It's What We Do - Student Ministry Podcast
Join host Zac Priest and special guests as they share stories, give encouragement, and make connections from people living the life of ministry.
It's What We Do - Student Ministry Podcast
Episode 3 - LONGEVITY & Cultivating a Legacy of Faith w/ Guest Kent Epling
The sweltering Oklahoma heat once put Kent Epling's relentless cheer to the test, but not his commitment to ministry. With a twinkle in his eye, he recounts this story and many more as we sit down with him to uncover the profound impact of his extensive tenure at Meadowood Baptist in Midwest City. His journey is a testament to the beauty of nurturing relationships across generations and the fulfillment that comes from a family deeply woven into the fabric of church life. The energy of our conversation with Kent will leave you with a renewed sense of purpose and a hearty dose of good humor.
Grasp the intricacies of youth ministry through the eyes of someone who’s witnessed its evolution firsthand. Kent Epling delves into the art of balancing timeless gospel truths with the swift currents of youth culture. We probe into the tales of personal growth and divine calling, shedding light on moments that can alter one's path in unexpected ways. From the wisdom of children to the invaluable insights of mentors, these stories will stir your soul and embolden you to embrace each chapter of life with grace and enthusiasm.
Prepare to be inspired by our heartfelt discussion on the significance of mentorship in both giving and receiving, the strategies for recruiting and nurturing youth workers, and the enduring influence of personal and spiritual relationships. Witness the true essence of ministry longevity through Kent’s experiences and the wisdom he shares on sustaining a vibrant community impact. By the end of our exchange, you'll be reminded of the crucial role that seasoned volunteers play and the refreshing perspectives that newer ones bring, knitting together the fabric of a resilient ministry.
Hello and welcome to. It's what we Do the Student Ministry Podcast. Join your host, zach Priest, along with special guests, as they share stories, give encouragement and make connections from people living the life of ministry. Now let's dive into today's episode.
Speaker 2:Alright, we are glad to be here with you today. It is another show, another episode of it's what we Do, the Student Ministry Podcast. I think my word that I've said in each one I told this to the other guys is excited, my first show. I think I said excited a thousand times Each one. I've gotten a little bit less and so I'm happy. I'll find different words, I'll break out the thesaurus and do that, but I'm happy that you guys tuned in and are listening here today in Midwest City, up in Oklahoma City, go to the big city from the city of Sulphur and so here at Meadowood Baptist talking to minister Kent Epling. It's very exciting to be here, you happy.
Speaker 3:I'm happy, I'm excitedly happy.
Speaker 2:I don't think I ever see you not really happy. I remember one time though, and so this doesn't have anything to do with the show. I do remember we served at our leadership camp super summer on exec staffs. We're both on the board there now, but I remember one of the school I can't remember which school it was exactly. It might have been purple the last year that we did that, but we were serving on exec staff together. You came over. That was when we were still rooming over at the MacArthur apartments there in Shawnee, oklahoma. Macarthur apartments. I remember it was like 105.
Speaker 2:One afternoon I walked into the apartment. We finished with teaching and stuff, we had some pre-time and I looked and you just kind of had this look like I just don't feel good. I was like I don't really either, I'm going to go take a nap real quick. And it was like okay. And so I went and took a nap about 30, 45 minutes, maybe an hour and a half, I don't know.
Speaker 2:I woke up and, as I did, you're walking back in just covered in sweat. I'm like Kent, what happened? He's like well, I went for a run. Now I feel a lot. There's like it's 105 outside. You felt bad, so you went for a run and I took a nap, and so I think that was the only time I remember that you didn't look like you were happy at the moment, but the rest of the time, man, you're always kind of ready to go, and so it's exciting. But yeah, so I'm glad that we're here today. We're talking about longevity in ministry. Again, we'll hear about your story here in just a minute. But, man, you've been here at Meadowood a long time, the whole time that you've been in ministry.
Speaker 2:And so that's amazing and I think we're adding some video. We have videos you can wave there, but also if you know Kent or have seen Kent, the picture will be on it. You know you're a little bit my senior.
Speaker 3:I'm a little over. Well, you're just a touch. I'm enjoying being an old man in youth ministry. It's fun, it really is.
Speaker 2:Old guy grandpa, you know that kind of stuff seeing. Since you've been here for so long, though, you're like seeing kids of kids. Oh, that's what, yeah.
Speaker 3:Matter of fact, our children's minister. Her kids are now, in fact, one of them's already graduated through our deafening leaders in our youth group. So it's been. It's been real fun, and now she's our children's ministry.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so she was here, she graduated, is back serving and has her kids through there and so. But that's a great deal and so, but talking about longevity and so we're going to kind of kind of break that down exactly what that means, what that looks like, how, how we to fight through those things and whatever. So that's what we're going to talk. But again, Kent he's been here for for some time kind of tells first a little bit about your family, Tell us about your love.
Speaker 3:Well, I'm married, Debbie. We met at Oklahoma State. I came out here from Ohio, went to school, married Oklahoma girl and then we have two kids, Megan. I got even checked 38. I had to look it up.
Speaker 2:You didn't know what year that's good.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And then he is married. She is married to our son-in-law, caleb, who's been an awesome husband and dad. And then Jared, our son, is 36. And he's married to his wife, taylor, who has been an awesome daughter-in-law. And each of them, jared and Taylor, are both man. They're keeping the ginger alive. They're both red heads, and so we got two little red head boys from them, which had been awesome. And then Megan and Caleb have two girls. The oldest one is in high school, lily, and then Lele is a fourth grader.
Speaker 2:I didn't realize Lily was in high school.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I know it.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, it's been fun.
Speaker 3:You're warm, she's getting ready, She'll be driving in a few months, She'll start her permit stuff. And then Jared and Taylor have Gibson and Bear. Gibson's a third grader and Bear is pre-K kind of fun. So we're having a good time, but that's our family. Yeah, Debbie and I have been really gosh since college been doing ministry together, and I don't want to. We'll maybe talk about that a little bit.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Yeah, we'll get there. That's what I love. I love your family, great family. And again just some of that connection. I've come and done some D nows and stuff like that. You know with you and that. But one of you know, my joy is I think I actually got to work with both your kids and your in-law kids at Super Summer in my school.
Speaker 3:I think each one of them has been. Both of them, both of our in-laws, have been interns at one point which was awesome. And then both of our kids have been there as leaders, and then Jared sometimes now gets to do some of the music worships. Yeah, for sure that's been fun.
Speaker 2:Very, very talented, very ministry-minded family so great great with that. And so again I like to do talk to you guys about hobbies and stuff. I mean so you know hobby listed as basketball. I mean I remember going to different things you did, but I mean it was you actually when you were at Oklahoma State.
Speaker 3:You were on the basketball team. I just walked on. I came in at a time when Jim Killingsworth had just left. Idaho State was a great, was a very successful, made it to Final Four with Idaho State. I'd seen him on TV but when I got to Oklahoma State I just wanted to play basketball. I love the game.
Speaker 3:Was never recruited by anybody, wasn't. But fundamentally, and just happened to come in a year when a new coach came in and a lot of the guys couldn't handle, by Christmas we were down to like 10 on the roster. But we had a JV program. I got to play about 10 games in Gallagher, which was, I mean, just going to practice in that place was heaven for me. So, and then getting to play JV games, we had just the offense. We ran the end of the year, like I said, we're down to 10.
Speaker 3:Well, the last home game, two guys got caught not being smart, so they pulled two of us walk-ons up, got to dress last home game and then back then we were the big eight and so we got to go to Nebraska for the first round of the big eight. But of course we got beat. Just had that experience. Then the next year got to play another year JV. So that's all it was. It was not that I wasn't as good as any of the real players, but because I was fundamentally, you know, knew how to take out set picks, take charges, that kind of stuff. We just we just had fun and I was the one of the shortest guys, so I got to be our point guard.
Speaker 3:Well that's you know. And the second year killer was about fifth in the nation recruiting, and so we had so many of these great recruits from around the country that the first half of our JV game he let some of those guys play because it weren't. They couldn't get any playing time Right and as long as they quit at halftime they were eligible for varsity. And so I got to play with some amazing guys. I mean, man, I'd come in, I'd throw the ball within three feet of them and they'd snatch it and jam it. We were blowing back made me look like a star and I was you know, so it was fun.
Speaker 1:Well, that's great.
Speaker 3:But just again, I just loved the game, that's all it was, and I told everybody back home there was no cutting. This isn't like I did something great, it was just, we showed up. If we showed up to practice, we got to play, and so that was well.
Speaker 2:here's the deal, though, man, I mean, even if it's you were part of the team. So I think coaches any coach where there's also says the practice team is just as important as the other, and so well, that's, that's amazing.
Speaker 2:I do like it. So I always kind of, you know, ask what's your? Your claim of fame? Of course you know Jake's was. He was, you know, riding a kid down a slip and slide during COVID and got on ESPN. You know for that and that was good. But I like yours. This is. This is a great good, you're right. Married to the greatest wife that there is, and she was a teacher, of course, mom and grandma and that kind of stuff too. So I love Debbie.
Speaker 3:She's a great lady. I mean still in this community, I mean seriously, most of the people we run into our crest wherever we are. You know it's Mrs Epling and they see me. Aren't you Mrs Epling's husband? I'm sure I say, yes, I sure am. So that's a good thing to be known as it is a very good thing. I really, really enjoy that.
Speaker 2:Well, that's awesome. And so, like said, you know, we're talking a little bit about kind of our call. We'll kind of kind of get to that. And and now because, like I said, you've been here, been in ministry for 32 years, yep, so in ministry for 32 years and at Meadowood I'll let you say this we are just coming up on 40 years.
Speaker 3:Debbie and I were youth workers with a government Eric Highsted before before that and so we served here as youth workers for about eight years and then, and then it was kind of a crazy time Eric left and we ended up. In fact it was that super summer we were the first year Eric wanted us to go. We were going to be back the next year, as TL says, team leaders and he said I want you to come experience it. So we were dorm parents and so we were in a, an apartment and anyway it was just a really neat deal. I don't know how well I explained it on the paper, but it was one of those things. I mean, I've been teaching special education for eight years and loving it, but especially last few years, that's how I knew God was calling me, because it wasn't like I want to do something else, it was I'm loving what I'm doing.
Speaker 3:But we were, you know, I had started doing things with Eric, going to different ministry things, and even some of the youth guys go Epling. You sure guys want to call me the ministry. I said no because I know God also uses youth workers, you know which? Of course we have a great group here, always have, and blessed by God with that, and so I had just come to the point that man, we've been called as youth workers, but then, you know, it just was praying and thinking about things and then it was a Thursday night. Sorry, let me. Let me go to the commission.
Speaker 3:In the worship service in the evening. It was just kind of one of those you know we're standing or singing, couldn't tell you what we're singing or I don't remember who spoke that year, but it was just like God was just speaking straight to my heart. But I Really, I mean, I told the rest, said hey, debbie's got to be on board with this, right, if this is real. We got back to, I didn't say anything to Debbie, we got back to the apartment and I said Debbie, I got to tell you something. She said you got called in the ministry tonight. So oh.
Speaker 3:I guess it was real. So at that point, you know, it was just like God just said, it was me, this. You didn't dream this up because I had over that last year, you know, spending time with Eric and you know, just seeing things, I thought, man, that'd be fun to be youth minister. I mean, it would be a really a neat thing, even though I love teaching. But then, boy, god, really, that Thursday night just nailed it for me and so that's how I was called and felt, called into and and really specifically to youth ministry.
Speaker 3:I'm open, you know we've been doing this for a while and you know people say, what are you gonna do when you grow up, or what are you gonna do next? And I was just say, well, when, when God, if God makes it clear that we're supposed to do something else, I will. But, man, I'm just still in love with students. I just really am, and in love.
