hike in National Parks with my bride of over 45 years. We also cherish spending time with our four daughters and their families. Thank you, AGO, for being so influential in my life!

We want to continue filling our site with more testimonies and stories from our AGO alumni and active members. Every testimony is meaningful and has the power to impact others. We encourage you to share your story with schyler.marsh@ago.org to be highlighted on the site! 

Dear Family, Friends, and AGO,

This summer, I was blessed with the opportunity to participate in my church's Servant Leadership Training, which involved one week of training and reflection, followed by two weeks in the mission field. The goal of the program was to grow our servant leadership abilities as well as assist the long-term missionaries that our church has sent to various countries in Southeast Asia this past year, including Vietnam. I initially decided to go on the trip because I thought it would be a good opportunity to grow and learn how to lead for Christ, especially as I was moving into the president's role at AGO in the fall. However, the trip ended up teaching me much more than I could have expected. During the training, we went through a course my church offers called Course 201, which delves into what the Gospel means and how we can connect with God. Being reminded of God’s love for us and His desire for a relationship was profoundly impactful as I prepared to serve on the trip and at UCLA. I learned that although God may call us to do things for Him, it is not our actions that He desires; rather, it is our hearts and our relationship with Him. Recognizing that God created us in love and for love set an incredible foundation for not only the rest of the trip but also my life.

Our time in Vietnam also had a significant impact on me. There, I experienced a place where knowledge of God is scarce, and people live drastically differently than we do in the U.S. Our time was mostly spent ministering to college students through various outreach forms, including testimony sharing and street evangelism. During these experiences, God showed me His heart for the lost and how abundantly plentiful the harvest really is; people are hungry for God, even if they don’t know it, and Christianity truly answers all of people's pressing questions. At times, my heart was saddened as we evangelized, and people would express that while Christianity seemed logical and truthful, it simply wasn't necessary for their lives. God revealed to me how urgent it is to share the Gospel and proclaim His word truthfully—that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone. During our time in Vietnam, we also ran an English kids camp for middle and high school Vietnamese students, where we were able to articulate the Gospel clearly and saw many salvation decisions (Praise the LORD!). This was especially meaningful for me since I have a big heart for kids, and leading some of them throughout the camp was a sweet experience. I cannot thank the Lord enough for what I have been able to experience, and I want to give a huge shoutout to AGO Ministries and everyone else who prayed for and generously supported my trip. Without you all, it wouldn’t have been possible, and I am so grateful for your help in making this happen.

With love,
Daniel Nava

For a deeper dive into Daniel's mission work in Vietnam and beyond, tune in to Episode #2 of our Fischers of Men podcast! Listen below

🎙️ Episode 3 of the Fischers of Men Podcast
We had the privilege of sitting down with USC alumnus Nathan Hue, a true leader who's worn every executive hat in AGO and served as Chapter Advisor. In this episode, Nathan shares his inspiring testimony, reflecting on how his journey with AGO uniquely equipped him for the meaningful work he's now doing at his alma mater in Hawaii. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to hear how faith, leadership, and service can shape a life of impact!

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The Name: Inspired by our founder, E. Harlan Fischer, and our first purpose, ‘to win others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ,’ we created ‘Fischers of Men.’ #FischersofMen

Frederick M (Mike) Arehart, Alpha Chapter (UCLA 1973), reflects on his fond memories during his time in AGO, but specifically his time as the Chapter's Intramural Basketball Coach. 

"I was a 3rd Quarter Freshman in Rieber Hall.  I had met a person from Campus Crusade for Christ who rekindled my Faith.  The noise in Rieber was driving me nuts, and I was lonely.   So I called the IFC to see if there was border space.  They told me there was a Christian Fraternity, and I was overjoyed.  I became an AGO Brother in 1973. I had an ROTC Scholarship. A double major in Psychology and History. Paul Todhunter was my roommate. And yes, I knew Earl.

AGO was a haven in a Spiritual Storm for me.  Interaction with the Brothers and the weekly Bible Study gave depth to my Christian experience while at UCLA.  It helped to steady me in my years in the Army as a Captain and Company Commander.  My conversations with Alice the Cook were also most memorable!  She was a hard-boiled personality, a hard case atheist, but a lovely person.

My anecdote is about the Fraternity Basketball League we won in 1974. I was the Coach.

