From ‘Low Points’ To Pastor In Four Short Years

Four years ago, Thad Huff wasn’t even a Christian, and now he has joined the staff at the Valley Assembly of God Church as the youth pastor.

Huff began his duties at Valley Assembly on July 1 and will replace Pastor Tim Johnson, who will become the senior pastor at the Meadow Wood Christian Center which will start operations this fall.

When he was 21 years old, Huff was having some hard times and had reached some “extremely low points” in his life. A friend suggested he go to Shoreline Community Church in north Seattle, where she said he could find acceptance and love.

“It was absolutely true,” says Huff. “There were real people there that really did what they believed in. I was embraced by God through these people.”

After two years of attending services, he made the tough decision to become a pastor. “I knew the Lord wanted me to go into ministry,” he says. “When the Lord tells you to do something, you just do it.”

During the next two years he worked full time as a intern at Shoreline while taking correspondence courses from the Berean School of the Bible. In March he received his pastoral license. In April he married his wife Dana. And in July he arrived in Spokane to take his first pastoral position.

“Everything is new,” he says. “It’s incredible.”

So far, says Huff, things are going well and he is impressed with the unity of the church members and staff. “It’s a place of love.”

He hasn’t been there long enough to make concrete plans for the future of the youth ministry, but Huff says his programs won’t be goofy or talk down to teens. “I think the maturity of youth is way more than they get credit for,” says Huff. “It’ll be a bit more of a serious time, but we’ll play hard.

“I’m a relationship oriented pastor, I love to just hang out with the kids.”

Bible school at Liberty Lake

Opportunity Christian Church will host a special vacation Bible school July 29-Aug. 1 at the Zephyr Conference Center on Liberty Lake.

Classes are available for children age 2 through the sixth grade and will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

Swimming has been added to the traditional Bible school activities of singing, making crafts, and playing outdoor games. The children will also be learning about several parables.

The cost is $2 per child or $5 per family. Children will need to bring a sack lunch, and a swim suit and towel each day. A certified lifeguard will be on duty during all water activities. Parents will also need to provide their own transportation to the conference center.

Advance registration for the Bible school is required. The registration deadline is July 27. To register and to get directions to the conference center, call 926-3691.

Church of the Nazarene picnic

The Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene, 10814 E. Broadway, will host a church picnic on Sunday after the 10:45 a.m. worship service.

Families are asked to bring a salad, fruit, or chips. The church will provide the hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cream. The cost is $1 per person or $5 per family.

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