“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Thoughtful Life Ministries began its ministry to students and young adults in the summer of twenty-fifteen when seven students attended the first two-week discipleship program. In addition to the program itself we also host several shorter events each year to continue reaching out to past students to encourage them in pursuit of Christ.
Mission Statement
Our mission as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ is to be faithful instruments in the hands of God to draw the hearts and the minds of young men and woman to a more thoughtful life of devotion to Him.
As the stewards of this discipleship ministry we have our confidence in the sovereign power of God to bring about his plan for our lives—that as we submit ourselves to Him in everything He will do His best work.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to help raise up a generation of committed followers of Jesus Christ who handle His word with care and devotion, steer their intellect with wisdom and purpose, and hold nothing back in living their lives for the glory of God under the redemption of Jesus Christ.
Philosophy
All effective spiritual work in the hearts of people is from God alone. It is God who saves, who gives us the desire to change, who enables us to change, and whose power works in us to bring about that change. God gives all increase in ministry, be it bringing an unbeliever into the Body of Christ, or transforming the believer into the image of Christ.
All things are to bring glory to God. Because all spiritual transformation is carried out by God, He receives all the credit for what He has done. Our labor in the Lord is to faithfully serve and love Him, doing as He desires and as He has led us for His glory. God receives glory for all that is done, and pride and selfish ambition have no place in ministry.
Board of Directors
Thoughtful Life Ministries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Andrew Fritz
Board President | Program Director
Andrew lives with his wife in Madison, Wisconsin. He is employed as a mobile software developer in Madison, Wisconsin. He has been involved in camp ministry for over eighteen years—serving as a counselor, program director, and speaker. He has received formal training in christian leadership, apologetics, biblical counseling, and New Testament Greek.
John Fritz
Board Secretary | Volunteer Coordinator
John lives with his wife and two young children. He is currently a writer and stay-at-home dad. He has been a director of children’s ministry, served as a adult Sunday school teacher, and spent many summers working in camp ministry as a counselor, activities director, and program director. In college he studied theology, New Testament Greek, biblical counseling, and history.
John Winter
Board Treasurer | Administrative Director
John is married and the father of three adult sons. He is the Director of global services at a medical device manufacturer. He has been involved with teen ministry at church, and served in juvenile jail ministry through Youth For Christ. In December 2012 he published a book titled "The Meaning of Life." His personal studies have led him into the areas of apologetics and veritology.
It would be a pleasure for us to talk with you about the ministry if you have question. Feel free to Contact Us.
Fundamental Truths
Thoughtful Life is an evangelical, non-denominational ministry that seeks to honor the unity that Christ would want among His children. We seek to work alongside those who place themselves under the authority of God’s word and pursue a love for Christ as supreme. These character traits are what builds and preserves unity in the Body of Christ. The purpose of the following six declarations is to openly identify ourselves as firmly holding to the fundamentals of the Christian faith:
God – There is only one God who is the creator and ruler of all things. He has described Himself as eternally existing in the three personalities of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Christ – Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God who was manifested in human flesh without sin.
Scriptures – The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God.
Mankind – Man has fallen from his original condition and is in need of a redemption he cannot supply.
Redemption – Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God offers to fully justify the unrighteous condition of every man who puts his only faith in the sacrifice of the Son of God.
Eternity – There will be a resurrection of every man—the justified to eternal life in the presence of God, and the unjustified to eternal condemnation for their rejection of the Son of God.
Those serving with us may come from a variety of Christian backgrounds and traditions. As a ministry we have chosen not to establish precise doctrinal requirements on many non-essential theological discussions within the Body of Christ. On such matters we are primarily focused on giving Christian young people the skills to the study Scripture themselves, and carefully think through different ideas and beliefs accordingly in the context of their relationship with God.
“Let God be found true and every man a liar.”