TRAILBLAZER SPOTLIGHTS


Living Truth Boldly Olson Seeks to Model Truth and Integrity for Today’s Youth


NGU alumna Libby Olson (’20) is making a positive impact on the next generation through her work with Live Free, a South Carolina based nonprofit dedicated to equipping youth to make healthy, value-based decisions about relationships and sexual activity. “Our mission is to help students live free from the physical and emotional consequences of sex outside of marriage by giving them the truth, tools, and confidence to choose abstinence,” said Olson, who serves as the Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist at Live Free.


Olson said the role allows her to impart biblically based wisdom on the topic of sexual abstinence to students in various school settings from public and charter schools to private Christian schools and homeschool co-ops. “I want students to understand that sex is never casual, that waiting is possible, and that sex within marriage is a meaningful gift,” she said. “Ultimately, I hope to help students grow in confidence and make informed choices that protect them both physically and emotionally.” Olson has seen the Lord at work through her career with Live Free in many ways, including in public schools where she cannot have open gospel-centered conversations with students.


“Because of the topic we discuss, there is so much opportunity to talk about transgenderism, the LGBTQ+ community, and just sexuality in general,” she said. “We can start conversations to help encourage students to think critically about their choices and values.” She recalled a particular encounter where a student started to contemplate the lifestyle she was raised in, and Olson had the opportunity to share biblical truths. “I once had a student who had two moms; through our conversation about healthy relationships, she began reflecting on what that meant in her own life. She even questioned if there was a reason why only a man and a woman can have biological children,” said Olson. “By the Lord’s grace, she was questioning the very ideas she was raised on. We may not be able to share our faith openly, but we can plant seeds of truth and pray that God continues to work in their hearts.”


Through her work, Olson has unique opportunities to teach students valuable truths that are countercultural to the world they live in.


“Some of the most engaging conversations happen around social media and how it shapes our beliefs about


relationships and sex. I’ll ask questions like, ‘What does your feed look like?’ ‘What trends do you see?’ ‘How do they make you feel?’ Once students begin to reflect on the messages they’re absorbing, they often realize how much influence media has on their worldview,” she said.


Olson, who studied


psychology at NGU, said she never pictured this being her


calling, but her love for working with students encouraged her to apply after NGU’s career planning director, Stuart Floyd, told her about the position.


“The Lord clearly had a plan, because this job has been far more meaningful than I imagined. Our team is amazing – we all share a passion for teaching the truth about marriage, sex, and family,” she said. “Many of my coworkers are NGU alumni, and their encouragement and faith have been such a blessing.”


Olson said she grew deeper in her faith through the NGU community she was surrounded by.


“My faith deepened, my understanding of God’s love expanded, and I gained confidence in what I believe. Mentors, professors, and friends, especially those in Campus Ministries and on the CMSE hallway, challenged and encouraged me daily,” said Olson.


She said her education equipped her both spiritually and academically, giving her more confidence in the work she is now doing at Live Free.


“That spiritual foundation has been invaluable in my work. Even when I’m in schools where I can’t share the gospel, everything I teach is rooted in biblical truth. NGU helped me understand how to integrate my faith into every area of life and work,” she said. “Academically, my psychology degree equipped me to understand adolescent development and communicate effectively with students. Courses in adolescent and educational psychology were particularly helpful. But more than anything, it was NGU’s Christ-centered environment – the people, the mission, and the discipleship – that truly prepared me for the challenges and opportunities I face today.” ◆


Faith Through Storytelling Flook Uses Journalism to Reveal Faith in Action


“I love meeting people, writing and sharing incredible stories of God at work.” For Mary Margaret Flook (’23), telling stories is a joy and a passion.


The 2023 NGU School of Communication graduate, currently serves as a reporter and social media manager for The Baptist Courier.


“I’m a journalist that tells stories of God at work throughout South Carolina and beyond. Most of my interactions are with pastors, church members, and Christian organizations,” said Flook. “My job is to tell their stories.”


She first got connected with South Carolina Baptists’ official new journal when her multimedia class professor, Shurajit Gopal, connected her with an internship in 2023. During her two years at The Baptist Courier, Flook has heard many inspiring stories that have helped strengthen her own faith.


“I have grown a lot in wisdom and maturity in my faith through hearing other’s stories. For example, the latest story I wrote was about a woman who had stage four lung cancer and 30 brain tumors. She said that four words got her through her cancer: ‘Do not be afraid,’” Flook recalled. “If I ever got cancer, I’d certainly remember her story. When I write stories of people who’ve gone through


Always a Trailblazer


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hardship or who are rejoicing and testifying of His work, I internalize the truths that they’re sharing, and it grows and strengthens my own faith.”


As she reflects on her career thus far, she sees how God was present from the start. “I did not plan this career for myself. It feels like God just dropped The Baptist Courier into my lap because I’d never heard of The Baptist Courier before. I also did not expect to be paid to write full time,” she said. “It is all a gift of God. I didn’t really do anything to earn or work up to this job. God just placed me here and I feel peace about being here.” Flook says her time as a student at NGU prepared her spiritually for the career she has, and her professors played a key role in that spiritual formation. “I left NGU with a solid biblical foundation. The professors of NGU taught me how to think, reason, and persuade,” she said. “The communication department taught me how to write clear, unbiased stories. And the College of Christian Studies formed and shaped my character and beliefs. I love the professors at NGU and I’m still friends with a lot of them.” ◆


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