Players Tim Cater, Zim Zimmerman, Kent Malone, Paul Todhunter, and David Atkinson(Limey), Jay Hargis, Ken Nally, and Bruce Byers were the team. Cater, Zim, Todhunter, Malone, and Atkinson were the starters. AGO Brother Paul Reist led the peanut gallery and was there with Margaret Dwightina (who had a relative in ADX); she was our loyal good luck charm. We were undefeated after a hard season and were playing Sigma Pi in the Final.

We were ahead by about twenty-five points at the start of the fourth quarter when Cater became blown (an alpha at UCLA working too many hours in the Chemistry Dept???). Had to take him out and rest him. Zim became the Team Leader. We had Sigma Pi on height, but they had practiced a lot and actually had some pretty sophisticated routines. Our lead was down to five points and the clock was down to 2 minutes when I put him back in.

If anything, our team was consistent. Cater always scored the most points, but the others contributed very well, too. Zim was our second-highest scorer after Cater. It was a very competitive League, and there had been a couple of games where Cater could not make it, but Zim and the others carried the day.

They began to chip away at our lead. Cater could have likely made the UCLA JV team under Wooden-- he was very good. In addition to his excellent shooting, his presence opened up opportunities for the other players as well. I wanted him rested enough so we could sprint to the end and blow through 0:00 on the clock at full speed. No mercy here or comeback opportunity. We won the Championship game by ten points and were the Fraternity League Champs!

So we all walked back to the House and swilled a cold Vernors.

I don’t know what I would have done without being a part of AGO."

Click the photo to listen to Episode 2: An Interview with Daniel Nava, the Chapter President at our UCLA Chapter

The Fischers of Men Podcast was created to interview, connect with, and dive deep into the lives of AGO men—both active members and alumni—by hearing their stories, struggles, and triumphs. We engage in conversations about faith, brotherhood, and the transformative journey of being on this walk with Jesus. Together, we sharpen one another, finding strength and wisdom in the highs and lows of life’s wild ride. We hope you are encouraged by these episodes. 

On today’s episode, we sat down with the current Alpha Chapter President, Daniel Nava, to hear his story. He opens up about growing up with a single mom and brother, living with one foot in the world while knowing God, and how he ultimately turned from his own pursuits to follow Jesus fully. He shares the highs and lows of following God, while highlighting the Lord's unwavering goodness and faithfulness. Daniel also talks about his international mission trips and his plans after AGO. Don’t miss this episode, packed with raw, real-life stories about faith, the goodness of God, and some fun moments from his time in AGO.

Are you interested in doing an interview on the show? Fill out our form or reach out to info@ago.org

By Schyler Marsh

I had the privilege of catching up with Nathan Minton, an Appalachian State University (Upsilon Chapter) alumnus, and let me tell you—it was a real treat. Nathan, pictured on the far right, shared his journey and current career pursuits, while reflecting on how Alpha Gamma Omega was, in his words, "a decision that truly changed my life." Take a few minutes to enjoy this 2-3-minute read and be inspired by his story!

“Fraternity for eternity,” a phrase I would hear for the first time over five years ago, would become a true reality that I would see in my life today. After graduating from Caldwell Early College High School in the spring of 2018, I was an eager high school graduate, seeking a future in education and excited about new opportunities at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Before I packed my bags and headed up the mountain, my mom gave me one piece of advice, saying, “Make sure to get connected to a Christian organization.” My mom and dad, having raised me in a Christian home, knew that college life would present new challenges that would be much more difficult than just turning in assignments or working on completing my degree.

Arriving at Appalachian State University in August of 2018, the first week on campus was eventful, to say the least. Welcome events, convocations, residence hall meetings, life became very busy, and it seemed like there was always something to do. Although I was busy with all the mandatory requirements of being a freshman on a new college campus, one thing that remained with me was the words my mom left with me. Sunday, August 19th, 2018, I woke up early and headed over to the Spiritual Expo, an event for religious organizations on campus to promote their clubs. Walking around viewing all the different booths, I had a list of several different clubs I wanted to check out. After walking around for a while, I decided to leave, and on my way out the door, I ran into Adam Jones, a guy I had gone to high school with. I stopped to speak to Adam for a minute before he introduced me to several of his fraternity brothers and started telling me about Alpha Gamma Omega, the Christ-centered fraternity at AppState. Not having an interest in rushing a fraternity or truly understanding how a Christian fraternity would work, I took the information, said thank you, and went along with my day, having no intentions of going to any of the rush events. 

