Above and Beyond - Virginia Dunk Team

Issiah Hartwell

Personal

1.	What is you name/Age?	William Issiah Hartwell III; 21

2.	Year in school?	Second Semester Jr

3.	Major?	Management

4.	Hometown?	Raleigh, NC

5.	Members of your family?	4

6.	Birthday?	April 7, 1984

7.	3 favorite bands?	Kirk Franklin and the Family, Thousand Foot Krutch, Mary Mary

8.	3 favorite movies?	Oceans 11 and 12, Usual Suspects, The Rundown

9.	Favorite sports team?	NCAA Basketball UNC

10.	How long have you been apart of the team?	4 years

Preferences

1.	Seinfeld or Friends?	Neither

2.	Shoes or Sandals?	Kicks

3.	Beaches or Mountains?	Beaches

4.	Right or Left handed?	Right

5.	Double mini or Mini?	Double

6.	Main Course or Dessert ?	Main Course

Fun

1.	Your best dunk ? Your favorite dunk? Your favorite dunk to watch? A. The layout from the first bounce B. Suave-oop C. Any reverse off the mini

2.	Dunks that you have invented and named? 1. Through the legs four times – “The Clock Strikes Twelve” (Midnight) 2. Dani lands on the second bounce and throws the ball of the tramp where it bounces up to me flying over him to the rim - “Suave-oop” 3. Double Flamingo - “Brooklyn Zoo” 4. Mindy runs under me when I am coming down from my first bounce then blindly passes it up to me without getting landed on – “Grand Central Station”

3.	Most embarrassing moment on team? I don’t really get embarrassed to easy My shorts have fallen down a couple of times jumping off the tramps

4.	Most inspiring moment on team? Any spring break trips

5.	Favorite cartoon character? Stewie Griffin from Family Guy

6.	Your biggest fear? I’m not scared of the dark but I can’t stand being outside in the dark. Driving down a dark road by myself freaks me out

7.	What is your nickname on the team? Everybody calls me Zeke

8.	Injuries? In 4 years I have not had an injury that has made me miss a ministry. Although, during our last practice before Christmas break this year (2005-2006) I pulled my hamstring.

Relationship

1.	Favorite Verse?
	Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

2.	Why did you join Above and Beyond?
	When I was a freshie the original appeal of A and B was trying to jump off of trampolines and dunk. However, after coming to more practices I realized that Above and Beyond was using slam dunking as a unique tool that God had given to effect positive change in the lives of young people. That’s when I knew that it was something I had to be apart of.

3.	Best aspect of Above and Beyond?
	Hands down, the fellowship.

4.	Favorite ministry experience?
	Getting to hang out and talk with the kids after any ministry experience is my favorite part.

5.	How do you prepare yourself for a ministry?
	I try and keep my self on a daily diet of God’s word so that my heart and mind is in the right place for the ministry. I also try to continually remind myself that it is not about me.

6.	At least 3 people that have influenced you the most?
	1. Elizabeth Ann Mcneil 2. Dani Rule 3. Jason Mahan

7.	How & Why did you decide to give you life back to Christ?
	For as long as I can remember I have always been in the church. I was born and lived in York, PA for five years and some change before moving to Raleigh, NC when I was six. I got saved within the first year after the move to Raleigh. Jesus Christ saved me October 31, 1990 at a Fall Festival that was hosted by a local church. Since I went to a Christian school and was in church all of my life it was easy to become complacent and I lived through periods of time when I would be on fire, times when I would be luke warm, and other times when I was an ice block. It was in 1998 that I rededicated my life to the Lord and surrendered to do His will for my life. Since that time I have been striving to do His will the best that I know how. I have struggled at times but Above and Beyond has always been there to show me love and keep me accountable.

8.	How have you grown since joining Above and Beyond?
	Above and Beyond has helped me to realize how important it is to live a life above reproach. I have also come to realize that to many people we are the only Christ they will ever see.

9.	What aspect of the Above and Beyond life still challenges you the most?
	The fact that you have to get up every day and make a conscious decision to die to yourself and serve Christ with all your heart and then get up the next day and do it all over again. Success is a journey, not a destination. The Christian race is a marathon and not a sprint.

10.	Where do you see God calling you?
	I really believe the Lord is calling me to serve somewhere in the area of youth ministry

11.	What is your vision for Above and Beyond’s future?
	I believe Above and Beyond has the unique ministry opportunity to become a household name. I believe that the Above and Beyond ministry and this team has not yet hit the tip of the ice berg for what God has in store for us.