Speaker 3:I'm not always great at it, I'm not trying to be falsely humble, I'm just saying I don't do it always right, but I love just getting to be with students and and getting to show the gospel and preach the word to them and then see what they're doing, you know, with with what God's doing in their life. So when that stops, I know God's telling me that's time for something else. And but being old is just a fun thing because now I'm the old man they couple. Last night one of our girls was helping me do some things. She and Lily, our granddaughter, and she was, you know, give me a, you know Teasing me about not being able to hear because my old ears. So you know, it's just fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I guess volume levels inside of services and stuff can change a little bit because of that. So that's what my my point is what it used to be.
Speaker 3:Yeah, my hearing doctor told me when we're getting hearing aids that probably a little bit was concerts and stuff. You know. He said that does a little bit. Yeah, some of us just you're getting old, yeah, all right.
Speaker 2:Well, that's cool and so and you said, and you said before and you know you, you wrote this down to be able to share. But you're a believe that you got kind of that call in college when, when you were first getting into, you know, teaching first getting that stuff, maybe it was then and kind of. You know, like like a lot of us, it takes us a little bit to to actually, you know, admit that we had that call or submit to. You know he's leading on that sometimes and so and I did.
Speaker 3:I really felt like, and I it would have been whoever you know I was sitting under as a preacher. But that you know, being a volunteer is more than just Saying hey, I'll come do this, but you know, man, we want people to be called, so you know. So, yeah, I felt Fact, in college we were involved in young life FCA.
Speaker 3:Fact I over, committed some years and had to back off, but yeah, young life we started up a new club in Stillwater because the one before and with a real close brother of mine that's closer than any brother I have and we, you know, we got that going and and then at the church this there was a Baptist church, debbie.
Speaker 3:Now we're youth workers there, and then I was the guitar guy, because back then if you had a guitar guy, you know it, that's kind of all you needed and right, so I did that at this church with you know, got to know these students and and still have Some memories of some of those kids that were just awesome.
Speaker 3:So that was always kind of that. In fact, my dad who at the time when he was live, you know, was not not really you know, he wanted us to grow up and become doctors, lawyer or something you know like that, and so when I Got called the ministry I thought dad's gonna be kind of like when I tell him, hey, dad, guess what? But it was really cool. I called him and he said you know what, young man, I always thought you had that gift, because you're always good with Teenagers, and it was just like again another god saying see you, that calm assurance that you got that caution. So it was really pretty cool that even my dad, who wasn't big into church, um, you know even recognize that right, that that that was something that I loved.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so well, and we kind of talked about that with with Matt in. In his episode my first episode he talked about the people in his church because he didn't really have, you know, that backing from his family.
Speaker 1:Um as much then.
Speaker 2:But man, there were people in the church that he was going to that, that spoke in him and recognize it and saw that and so and I think that that's the more people that I've talked to. You know that's. I think that's part of that help and confirmation, like you said yes, yes, this is the direction I want to go.
Speaker 2:Yeah, this is, this is what I've got, you know, planned. God, is this really you? And so I think he raises up those people to help, to show us because, I mean, oh, you know, god, he's not a god of chaos. You know, he wants us to know these things, he wants us to know what's what.
Speaker 3:I remember just saying at every time, like even when we got called, you know, one of our ministers said well, of course you're going to move your family down to Fort Worth and go to seminary. I said, man, he's not telling me, do that right now. Um, but I would. Then I would go the Lord and say, please help me, don't miss Right. If, if you, really, if that is what I'm supposed to do, please make it clear. And then, later on, a couple times, when you know it looked like we might be leaving, going to another church, I just, man, get on my face and go God, please, let me know, is this you or because there were a couple of them?
Speaker 3:In fact, I had one chance to go with Eric down to houston and man that looked glorious, man, glamorous, and even our kids that's a whole story. I'll probably take up too much time, but, but even with them worrying about you, know how would they react? And then, and then them coming back and saying, hey, dad, even though I cried at first, if this is what God wants, we're ready, and I'm like you got to be kidding me. So you know, there were those times, but I always that was one thing, god always, like you said, man, he's not a God of chaos. He made it clear because I stopped and said please let me know. And that's why I feel like right now we're still where we're supposed to be. Next month. He may start working on us for the next whatever, um, but it's kind of cool because right now it's like every year is the next for us, right, and it's still here with this ministry, yeah, and so you know. So that's just kind of how we do, yeah and that's kind of cool.
Speaker 2:I mean to think of it, you know, in that way and, like you said, I mean we kind of go through those seasons to where, you know, we, we think at different times it's what it is. You go back to those verses in Ecclesiastes. You know, every there's a season for everything, you know and everything, and it's time, and so you know you often kind of think, okay, what is it? I remember because we've moved a couple of times, um, to different places, and that was some of the talk we had, you know, with our kids. It's like okay, once they get to this point, man, I'm hoping that you know we're not trying to put God in a box or anything, but at the same time it'd be great if we could stick and let, and so so far it's been been the same with us, with with how the Lord's led, and so not great, it's just awesome.
Speaker 2:It is, it's fun watching work and so, um, and inside of that we can kind of transition because of this episode and and what it is with longevity. It kind of goes with, um, you know kind of your stories and some of that that that happens inside of it. And as we look at this idea of of longevity, one of the things I kind of you know it asks you to kind of think about before we we start talking about is, um, developing that proper mindset and focus for, for ministry longevity and so, um, you know, if you could just just share a little bit, just when you think about your ministry and you think about those times you've had opportunities to leave but stayed, you know what, just a couple.
Speaker 3:I uh, it was kind of really cool, um, just when I started out first year. In fact I was going to seminary extension. I'll never forget there were two different times that God, just like Epling, listened to this. Um, but we were talking with with some guys before class one one day and one of the guys said, yeah, we just had a traveling event or not a traveling event Well, traveling evangelist in at our church, I don't remember where he was from, somewhere in Oklahoma, and he said the guy made the statement. He said the thing I find across the country is A lot of youth ministers stay in youth ministry just long enough to learn how to do it. Then they go do something else. And it was kind of one of those Times that I left that day driving back from Shawnee. We were extend, doing that extension thing, and just like God was saying, I hope you heard that that was for you, that was for you, I want you to so. So it was like, okay, um, and then it wasn't even.
