Elk City United Methodist Church

Kent and Traci are the Senior High Youth Leaders at Elk City UMC. It’s funny how that came about - ask them sometime! It's been a great example of God's will vs. ours and being obedient! The role includes some teaching, preaching, mentoring, counseling, championing, etc. Throw in some parenting with unconditional love and lots of grace, and you have youth ministry! They would describe working with youth as taking a ride on a spiritual roller coaster. Both believe God put them in this place for this season with these people. They value building relationships with their church kids, not just at church but outside of it as well. Their favorite week of the year is Mission Trip during the summer for two reasons: 1.) Quality time with the kids with few distractions, and 2.) Serving others over self never fails to light a fire in all of them. The couple is grateful for the ways youth ministry stretches them emotionally and spiritually. They value openness, leadership, service, compassion and character and strive to model that for their church kids. Their biggest prayer is for their youth to not just know about God, but KNOW Him…His heart and His love and His power. They have two boys of their own, Jack and Rex, who make themselves just as comfortable at church as they do at home…which makes their parents so happy. Kent’s favorite Scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Traci’s favorite Scripture as a youth leader is James 3:1 because it reminds her that her actions and speech should always align with her faith…and that’s what she wants her kids to see.