Passion Leads To Action (Super Cool Person of the Week!) August 26, 2005

I got a call from this dude once who “wanted to ask me a question.” After listening to him talk for five minutes (actually, he rambled) I finally asked him, “Hey man, did you have a question for me?” He paused for a second and it seemed like he was trying to make up something. I threw an answer his way and got off the phone as quickly as possible, labeling this guy in the “weirdo” file & praying that I didn’t have to speak with him again.

Fast forward a few months…there is this dude working with our elementary school kids–I begin to see him there every single week, showing up early, staying late…and really going for it when it came to getting the work done. I didn’t really know who he was–but I thanked God for this guy because the kingdom was advancing and kids were being reached.

Then I found out something that rocked my world…the guy who was going all out working with the kids, the one giving his time & energy without being paid a cent…was the same guy who had called me on the phone that day & could not stop talking. It hit me that I had mentioned to him something about if he was passionate about reaching people that he just needed to get involved doing something. He took those words of advice and immersed himself in the children’s ministry–and has been making a HUGE difference since that day!

Yep, you guessed it–my Super Cool Person of the Week is “Pudge” Huckaby!

Pudge volunteered at New Spring for a long time–then we brought him on as a part time employee because the children’s ministry was growing so much…then after he graduated we hired him full time (even though he often put in full time hours as a part time employee!)

The thing I love about Pudge is that he is passionate about reaching kids for Christ on a level that they can comprehend. He doesn’t baby-sit kids on Sundays…and he doesn’t just throw things together for them either. I am amazed at the amount of planning and creativity that goes into the weekend just for his area!!! He really wants kids to learn and have fun at the same time! And he and his team have designed a way for that to happen.

Lucretia and I do not have kids yet…but when we do one of the things I am looking forward to is having them get into the children’s ministry at New Spring–especially when it comes to the passion, leadership, and creativity of Pudge. He’s not in children’s ministry because he views it as a stepping stone to something else one day…but because he LOVES kids.

Pudge, you rock–thanks for all that you do–keep up the awesome work, because of what you do entire families are being transformed! Kid’s matter–thanks for your hard work…you are Super Cool!