Ian Husk: Coordinator for Children and Youth Ministries

by Emily Pauw

Youth group retreats used to consist of Gary waking us up by exclaiming about the beautiful day that God has made for us. Although this was sometimes frustrating, my experience of youth group was reliable and comfortable. Then everything changed. A British man came with his camera and started running everything with Kate. But Ian has more than just a strong accent; he has a lot to say about his faith that has before fluctuated, and the difference between Christianity in America and in Britain.

He grew up in an English village that housed only 100 people, and the Methodist Chapel he attended had 19 other members, mostly over the age of 65. However, when he moved here, there was difficulty not only with being hired, but also with his connection with God. It seemed like God wasn’t there for him, and that he knew no one, except for Kate. And he found that American Christianity is more publicized and in the media, than the more personal, subtle British Christianity.

After a childhood of devout Methodist practices, I couldn’t understand how he became such a committed and dedicated Presbyterian. I cannot imagine being Baptist or Methodist, and I’ve only been a Presbyterian for 15 years so far! But he explained that American Methodists aren’t remotely like British Methodists. Our church reminded him of his childhood chapel, how warm, welcoming, and of course liberal we were.

My favorite Bible passage is Psalm 150 which is mainly about praising the Lord with clashing cymbals and other loud things. Ian’s is Matthew 6: 28-30. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith?” To me, this conveys that we should believe in God, and that he will always take care of us. I found it interesting that my favorite passage is just about blind faith in God, because I haven’t really had an all-time low in my faith. Whereas Ian has, so he feels he needs to remember that God has not forgotten anyone.

The last thing that we talked about was Isabel. Anyone can tell how much of an effect she has had on him. He has come to value the beauty of life, and she has made his faith stronger. On the subject, “She has made me appreciate the little things in life, like a simple smile.” It’s a good thing Isabel constantly has a smile plastered on her face. At least she does at church, maybe not at 2 in the morning when she wakes Ian up with her crying.