On Monday, August 20th, I received a text message from Hunter McDaniel, the founder of the Alpha Gamma Omega Upsilon chapter. Hunter and I chatted for a little bit before he personally invited me to some of the events that they would be having that week. Agreeing to come to the first rush event would be a decision that would change my life. Attending the rush events, I saw that this was much more than just a club that had Bible studies; this was a brotherhood of men that sought to worship God and support each other through life. Before I knew it, the rush process was over, I had completed pledgeship, and I was part of a brotherhood of Christian men that would impact my life more than I would ever have anticipated. 

Joining Alpha Gamma Omega Fraternity was a decision that would not only support my growing relationship with God, but it would be a brotherhood that would be there to pray for my family during my dad’s colon cancer, a brotherhood that would reach out after graduation, and a brotherhood that I would continue to lean on during my career as an educator. Alpha Gamma Omega is not only a fraternity, it is a brotherhood of men who stick together to support men in their walk with God and their desire to be more like Jesus. If it were not for AGO, I would not be the man or Christian I am today. 

Since I graduated from Appalachian State University in the fall of 2020, I have returned to my alma mater, Caldwell Early College High School, and am teaching high school freshmen. Outside of work, I love to spend time at my church, where I serve as a first impression leader for our 5:00 service. I continue to stay connected with Alpha Gamma Omega as I enjoy traveling up to Boone to support the future growth of the fraternity and the continued impact that Alpha Gamma Omega makes on the campus of Appalachian State University." 

Strong the ties,
Nathan “Prof” Minton
Alpha Gamma Omega, Upsilon Chapter
Y-24

Brothers, it is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of a dear AGO brother, Dan Valdez. Please take a moment to read some remarks beautifully written by his daughter, Rebekah. 

"As so many of you already know, my dad unexpectedly passed away early Friday morning from cardiac arrest while receiving medical treatment for a post-op infection. 

To say we are devastated doesn’t even begin to cover the pain we are in. There truly are no words to describe the sharp ache of this grief. In the days preceding his passing, my dad was slowly but steadily improving, and the doctors were committed to seeing him walk out of the hospital. The day before, they even said we might be able to bring him home that weekend. 

Even though the doctors were hopeful, and we had confidence he was out of danger, somewhere along the lines, something was missed, and my dad went home to be with Jesus early Friday morning as my mom was on her way for her daily one-hour visit. Losing him has been devastating and disorienting enough on its own, but this makes it so much harder to bear.

Though my dad was alone in the days before he left us, though his phone wasn’t working so he never got to read all the kind messages you all left for him and though my sisters and I did not get to see him at all while he was hospitalized, we believe Jesus’ presence comforted him while he was there and filled the room as He led him home.

As those with us at the hospital prayed over us, two ladies nearby asked if they could join us in prayer. They weren’t Christian, but they wanted to know what it was we had that could give us hope and peace in such suffering. Even that day, Jesus was already working, redeeming the brokenness of this world to bring something beautiful forth, and I know this would fill my dad with joy.

Rereading my dad’s last newsletter from August, I see that the Lord was already preparing us to walk through the “valley of the shadow of death.” From my dad suffering a kidney stone to a surgery recovery that jeopardized his life to finally being hospitalized for infection and dehydration in his last days, September has seen no shortage of misery, worry, and pain.

We have also encountered obstacle after obstacle in completing our property, which still requires electricity, a septic tank, and running water before we can move in. Legal limitations, unreliable workers, and my dad’s declining health this past month forced us to slow down with the small progress we were making with our new home.

My dad’s life was a truly memorable one. His entire life was characterized by his fervor for Jesus and his passion for people. His ministry and mission fields took shape in so many different ways- being part of a Christian fraternity at UCLA; church planting in Peru, leading countless missions trips to Mexico, Peru, Panama, Haiti and many more; shepherding the Spanish ministry at CC Santa Fe Springs, volunteering as a police chaplain with Whittier P.D.; leaving everything behind to serve as a missionary in Mexico; building lasting relationships and memories with teams, students and interns at Awaken Discipleship Training Center; visiting and encouraging Calvary Rosarito’s many church plants and training up a new generation of church planters. This is the legacy he left behind.