Speaker 3:It was that year sometime during our okimara, oklahoma youth ministry Um deals, um, one of the guys had his pastor was our speaker and he made the statement Um, and this isn't against me and some people were at a church for six months and God calls them and I get that Right. I know you, I know your heart, I know when you left you were supposed to. I, I do believe sometimes we, especially in youth ministry, but others we leave and maybe we're God wasn't ready, but we thought, you know, um, but he's, he made the statement. He said man, I hope you guys will, will realize, I would say at least three years at a place before you even get started, and so that just has always been in my mind, in my heart. Um, so at the beginning you know that that sounded good.
Speaker 3:And then, day Busby, um, one of our heroes, um, another youth ministry meeting years later, and this is what really got me Um. He told a story about a young lady in his ministry back, you know, when he was a youth minister, and, uh, she really came to him, as he put it, looked, looked for more daddy things than friend things, right, and he said I hope you guys stay in youth ministry long enough that you'll have kids quit asking do buddy buddy things, like, hey, let's go rollerblading, let's? And they'll start asking do daddy things? Um, and that's what. That's really what I get, even though, um, my kids give me a hard time. Like them, their buddy, yeah.
Speaker 3:But it's just so much more fun now, even though, um, my kids give me a hard time. Like them, their buddy, yeah. But it's just so much more fun now, even than before. Um, because I'm dealing with, you know, kids with hurts and pains, and they're they're coming to me like I'm their dad or their grandpa, right, instead of hey, you know, buddy, what you know, can we go mess around and go play?
Speaker 2:Right, and, like I mean, you probably see more of that than you know, of course, people that are here around the city. Um, not that, there's not that down at sulfur, but being in midway city, middale schools, that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3:There's a lot of broken homes and those hurts and things, and so you probably are stepping in that gap for some of them, and so, and so that's that's what, as far as you know, trying to to get ready and and and be longevity minded and ministry, um, and didn't just realize in that man, if, if God's running this show, um, all I need to do is just follow him, and I don't say that flippantly, um, but that's, that's the deal, I feel like, at least for Ken Epling and for Kent and Debbie. Um, man, god has made it clear this. This is still something I want you doing and you know, I don't really need much more prep than that. Right, that just sets me right on target that, ok, we're still where we're supposed to be. I'm not supposed to be doing.
Speaker 3:So, you know, I, you know I did some of the challenges. I don't want to jump ahead, but you know, staying fresh is a challenge, yeah, you know, but being willing, being coachable, just like when I was playing basketball, and if I'm not, I'm even willing to learn when I have a seventh grader, you know, sometimes we'll let our students, you know, give the Wednesday night message, right, and man, I'm sitting there going. God, you can, and he has, he's spoken to me, sometimes through a seventh grader that's jumping from scripture to scripture and misquoted, and you know, and, and God, you know, and even just stops and I don't know what I was going to say and you know, and it's like. But if I'm willing to sit and listen and I know it's a big part of it, because, man, when pride enters in, then it's over, I'm it's just. That's when I quit being being effective.
Speaker 2:In ministry, Well, and so you know, along with that, as we talk about that, one of the things we want to talk about is those struggles and issues.
Speaker 2:You mentioned. You know that idea of kind of reinventing ourselves. I mean, and of course you know, even I remember being younger in ministry and still going. Okay, you know, as as fads change, as kids change, mindsets, you know, change when they come in we do. It's constantly kind of fluid motion and what we do, when you're talking about being somewhere for for 32 years, you know that that kind of you know is one of those. Those things, how do I reinvent? And I told you, you know, before you know, refresh, rejuvenate, those types of things I don't like the term relevant necessarily because you know we could care less about being you know relevant at its core.
Speaker 2:I want to make sure that we're transmitting the truth of the gospel. That's always, you know, relevant, but there is some, some truth. So so what are some of those issues maybe that you've had to try to to deal with in that 32 years, along with maybe talk a little bit more about you know how you've been able to kind of do that with, okay, you know, being being the grandpa, how do I stay excited about a lock in?
Speaker 3:or how do I stay excited?
Speaker 2:about taking kids to camp. You just said the mean dirty word.
Speaker 3:Matter of fact, we just did one after Christmas. I give our students our time. When are we going to do lock in? Do you realize how old I'm? 64 years old. Do you know how long it takes me to bounce back Because I can't go to sleep? You can, you know. But but yeah, I just being willing to do some of those things, you know, I was looking through that and one of the things that I thought is I need to remember that old school isn't always the best school. Right, you know, some of the things like that's one thing I love about God and His word. You know that, that he doesn't change, but that, yeah, like you said, the times, keeping up and and with as far as technology I have to make myself, I'm really bad still about, like some younger guys are really good with. You know, posting and doing all of that. And Debbie will you know, come home sometimes from something she'll go. Did you take pictures? No, forgot.
Speaker 1:I forgot to put field. I was talking, we were having fun, yeah.
Speaker 3:But but keeping up with that and with joy not with, you know, drudgery, but with with joy that, hey, this is part of what I do need to do, right, keeping up with the times you said, like you said, not being necessarily relevant, but realizing, hey, this is different culture than it was 10 years ago, right, part of that keeping fresh with me, that's what that that does keep me fresh is that, man, the students we have now, five years ago were totally different and 10 years ago totally different and and and different needs, different gosh, different means, different ways, that things we're dealing with now that we weren't dealing with and you know that too, because you know, you've, you've been in it a long time, so you know that's that's kind of the thing with me is is just being willing again to to grow with whatever needs to be, whatever's happening today, whatever's real. I did, I did have to learn some real hard lessons about in that technology. There were times where I'm trying to, you know, wow, or I remember there was a time, years ago In fact, my Megan was little, little little, and we'd gone to another church that didn't have as many resources as I had here at Mettawood because of the size and the money. And he said, man, would you come and speak to our kids because we've had a guy in revival and we just want to do a night. That's good. I said, oh yeah, and listen, I'll bring my video projector, I'll bring my videos, do all this stuff and and and he said I want you to share.
