By Leigh Pritchett
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist
Christian Henry, 24, played football at and received his degree from Kentucky Christian University in Grayson. He has been a youth pastor for six months. He also helps with the men’s ministry and leads a men’s fitness-and-Bible-study group.
Ministry title: Youth pastor
Church name: First Baptist Church, Scottsboro, in Tennessee River Baptist Association
Life verse: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Rom. 1:16)
Q: Describe where you focus your greatest ministry efforts.
A: As a youth pastor my priority in the church is to help junior high and senior high students grow in their faith and to equip them to live Christian lives. Our teenage years really set us up for the rest of our lives and having a foundation rooted in Jesus is the best start we can have.
Q: Who was or is one of the most influential people in your faith life? Why?
A: I’ve had a lot of influential people in my life who encouraged me to grow in my faith, but I would have to say the greatest influence would have to be my dad. He has always been there for me regardless of what the question or need was. He’s a true servant leader and always goes out of his way to help others. That’s exactly what Jesus teaches us and I think my dad does a great job of that.
Q: Tell about a “turning point” in your life and how God was involved.
A: I was fortunate enough to grow up in a very Christian family. It wasn’t very strict, but we had a fair share of rules. I went off to college and left the comfort of my home when I was 18. I went off to a new state (North Dakota) and a whole new culture. I was about 24 hours (by car) away from home and I didn’t know anybody. It was there that I really questioned my faith. Not that I doubted God, but (I) asked myself, “Why am I a Christian? Was my faith my own or my parents’?” God took me out of my comfort zone to depend on Him. I would say it was then that God really helped me shape my reason for believing and wanting to help others do the same.
Q: If there were one thing you could tell your younger self about faith, what would it be?
A: I would tell teenage Christian that he’s not as cool as he thinks he is. Stop caring so much about what others think because you’re not living for their approval in the first place. Also, don’t worry so much about the future because God’s plan for you is way better than yours.
Q: Have you ever read a book or heard a song that changed the way you think about God and faith? What was it and what did you learn from it?
A: I love hip-hop, especially positive Christian hip-hop. I could probably give you about a thousand songs of almost any genre that have affected me and changed the way I think, but one song jumps out at me: “Uncomfortable” by Andy Mineo. The challenge of the song is in the name, “Uncomfortable.” I, just like everyone else, struggle with wanting to live life easy and comfortable. But God tells us that if we’re to serve Him, we must get out of our comfort zone. We must learn to sacrifice things that hinder us from growing closer to God, whether it’s money, fame or even another person. If God isn’t at the center, then everything falls apart.
Share with others: