AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT: 5 UNDER 35
PREACHER FEATURE: 5 UNDER 35 Matt Proctor
When Ozark began in 1942, President F.W. Strong had already preached in every state (48 at the time), and in the decades after, Ozark continued to produce preachers, including many known nationally: Dudley Rutherford, Kyle Idleman, Barry Cameron, Roy Weece, Roy Wheeler, Rusty George, Drew Sherman, Jon Weece, Tim Harlow, Aaron Brockett, John Caldwell, Sam Stone, Jerry Harris, Mark Scott, and others. But is Ozark still preparing preachers? The answer is yes! We’ve featured five OCC grads, 35 years old or younger. (Many OCC men and women preach in other capacities—youth ministers, women’s ministers, and more—but here we’ve focused on those in pulpit ministry.) Meet the next generation.
Ben Michaels (OCC ’16) Northwest Christian Church, Alta, Iowa
When Ben was a boy, he wanted to be either a garbage man or a preacher. That seemed an odd combination, so his mother asked, “Why a garbage man or preacher?” “Because,” little Ben answered, “they both only work one day a week!” Since then, Ben has learned that preaching ministry (and garbage collection) is an all-week-long job. He now serves as preaching minister at the Northwest Christian Church in Alta, Iowa. The rural community has seen recent growth, and the town’s motto “Catch the Energy” hints at the reason: new electricity-producing wind turbines dotting their countryside. The church too is seeing growth. “The Lord is doing some amazing things here,” says Ben. “I’m seeing people who used to just attend start to serve, people who used to just serve start to lead, people who used to lead start to be sent out on God’s mission. The joy of preaching is seeing people turn and share the gospel with others.” That growth requires work, and Ben knows where to “catch the energy” he needs. “I immerse myself in the Word. It’s tempting as a preacher to treat the Bible like a checking account. I go there only to draw out what I need for that day. We have to constantly save God’s Word in our heart, because if I wait until a sermon
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is due or a crisis has come, I’ve waited too long. I ask myself regularly: How can I spend an excessive amount of time in God’s Word?”
Bryce Hotchkiss (OCC ’12) Batesville Christian Church, Batesville, Indiana
There’s not much in Sheldon, Missouri (population 529)—a Jones Boots western store, the Jenny’s Kitchen restaurant, and a convenience store called Chiggers. (Legend has it, there was also once a bar called Chuggers.) Since 1893, there’s also been a church. Over the years, Sheldon Christian Church has welcomed many Ozark students into its pulpit, including Bryce Hotchkiss. Rural Missouri was a long way from the Florida coast where Bryce grew up, but it quickly found a place in his heart. “My first ministry was in Sheldon,” says Bryce. “I was especially blessed by that small congregation. They really loved me and my wife.” Someone said it’s not great preachers that make great churches, but great churches that make great preachers. A beginning preacher’s first ministry can either sour him or empower him, and the folks at Sheldon were great cheerleaders. “They smiled along and encouraged me through some really-not-great sermons,” remembers Bryce. They gave him confidence that teaching God’s Word was his kingdom “sweet spot.”