Speaker 3:And when we were loading up on there, forget I had I mean I had brought some new tracks To sing with when I did that, and a drum machine and and these videos that I thought the kids would just love and they liked. I mean it was good stuff, but but it was just all these things. And I'm loading the car and Megan couldn't have been three or four years old. I mean, we're talking young.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And, and and we're getting back in the van and I said, you know, I think I just missed it and she goes. Daddy, do you think you brought too much stuff? And it was just like wow, getting the back seat. You know it's like you hit it on the head and I told her.
Speaker 3:Megan, you are so wise girl. That's exactly so, being careful not to do too much of that but realizing the thing I come back to, and over the probably the last 10 years, I've fallen deeper and lower God's word period, and it's so cool to now see that that's what I start with. Yeah, you know I like to, with our students, even the word preach, use that as a positive. You know it used to be a negative in the way I would say it. I said I don't want to preach to you on a share, but then I realized that's what Paul said preach the gospel, but man sharing the word. You know that part hadn't changed and so it's it's. I really think that's why the kids that that I do have that are doing some really cool things, not because of me, but because they're. They're seeing the words you know shared positively and not apologetically. Right, that makes sense, yeah.
Speaker 2:For sure, and that's a you know real good, you know aspect of it and seeing, just, you know, sometimes we do try to to force. You know too much, you know, you do. It's like, okay, you strip away all the bells and whistles and all this stuff, it's still the gospel and the gospel is enough. The gospel has always been enough, and so when we try to add you know too much to it then.
Speaker 2:then it starts to get cumbersome and you know we kind of get in the way of that and so so some struggles and those things, and we'll hit on some of those a little bit more. But one thing is positives you know ask, but what? What are some wins and we could fill up an entire you know recorder on this, the whole, the whole. You know SD card could be full with victories, I'm sure, but where are there things that jumped out as far as well?
Speaker 3:Some of the things, yeah, that when I saw, you know that, that on that one of the things was just as far as getting to be here this long as far as relationships and community. Jimmy Trivel at First Byte I was just retired and and Brent Hazelrig, the three of us that are here at at three of the churches there's others, of course, Goodlands and good guys, but been around a long time really have inroads to. You know, there are still I know there's not as many today, but there's some guys I'll talk to. They'll say, yeah, we, we can even go up to the school Right Now COVID has changed things. There's.
Speaker 3:There was one school that for a while the principal loved me being there, loved us being there, but just was still kind of antsy because they're not even letting you know at that time, weren't even letting parents still come back and visit, and so she wasn't. It wasn't that I was the minister, but it was just a visitation thing, right, but but I, like I get to take you know there's a couple of schools that will call me to bring sound system. I'm getting to do DJ at an elementary school here next month. Having that being around that long. You know, those are just ways that I get to serve the community, serve the schools that you know. When you first start, well, they don't know you. And being around that long and being in education, and then, of course, having Debbie, you know, being having taught for years.
Speaker 3:Right Again, you know they may not know who I am, but they know I'm you know, get Debbie's husband, he'll do whatever because but but that that relationships, and not just in the schools but in the community, you know that that has been a positive of being around, being being in ministry long enough to to, you know, even have people that maybe aren't even church people or believers but they trust they, they can trust me because they see this guy's been doing this for a long time and, by God's grace, you know, hasn't made any major mistakes that have ruined ministry or whatever. And I continue to pray about you know all of that. And then also we kind of mentioned you're seeing families come back, that the students grew up in our ministry and now they're back with their kids Right. Two or three of our youth workers were students in our ministry years ago and now they've got kids that are really not just coming but are leaders Right, and then they're actually one family, our youth worker.
Speaker 3:And then I said Amy is our children's minister and that's been just pumped, just pumps me up to think about. You know, I've always, for the last couple of years, just like man, you know who are we going to get next for for children's, when we were without a children's minister and it's like she's right here serving and so, so that that kind of thing too, that that having those families come back and get and see the generational thing, it doesn't make me feel, you know, people say, oh, I feel so old, but it just excites me, it really does.
Speaker 2:Well, and it makes you feel good, and we got a little bit about that, you know, in our last episode with with Jake Anson, just talking about how I got to go back to, you know, my home church and they had this thing and so I got to see some of those kids that I had when I was there working.
Speaker 3:And so you know to not only see them but here, be at the same church and and still be able to work alongside of them you know, and that's that's got to be a great feeling to see them plug in and it's, it's really neat early as and so along with that as we talk about kind of that ebb and flow, as people, you know, move off course.
Speaker 2:You know it's one of those not so much of you know issues or wins, but just practical ministry. You know, wise, when we start talking about the practicality of being somewhere for this long stuff that we all face, you know, everywhere you kind of see in cycles. You know here we talked a little bit about, about volunteers.
Speaker 2:I'm building teams and rebuilding teams and, like I said, people that were first helping. You know, like you guys, you, you are called to help inside of the student ministry. You're called to be, you know that aid. Well, you know so. So how has that worked with you being here as people have come and gone out of the program?
Speaker 3:That's the thing where we are still some of our youth workers, which is the main volunteer that I that I am over a part of We've been serving since since Debbie and I got here, so we're now doing grandkids together, yeah, but we also have, you know, a few that have said you know it's time to retire from this, still be here, right, and so just continuing to seek out is the biggest thing Younger and younger couples. In fact, one of our youth workers right now was was they just started this last year. To now they've been very faithful here. They were doing ministry, college ministry, back in New York, you know, back east, but now have moved back and but they've, they've started as youth workers. So you know that's, that's kind of one of those.
