Fadia (Benjamin) Kreuzer was born in the ancient city of Bagdad, Iraq. At age 3 her family moved to Greece, and finally settled in Chicago, Illinois when she was 5 years old. Fadia is Assyrian and her native language is Aramaic, one of the languages spoken by Jesus Christ.
Born into a Christian family (her father is Eastern Orthodox, her mother Seventh-day Adventist), Fadia attended Christian schools throughout her life. Still, she says city life proved to be a temptation. “Just walking through the city you’re exposed to things. I always had a pull between the city and the church.”
The blessing of attending a Christian school proved true when Fadia’s class began studying the Bible in little groups. “My heart was really touched by it, I was sincere for where I was at.” At age 11 she was baptized and joined the Seventh-day Adventist church.
Fadia’s new walk with the Lord was not yet on solid ground. “I didn’t heed the counsel given and that was to keep the daily walk. They’d given us a book to read as a baptismal gift. The Holy Spirit would say, ‘read it, read it, read it,’ and I wouldn’t do it; I would just watch television.”
During high school Fadia’s family moved to the campus of Broadview Academy in Elburn, Illinois. After graduating high school, Fadia began attending Kettering College. Her lukewarm relationship with God continued through all these years, until tragedy struck her family and turned her life around.
In 1994, Fadia was in her second year of college when she received the news that her brother had been killed by a drunk driver in a car accident. “It was devastating for the family. You always wish you could have said something, done something.”
That was a turning point for Fadia, as well as for her family. She moved back home and began attending a local college. “I started really thinking about life and death, and I started thinking, ‘if I were to die tomorrow, who’s life have I made a difference in?’ Who could say, ‘I know Jesus now because of Fadia’s influence?’” Her life’s prayer became a response to that thought. “I started praying, ‘Lord, please change me and use me for your glory. I want to make a difference in people’s lives. I don’t want to just live a normal life.’”
Fadia continues, “I was so caught up in getting the job, getting the education. I didn’t realize that I was neglecting God in all that.” She adds, “In time He started making me a minister of His gospel.”
In the summer of 2000, Fadia, her mother, and brother attended a Bible seminar in Chicago. As a result of the meetings, all three were re-baptized. She also witnessed ministry in action from a group of young people teaching others about the Bible. This sparked an even greater desire to serve God full time.
While watching a Christian TV station she kept noticing a commercial about a wellness center in South Dakota, Black Hills Health and Education Center. “Every time I saw the ad I got an impression to ‘call, call, call.’ Finally I was like, ‘OK, I’ll call.’” Quizzing the lady on the other end of the line, Fadia asked, “do you do training?” “Yes,” the woman replied, “we’re an evangelism school.” Fadia adds, “I was so excited!”
Within one week God had opened everything up. Fadia had been to Mt. Rushmore as a child, and had always loved South Dakota and wanted to return. Fadia says, “Psalms 37 says that God puts desires in our hearts and then brings it to pass.” So together with her mom and some other relatives they headed to South Dakota to look at the school in the fall of 2000.
She enrolled and began studying in the Spring of 2001 and continued all the way through the year, taking both Allied Health and Evangelism courses. It was during this year that she met Chad Kreuzer who would become an integral part of her life over the next 5 years.
Chad and his friend Nathaniel had been working as Bible teachers, traveling around the country together. There was a need for a female instructor to join them, and someone who could teach health principles. Fadia answered that need. And so this trio began working together in 2002 and continued for the next 5 years serving the Lord together. The team traveled all over America and even served in other countries such as Iceland and Norway.
During the Fall of 2006, the Lord called the team to different areas of the country. Nathaniel was called to pastor in California, while Chad and Fadia took a call to start a new ministry in the Chicagoland area.
After arriving on the campus of Broadview academy, Fadia realized that God was calling her to reach not just those within a local church and school, but all of Chicago and surrounding area. As a charter member, that desire has helped to shape the mission of the Chicago Outpost.
After working together for five and a half years, Fadia and Chad decided to become a permanent team and were married on August 26, 2007 and continue their service to God together at Chicago Outpost.
Fadia’s interests include: giving Bible studies, spending time in God’s nature, hiking, camping, traveling, good food, socializing with family and friends, working on her macintosh computer, putting together videos, learning new things everyday, educating people about healthful living, and spending time with her wonderful husband.
