New England's Youth Ministers STEVE CULLUM

This is the first in a series on youth ministers serving in New England. This week is an interview with Steve Cullum, the first full-time student minister at Rockingham Christian Church (RCC) in Salem, NH, and a graduate of Lincoln Christian College (LCC) in Lincoln, IL.

Tell us a little about yourself and your previous ministry experience.

I am twenty-five years old, and I grew up in southern Illinois where my youth minister helped me discover my talents and giftedness for youth ministry. I began LCC in 2001 as an undergraduate student and will soon complete my seminary training with Lincoln Christian Seminary. Upon arriving at LCC I knew I wanted to be a youth minister, simply from what I was already learning about myself, and seeing how God was already using me in my home congregation. This education has really prepared me to work with both young people who have been raised with a Christian perspective as well as reaching students who may have never been exposed to the Gospel.

How did you end up in Salem, NH, at Rockingham Christian Church?

In the summer of 2007, I began looking for student ministry positions across the country. I received many responses, but none of them seemed to really stand out. While in college, I spent three Weeks of Evangelism in New England and was very excited about the work being done in this region. Those experiences led me to inquire about the possibility of serving in the New England area. I had many people praying for me and my decision, and in October of 2007 I accepted the student ministry position at Rockingham.

What were your first impressions?

They were great! It is amazing to see what people who are committed to God can do with a warehouse. It reminded me how much the church is the people, and not the building, even though once you enter the warehouse at Rockingham the ambiance is warm and welcoming. The people at RCC have been really supportive of me.

What has been your experience with the students thus far?

One thing that has really been a surprise for me is the social networking that is taking place online through internet sites such as Facebook and MySpace. It is essentially our student ministries connection for the week, as we have our main sessions on Sundays. These websites help to enhance other times when we go out to eat or see movies together as a group. They also give the friends of the RCC youth an opportunity to see what we are doing and hopefully plant some seeds.

Have you faced any unique challenges in the things you have tried to do?

I am learning the subtle differences between New England and the Midwest. Most businesses in the Midwest offer discounts for church groups and functions. In Salem, I was surprised to hear of business owners who have never had any church interested in using their facility, let alone using it with a discount. The church in New England is a part of the landscape, but not necessarily a part of the culture. Here it is easy to find individuals who are fourth and fifth generation non-Christians. So it is sometimes frustrating to try and find places that are sensitive to what RCC hopes to do in the area of ministry opportunities.

Goals for 2008 ...

I want to establish a leadership team among the students. My desire is for them to be innovators and leaders rather than looking to me to do everything. A major focus will be upon junior high students this year, preparing them to build many relationships in Salem and the surrounding areas. Consistent with RCC's mission, my goal is that the youth of this church will help lead many more people to Christ.

To read more about Rockingham Christian Church, go to www.rockinghamchristian.com.

Steve Cullum with the RCC youth