Park Hill Baptist Church recently named two Ouachita seniors co-interim youth ministers. Aubrey Rutland, a Christian studies, English and Russian major, and Stephen Ray, a music major, have a history of working with this youth group as volunteers and interns.
“In the fall of ‘05 I was talking with someone in the chapel and he asked me what I was interested in doing,” Ray said. “I wanted to spend time with kids. Well, this guy had recently talked with Aubrey about how her church needed a youth worship leader. As this guy walked out of the chapel there was Aubrey. It was so beyond coincidence that it had to be orchestrated by God.”
What brought Rutland and Ray to be interim youth ministers was the resignation of Bubba and Heather Roberts due to the birth of their baby.
“I was shocked,” said Rutland, who became the interim youth minister in March. “It gave me a huge sense of how small I am and unable to do things without God.”
Although the Roberts planned on returning to the ministry a few months after the baby was born, they decided it would be too much. Another meeting was held and Ray was appointed to assist Rutland.
“We have an increase in responsibility; a lot more administration work,” Ray said. “But [Aubrey and I] split the work load in half.”
A slew of new volunteers appeared this past Wednesday night. Amanda Urwin, a sophomore Christian studies major, heard about Park Hill from a friend and invited freshman Leasha May to join her at the youth group. Litha and Sharon Duke, a mother and daughter, are new members at Park Hill.
“There’s a lot of opportunity to get to know the kids and work with them,” said Sharon, a sophomore at Henderson State and an early education major.
Preston Byrd, a freshman Christian studies major, heard about the group from Ray. Other volunteers have been involved for a while. Matt Rose, a sophomore Christian studies major, started volunteering about a year ago.
“I came to church a few times and noticed there were a lot of kids,” Rose said.
Ray admits that the size of the youth group made him nervous.
“There’s a wide variety of class and race [in this group],” Ray said. “It was intimidating at first, but this is how the body of Christ should be. Diversity is a gift from God.”
With the upcoming graduation of Rutland and Ray in May, Park Hill will be looking for steady volunteers to help carry on the ministry.
Until then, Rutland and Ray are redirecting the focus of the youth group by following the MasterLife model of discipleship.
“Right now we’re focusing on four things,” Ray said. “One, personal relationships; two, servanthood; three, witnessing; and four, Bible study.”
Rutland and Ray’s vision is united in seeking to further the youth group’s spiritual growth.
“Our game plan is to give these kids the tools they need to become lifelong followers of Jesus Christ,” Ray said. n
