She's More Than A Regular Youth Speaker, She's A substitute Teacher

Brenda has been doing youth ministry for twenty-five years, sixteen years with Wild Frontier. During her first nine years she served as youth pastor of churches in Minnesota and Virginia. In 1990, obeying her original call, Brenda started Wild Frontier. Since 1990 she has been with New Covenant Fellowship of Manassas, Virginia, serving the youth ministry as well as the church at large. Through Wild Frontier, Brenda has been publishing many "out there" youth ministry resources for youth pastors and has become a popular speaker, particularly for summer camps.

Brenda's role with Wild Frontier and her church has allowed her to do something she absolutely loves. She has time to be with unchurched youth. She does this by being a substitute teacher.

Brenda experiences public school life. She walks the halls and sits in the desks. She has broken up fist fights and food fights. She is also sought after to be shown some kind of achievement or to be trusted with some deep hurts. Since 1992 Brenda has been substituting at a middle school and a high school. She has been with many students from their sixth grade year through graduation. Wherever she goes in her community, the calls of "Mrs. Seefeldt, Mrs. Seefeldt!" can be heard as a student or former student catches up with her.

Brenda's experiences as a substitute teacher give her a unique message to youth. There is an immediate connection as your youth have had substitute teachers and they most likely have tried stuff on "subs." They identify right away that Brenda probably really does know what is going on in their lives. As one youth pastor told her, "You are the first retreat speaker we've ever had who shared not what was done in the past, but what you are doing now."

Through Brenda's work as a substitute teacher--somehow and with many individual stories--dozens of students have become Christians. Some of these, through what can only be called a miracle when you hear the testimonies, now make up a family for Brenda, or are known as "God's Family."

Brenda attended North Central Bible College (now North Central University) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavorial Science with a minor in Youth Ministry and was ordained by the Assembly of God denomination. This is now recognized by New Covenant Fellowship.

In 1997 Brenda was married to John Amodea, after fifteen years of ministry as a single. When Brenda announced the news to God's Family (whom she has known years longer than John), they were not as happy. One of them said, "We like John and all, but we think he will be like any other stepfather and take you away from us." Thus was John's introduction to Brenda's life. But since then, particularly with the boys became young adults, John has proven to be just what they needed to become Godly men.

John plays an active role in Brenda's ministry life. But besides that, John has another career. He is the editor of Paintball 2Xtremes magazine and executive producer of PB2X TV. John also is a former professional paintball player where he is still considered one of the top 200 players in the world even though he is now retired.

A certain pastor through conversation with Brenda discussing her drive in youth ministry made the statement, "Ease up a bit. Let kids be kids. We can't expect too much from them. Think back, what were you doing at their age?" At their age, Brenda was out on the Wild Frontier leading prayer meetings and seeing friends saved on her school campus. From those beginnings and from the call on her life, Brenda has much to offer your church and youth ministry.