Zack Burgy-Vanhoose

Campus director, GREATER LOUISVILLE AREA

I grew up in eastern Kentucky where the culture was saturated with drugs and alcohol. The religious culture was that everyone said Jesus was their Savior, but not many people actually surrendered their lives to Him as Lord. I adopted this view, simply thinking that being a Christian meant to be a good person (by my own standard) and have a general belief in God.  

I quickly followed suit with the culture plumbing into the party scene in high school and into my freshman year of college.  My life was centered around three major idols: My Identity was tethered to being a football player and my performance on the field, my joy and happiness was tied up in an unhealthy relationship with a woman, and I lived for the approval and affirmation of those around me. In God’s mercy, He was faithful to expose the idolatry I was living in, searching for hope and satisfaction in these three areas of life rather than God Himself.  

After this, I was invited into a godly community called Campus Outreach at Eastern Kentucky University where I was exposed to the Gospel of Jesus for what seemed like the first time.  I became aware of my sin, the truths of a Holy God, and my need for Jesus’ sacrifice to atone for my sin.

September 22nd of 2013 I understood the goodness of the Lord and put my faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ: how He defeated sin and death and truly offered freedom and forgiveness to those who place their faith in his work and not their own.  I was discipled for a few years by a man on staff where I learned how to walk with God. He not only taught me the Scriptures and the "whys" to the Christian life, but he also modeled every aspect for me and taught me how to live out my faith daily to reach those around me. I quickly caught the vision to disciple young men and bring the Gospel to the lost world as I searched the Scriptures and saw God’s heart for the lost.  

I decided to come on staff to make disciples and see the world reached for Christ by sending laborers out from the college campus to the lost world.

I met my lovely wife Katie through our local church in October of 2018 and we got married on October 12, 2019.  By God’s grace, we want to raise a big family who will serve the Lord and make his name known wherever we are.