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New Youth Pastor at PPC
Josh Howard
One week into his new job as youth pastor at Patterson Park Church, Josh Howard left for a mission trip to Honduras with the senior youth.
Josh comes to Dayton from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Baptist Bible Seminary in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, currently working toward a Master of Ministry degree.
He has been running at full speed since his arrival. That appears to be normal for him. In addition to his background with youth, he has also taught adult Sunday School classes, led a children’s program, taught a second-grade church class with his wife, implemented a small-group ministry, and began a ministry for young couples.
But Josh and his wife have a love for junior high and senior high youth. They feel called to full-time ministry with youth, and that is why they are here.
“I want to help teens conform to the image of Christ as God changes them from the inside out,” Josh proclaims.
“I love building relationships with teenagers, and I love to see them get pumped up about serving their Savior….I am ecstatic about introducing teens to Christ and seeing them live a life of service to Him where their focus is taken off themselves and placed on others.”
“The relationship between a youth pastor and teen is…geared to relationship building. Teens really don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Josh and his wife Christy are passionate about building relationships, and they have learned how to use their individual abilities to teach, encourage and counsel young people.
Christy will play a vital role in Josh’s ministry, working alongside him. She is a very relational person and will be especially involved in the lives of young girls and in small group settings.
After high school, Josh worked four summers for a contracting company. Roofing in 90 degree weather was difficult, but it taught him the importance of a work ethic, a principle he will pass on to the youth in his ministry.
Prior to coming to Patterson Park Church, Josh was a secondary Bible teacher at Mt. Calvary Christian School in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. He was also the coach of a high school basketball team.
Josh loves sports and says his coaching experience will be a definite asset to his youth ministry experiences. “Athletics is a built-in ability for building relationships in a different setting—it increases character and teaches young men how to work as a team.”
He identifies with the Biblical character, Moses, someone God used in spite of his weaknesses and insecurities.
“I have wrestled with wondering whether or not I am adequate to lead people most effectively—whether or not I have the necessary tools for being a successful leader. But I am reminded, just as Moses was, that true success is a result of God’s greatness, not mine. God continues to press upon my heart the need to depend completely on Him.”
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