From the messages we have already received, it is so evident the impact my dad left on your lives. His love for the Lord and the people around him was always visible- from his loud laugh and bags of coffee to how much babies loved him and his eagerness to share a story of God at work in someone’s life. He left a string of new friends behind in every place he visited and plenty of puns to remember him by. 

We take comfort knowing that He lived in the Lord’s calling for him. That the gospel burned within him as a fire shut up in his bones, and he could not hold back from sharing it (Jeremiah 20:9). 

If there is one thing my dad loved to talk about, it was stories of how the Lord met needs and moved mountains through the Church. Whether it was through generosity, hospitality, or exhortation, my dad returned from every conference, church plant visit, and trip armed with new stories to share of how God was moving faithfully, bringing about provision and blessings through the lives of believers. I know that if he were with us now, he would be so deeply moved at the outpouring of love and support we have received.

So we want to say thank you- for grieving with us, for remembering the joy he brought to your lives, and for covering us in prayer. We want to especially thank those of you who were with us at the hospital that day and those who dropped everything to cross border lines and be with us. Thank you for bearing our burdens with us. 

Thank you to those who have shown the love of Christ, whether it be through dropping off meals, blessing us with company and kind words, walking us through the funeral arrangement process, helping us make hard decisions, or helping us with a host of other issues that come up when someone passes away.

Thank you as well for the countless messages and calls that have given us hope when it feels as though there is none. Thank you for preaching words of victory and encouragement over us, even as our “souls are bereft of peace” and we have “forgotten what happiness is” (Lamentations 3:17). 

We rejoice knowing that my dad fought the good fight, that his race was well-run, that he did not grow weary of doing good, but he endured to the end, rooted in the love of Christ. We rejoice that all his years of labor and struggle were finally met with that reward he had so richly sought, to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 

So, taking a cue from my dad’s final newsletter, I ask that you continue to cover us in prayer, just as Jabez prayed, that the Lord would bless us, not just by meeting our material needs but with provision for this time of sorrow and pain.

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I might not cause pain!’ So, God granted him what he requested.” I Chronicles 4:10

That He would bless us indeed

• that Jesus’ goodness and mercy would pursue us as we carry this burden
• for the provision for our financial situation

That He would enlarge our territory

• to move forward with our property, specifically with getting electricity, running water, and a septic tank
• for our cars and the many maintenance issues in our current home

That His hand would be with us

• that He would direct our decisions as we continue without the head of our family
• that He would guide us as we seek His will for our ministry here

That His hand would protect us from evil

• that we would not be troubled by the enemy’s evils of guilt, hopelessness or self-blame
• that Jesus would meet us in our mourning and pour out His peace on us to comfort our hearts and quiet our minds
• that our feet would be kept from slipping, that we may walk in His life-giving light

Thank you to everyone who loved and knew my dad and supported us. Please continue to share your tributes, favorite memories, and jokes he loved on social media. I know my dad was laughing when my mom said, “They told us he was coming home, they just didn’t say which home.” We can’t wait until we see you again, Dad.

Blessings,

The Tribe of Dan"

If you feel led to support us financially, you can donate here: https://www.calvaryphelan.org/rosarito-mexico.

Mailing address: 555 Saturn Blvd. B1148, San Diego, CA. 92154

Contact information: valdez.ceci47@yahoo.com 

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the AGO Podcast: Fischers of Men! Click the icon to listen to the interview.

The Fischers of Men Podcast was created to interview, connect with, and dive deep into the lives of AGO men—both active members and alumni—by hearing their stories, struggles, and triumphs. We engage in conversations about faith, brotherhood, and the transformative journey of being on this walk with Jesus. Together, we sharpen one another, finding strength and wisdom in the highs and lows of life’s wild ride. We hope you are encouraged by these episodes. 

In today’s episode, we sit down with Psi Chapter alumnus Bobby Ruark, who is currently pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, intending to become a Christian therapist. Bobby opens up about his transformative journey, from an agnostic upbringing to discovering faith in Christ

He discusses:

• His personal testimony and spiritual transformation
• The impact AGO had on him 
• His experiences in his Doctorate Program
• Moments of wrestling with his faith, yet finding strength in perseverance
• Favorite memories and stories from his time in AGO

Are you interested in doing an interview on the show? Fill out our form or reach out to info@ago.org