By By Janet Little Cooper
The youth at First Baptist Church of Atmore are excited about the church calling a new youth pastor. Actually, they are so excited since hearing the news that Aaron Kirkland and his wife Rebecca will be working with them, that they have gone crazy.
But not the kind of crazy that you are thinking. They are just CRAZY- Christian's Reaching Atmore through Zealous Youth.
Naming the youth group is just one of the many things Kirkland has in mind for the churches youth ministry.
"I have four goals for the youth ministry," Kirkland said. "I want to provide them with a place of Christian fellowship and increase the parental and congregational involvement with the kids while helping them build a deeper relationship with God and increase in Biblical knowledge."
Kirkland, who is a graduate of Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Fla., has a degree in Youth Ministries and a minor in Physical Education. He was born into a military family in Nuremberg, Germany and became a Christian at age 9. Prior to Pensacola Christian, Kirkland attended one year of school at The Citadel.
"I went home for the summer from the Citadel," Kirkland said. "My home church was in need of male youth counselors for their youth trips. So not wanting to turn down free trips, I went. On the last night of the last trip the Lord finally broke through to me and I surrendered to youth ministry. Two weeks later I was enrolled in Pensacola Christian College. I was able to transfer my credits from the Citadel and complete my degree."
Kirkland met his wife Becky following his graduation and the couple has been married for three years and are the parents of Stormy Gail who will be one year old this month.
During this time, Kirkland served as a youth minister in different churches while working a full time job.
"I was working in a lawn care business with a guy," Kirkland said. "And one day a man in our church offered me a job in Ag Research that I just couldn't turn down. Since then I have been hired at Monsanto in Foley doing Ag Research. My father worked in agriculture research so that line of work runs in my family as well."
Kirkland drives 49 miles one way to work each day and will work with the youth on Wednesday nights, Sundays and for special events.
The husband and wife team are already filling up the calendar with summer events that will kick off with a movie night and midnight bowling on June 2. The couple will also be attending a Student Life summer camp with the group.