Speaker 3:Okay God, that's what we need, because some of our older ones are and I say older like me you know, that have been there since we've started are at a point where it's it's time to kind of step back and relax. And not that, not that they're not relevant, because, man, one of our girls, just just before Christmas, was telling us they love having two of the youth workers. There are workers that have been there since Debbie and I came to Meadowwood over 40 years ago and they said it is, we just love, and this is a student, we just love having so and so and so and so Christian and and Marsha, they're, they're, they're wisdom, but that they love us and they love Jesus. And you know, they don't have to know how to get on, even though they do, but don't have to know all the ins and outs of being on Facebook and and I know that's not even a student thing anymore- they
Speaker 3:don't do Facebook, only us oldies do. But you know all the other, you know avenues out there, but but, but keeping, keeping, keeping just an open ear and an open eye and just continue to seek God for new, for new people to come in, knowing that that's eventually. But also, one of the other things is trying to still and I don't always do this well, because I guess we're so comfortable, we've been ministering for years but still continue to try to encourage those that have been here, I mean some of our youth workers. I still and I'm not saying this again falsely humility or anything, but they're the ones I trust and I'll say, hey, like this new, you know curriculum. Maybe we started years ago, what do you think about it? Because I like it. But if you don't, then I'm going to listen because sometimes they know a whole lot more.
Speaker 3:Right, especially if they're the ones that are in those classes, in those small groups, and that stuff leading that oh yeah and so to to try to be an encourager and yet not come across like I'm the expert Right, and most of our folks have been with us. Know, that's not my heart and so, but there are times where you know, I just I think they still need to be reminded that we are so grateful you're still here, that you're doing this. We're not just taking it for granted, and every year I try my best to go hey, are you in for another year?
Speaker 1:I don't want to take it for granted.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and so you know doing that, I think, keeping that going, but always being ready to bring in new folks. And that's it's tough sometimes because you're again, you're so comfortable. Everybody knows, and now here comes somebody with new, fresh ideas. Right, it may have to change a little bit.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so reluctant to change is built into a lot of us, especially as you know how do we get. I feel more comfortable with this and so getting that Do you feel like as far as just your ability to, to you know, enlist volunteers, get new volunteers, recognize you know potential volunteers. Do you feel like that's gotten you know? Was that easier now or was that easier when you were younger?
Speaker 3:I think, yeah, I think it's easier now and again. It's not the expertise, but just the experience of going through years with folks. It's like, you know, be in church or be at something and you'll just, you'll look over the over, across the room and you go, okay, that girl, that guy, that couple, they would be awesome youth workers, man, let's you know. And so, again, you know, start praying God. What do you think? You know, I've seen him many times come through when there was a time of need for people, for personnel. You know, like God man, what do I do here? What do I do here? We need somebody.
Speaker 3:We need somebody to fill this spot. Would you please show us and sometimes it's like wepling, I've already been showing you so and so or it'd be somebody that would just, you know, that would start to rise up after that, but yeah, just, but I think, yeah, that definitely the timeframe of being around and, I think, just looking for what I think God wants, but for, but what we want in our ministry. The thing that I do know is that our youth ministry is only strong because of the youth workers we have. And I mean that and I think I would say that for any youth ministry, yes, you've got to have a good youth minister, and it's great if you have a wife, like we do, but not that we have one together, but no, my wife is good.
Speaker 3:Your wife is awesome too. I know that, and, but, but, but just you know that that is important, but man having that, well, I just remember years ago it just again, just reminded me one of our kids wrecked their car and the first person they called was their youth worker.
Speaker 3:Wouldn't me they didn't have a relationship with parents that they could. That's who called her. She called, called one of our youth workers, and so then she called us and said, hey, I'm heading to, you know, down here to the street because so and so had a wreck. And I thought, how cool is that? Yeah, she called the person that that that you know, teaches her and checks on her and does things. So, you know, it's just that's the things we look for. And again, whenever we try to bring somebody new in, I don't try to, you know, teach them the lesson, teach them how to teach a lesson. I just want to know do you love Jesus from your toes? I mean, dave Busby said I would rather have one guy that loves Jesus from his toes teach all of our boys than to have warm bodies in there that are just doing it.
Speaker 3:So they don't go to church or whatever, and so you know just keeping that up. But then also having love for teenagers, those are the two things I really look and look for, not necessarily that they're, you know, funny and or that they're entertaining, or that they're really good at, you know, at entertaining the group or knowing what's going on, but bottom line, I just, you know, because someone will go, oh, I don't know if I could do that. Well, I think maybe you could. Let's, why don't you?
Speaker 3:try it, let's give it a shot and you know, five years later they're. They're doing awesome. You know they're doing great still.
Speaker 2:So and I think we you know, we all know people that are like that. I know guys that look back in ministries that I've had and sometimes it's those reluctant ones that that are a little bit harder to get in the door that they turn out to be some of the best ones. Yes, because I mean they're go-getters, they're, they're hard workers. The reason that they were maybe a little bit reluctant is because, man, they take it seriously.
Speaker 2:You know they took it seriously before they were part of it, and so to to see them kind of blossom and and become the workers that that we know that they can be, is is is real fun. I am going to in a later episode don't know exactly which one yet, but we're going to talk with with Tiff Jones.
Speaker 3:Oh awesome.
Speaker 1:And Broken Arrow.
Speaker 2:And she's a volunteer in her program. She is helping on the Super Summer Board and stuff with us now. And it's been a long time youth volunteer inside of her program, so I'm going to talk with her about volunteers and hopefully for me, what that would be is some training, you know, for for me how? Can we, you know, really develop, and and what do we, as student, pass?
Speaker 3:through. I've learned so much from her, just at Super Summer, how to be a good team, team leader, coordinator and those kinds of things. You know, when I had to go back and got to go back and and and serve in a certain position I hadn't done in years. It's like Tiff man, tell me some, give me some pointers. How can I? How can I do this? How can I do this?
Speaker 2:And that's the and that goes back to to like what you said, you know earlier, though, about you know, being coachable, being willing to do that, and so, along with that, you've mentioned some people you know Dave Busby and Jimmy Tribble, and a lot of them, and so we talk about some of these guys. When you look at at Minister, we look back at the friends and the people that we've made, and again, especially here at the beginning of this, this podcast, I'm talking to you guys that have been, you know, friends and mentors for for a long time. You know what? What part does that play inside of that longevity that you've been able to to maintain? What part does like those personal and spiritual relationships play and helping to to maintain longevity?
Speaker 3:I'd just say it's definitely huge Part of that, you know, just encouraging that.
Speaker 3:You know this isn't this, isn't that, this isn't a waste of time, this is important.
Speaker 3:What we're doing, what we're getting to do, and man, just learning from just seeing them hanging out with, with different ones, you know, getting to be around, you know guys like you, jimmy, you know the other other guys that have been in ministry serving here locally, jimmy and Brent and I have and I think Brent started it but but having our groups come together and and just getting to you know, watch them with all the students, our students, their students, their students, but but also just just learning from you know things, they say, the way they, the way they handle themselves, you know that kind of thing. And then then then the people's you know, like Dave Busby's, and, and you know even the all the dead guys. You know they say study dead guys, but just here in their heart, just just is is just an encouragement to to keep keep on doing what we're doing and and to just being able to when, when it, when it is hard, when it is difficult to be able to go to some of those and go.
Speaker 3:Man, I'll never forget one of our long-time ministers here oh, just Godly, godly guy on a Monday morning here on our staff said I must quit yesterday and I'm like going okay not you, you know, been here for 40 years, tom our worship, and he said I was on stage and I just went through the motions and and I just about quit and I went home and he's sitting, I got on my face and God, god just said you've lost your first love. And this is Monday morning. I'm just sitting there and I'm going, oh my gosh. And and from then on, you know, those kind of moments in my life I will never again forget, any time I start to feel, you know, like, oh man, I'm going through the motions, or, you know, just getting old, it's like.
Speaker 3:But, kent, don't leave your first, you don't leave your first love and and so you know, those kind of things, those kind of moments with those people like that Just change everything there. It's just huge the impact that it has on on me To just just to kind of stop and refresh. Here we go.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it's been huge and so can you think of you know some people. I know that of course we mentioned you know quite a few those already. But like when you first got in the ministry, what were some of those guys that? Because those I kind of told you at the beginning, part of you know the reason. Some of the thoughts about me even doing, you know, this podcast came from.
Speaker 2:You know Kind of our relationship and some stories because and when I first got you know in the ministry went full-time, you know you were one of those first guys that I was considered, you know, kind of a mentor of you know sitting down and helping and we kind of talked about, you know a Prayer challenge, you know that you kind of given it and you know, and setting reminders and making an intentional and it's like you know, that's one of those things that that I helped, you know, to learn from, from you and some other things, as we've served together and done stuff, and so you know, maybe you were some of those guys or I'd have to you know, eric Hi Stead was was here as our youth minister.
Speaker 3:I'm Debbie and I served as youth workers for about it's about eight years with them and he had a huge, huge part in in my life as far as We'd even I'd go with him sometimes when a church would have him come speak, maybe at Falls Creek for a weekend retreat. He'd have me going and with my guitar and and because I was a music guy for a little bit, for just our youth. But I remember it was my first year a full-time ministry. I started June 1 and June 1 of that year I was at Super Summer. I was supposed to be a TLC team leader coordinator. I hadn't even been a team leader and it was green school and Eric and then a guy by name of Chris Trent and a couple other guys were deans, assistant deans. Well, they'd combined the school to just one big green school and so I'm, I'm here serving With. I mean, some of the team leaders I was over were like Zane and Candy Newton, some of these that have been in ministry and had been team leader coordinators even before me. And so first of all, I'm just like you know, okay, kent, this is, this is our team leader, coordinator Kent can't have anything say the team leaders I just said. Well, first of all, almost all of you know more about what this that I'm doing, but I do know how to love, I know how to serve, right. But I remember during that weekend of preparation you know, here I already knew Eric, chris, these these are some of the leaders in youth ministry in the state at the time right, and yet everything we did before we lined up what team leaders would serve with what team leaders, and then, when we put kids in family groups, who was going to be in this family group? You know this, I don't know, I guess we had 90 hundred kids and so, you know, we broke them up in family groups. Everything was okay. Well, let's stop and pray about it, right, and I remember just going. That's how you in fact, it was one of those times you know God was going. This is how you continue doing it right. Do like these guys. Chris Trent was one.
Speaker 3:There was a time again, it was just one of those big moments. We were, it's kind of our last time before we were going to go out and have the students get, get on campus, and I think Eric or one of them and said, hey, let's just spread out around our rim, let's just pray. And I look over and Chris Trent is flat on his face. I mean just almost hit the ground hard, and it wasn't so much, he wasn't showing off, that was his heart, but it was like you know, I saw that and I thought, okay, god, that's the kind of heart I want for you. And and there were times, yeah, in fact I remember later, I remember what was going on. I didn't even know Megan was around, but there was something years later and I was on my face just laying down auditorium, somewhere in the youth room, I don't know where, but but Megan asked, debbie said you know, what's that doing? So? Well, he's, he's praying, but but to realize, even she noticed that, yeah, that you know, man, that's that's kind of the way. So so those kind of guys Really have.
Speaker 3:And then I've really through my love for scripture, like Spurgeon, some of these guys, I'm just man, I'm just eating up, ordering every book I can. That's there. I'm going through Psalms right now with Spurgeon, and I don't know how much exactly because he's been gone for years, but somebody you know put together four volumes of just his heart going through each Psalm and what it means and, and you know. So people like that that have gone way before us are just having a huge impact on Even not just how I minister, but how I live my Christian life, how I, you know, seek God day to day.
Speaker 3:So I'm trying to think, you know, and again, you know guys like you, and and and so many others you know, at Super Summer, from way back to you know her old Petrie, there's a ton of guys. I just you know that the one thing I loved about with Super Summer itself was being in a school. I got to know guys, hearts, yeah, you know, and that's what with you and others, and back when we would have Disciple now's and we would bring youth guys in, you know I'd come home from Super Summer until Debbie. Okay, I already got. I know the guys. I want to ask Because I got to see their heart.
Speaker 3:I got to be with them. So, and along that line, I now have big help with daughter and son. You know, as our kids got into the ministry I mean into our youth ministry of students, right, it was a big help. You know, sometimes they come home, go dad, there were too many guitars it just didn't work.
Speaker 2:I didn't work. You need to do something else.
Speaker 3:But now, especially, jared gets to be with a lot of people, but Megan also is serving at her church and then also gets to. Still, she is she's head of of all of. Oh gosh, I'll think about in a minute this isn't my whole brain. I've been doing this since I was a little kid for getting my words, but mental health, oh yeah, and so she gets even do this. But they both will come to me and say, dad, you need to, you need to look, talk to this guy, you need to have this, this person, this woman, and so I'm even Learning from some of the you know some of those things from my own kids. Now I haven't an impact on me too, and I don't say that sound like a good dad.
Speaker 3:It's just man. That's just the thing. Fact, jared, I, I just. He'll come home. I'll say, okay, I got a great speaker for you. Okay, tell me his name and number and I'm calling. I'm not even going to check his references, I don't have to. You spend a weekend with him, you spent, you know and and and. Then when he comes home with a lot of these guys like you and others that I've been with and they'll say, man, I love them, I go. Oh, yeah, I know why I.
Speaker 2:Agree with you and that kind of stuff is good because we do. We have those, you know people that have spoken into it, and so that's what it's what we're gonna do Again a show you know later about.
Speaker 1:You know seeking I help, mentorship and some of those types of things, but I just remember that was so important.
Speaker 2:You know for me when. I first got into ministry. It's like I said, you were one of those guys you know.
Speaker 1:Steve Bullard Tulsa was one of those guys that did that.
Speaker 2:You know, chris, lowry, course that was when Chris was going huge at the all the way from the day building yeah, and so and I mean it's just these guys that were were instrumental in helping to do, and I remember it like my first youth Pastor that I had. You know his name is John moles and so now he, you know, comes and does. That was super summer, but he was only just like a few years older than us. He was there kind of more as a summer. You know, youth guy I would ever. But like I still remember how, like what you said, the that, how he loved us as students, you know, even being close to us in age man. He got it then because he's doing that same thing now and he still is, you know, church for a long time. He's still, you know, doing that. And so there's a lot of things that I do in ministry because I saw you guys, you know, doing those and so you know we just there.
Speaker 2:We always need, you know, that help and so man that's if there's encouragement, you know through that man find someone that you can go. That that Paul Timothy aspect is is very important.
Speaker 3:You know, just can't do it alone. I mean that's.
Speaker 3:I think that's what God has those people in our lives. He knows we need that human. Well, buzz bees to say, talked about Jesus taken. You know some, some, some Jesus with skin on people when he took, took the few up into the garden. You know he talked about how many garden friends. You need some, you know he would talk openly about you know the men that he had in his life that you know when he fell he would call and say I blew it and he knew those guys were gonna be there through thick and thick. And so, yeah, I agree, it's good stuff.
Speaker 2:Well, we're getting close to our time. I any final thoughts, anything that you have, any, anything you got coming up that you want to kind of kind of plug or anything Like that. That's going on here, no.
Speaker 3:I can't think of anything. I mean we're, we're getting ready for, you know, our big disciple now weekend, next weekend, so that's always an exciting time and and Get to see new students, have have a. Quite a few of our kids are bringing friends what's always fun in hopes that if they don't have a church home, maybe something will click, yeah, that kind of thing. And have a have. A group of students that started Bible study last year came home from Super Summer, said hey, can't, can we start a Bible study? And Said sure, yeah, and I gave her a key and the code to the youth building and I don't even know they'll call me if Occasionally will have somebody that because we're our youth buildings right by our mission center and occasionally, maybe once you know A few months, someone will come up knowing that the mission center is there and they'll see something's going on and they may come to the door and so I may get a call and say, can't, can you come over because you know guys really nice, but we know he's, you know, and but it's I really guard that time because they're they're having a great time. And even last summer At our mission trip, this, this group of leaders, a couple girls, especially leading this out One of the nights we're eating, because we take, we go out to eat every night they said, hey, we're gonna go back and have Bible study because we don't get to have it this week and, and my the other, the other minister associate and I are going, well, cool. So we got to be a part of it, not even leading it, and and it was just like, okay, this is what they're doing every week. Man, it's just so. Things like that, or just again, god, just those are things with me too. That God keeps me loving this and fresh is just seeing seeing our students do stuff like that. But yeah, man, I'm just again. It really is not a member.
Speaker 3:Debbie and I were speaking one of the first years at a thing for Eric with youth guys and their wives, and he had a couple different couples and one couple they'd been there while and the wife was wonderful and sweet, but she wasn't, you know, she was like, hey, this is, you know, this is old hat. Yeah, we were just like bubbly and da, da, da, da, and then she got up and she goes. Well, we're kind of been in it longer than Kent and Debbie and we've kind of left the you know that that stage of, you know, honeymoon and she didn't mean it ugly, she was just saying you know it'll catch up and you know, seriously, it hasn't, it still hasn't changed. Yes, there have been times that that it got kind of, you know, just gliding, you know and and needed to stop and get refreshed, right. So of course that happens, but but my love and passion for students just has not. And so I would say to anybody who wants to stay in Any ministry therein, man, just stay in love with with God, but then stay in love with who God has, your minister, and to and I don't know exactly what you do except just continue to minister and look for God.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so it's been fun.
Speaker 2:Well, that's awesome. Well, I appreciate you being with us today, and so I'll have to get to be here if you guys know of anything like said We'd like to hear from you. So if you've got thoughts or comments, of course you can drop stuff on social media or you can email us. It's what we do. Dot I, w, w d. At Google calm, everything used to be hotmail, or you yahoo or whatever. So it's Google Com. Now, in our next episode, I'm gonna be talking to Chris Gully.
Speaker 3:Oh right, that's gonna be dropping the last.
Speaker 2:Don't forget we dropped the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, on the 27th. That episode with Chris is gonna drop. We're talking about Finding vision and purpose and ministry something that he's very passionate about, and so we're excited about that one coming too. So thank you again very much, kent, for for being with us. Thank you to our listeners for for tuning in to us and hopefully didn't tune us out too much. Make sure that you like and subscribe, connect to us through social media and everything else, and we'll talk to you again later. All right, thanks for listening.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to this episode of it's what we do. If you like what you heard, make sure to hit the like button and subscribe for questions or topic ideas for future shows. Connect through social media or email. Until next time.
