Rusty Pritchard | Ruling Elder
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT ALL SOULS?
Rusty and his family joined All Souls when they moved to Decatur in 2012. Rusty and his wife, Joanna, have three children (Beatrice, Ewan, and Angus).
WHY DID YOU WANT TO SERVE AS AN ELDER? HOW DID YOU EXPERIENCE GOD CALLING YOU TO THIS OFFICE?
“I feel closest to God when I’m part of helping other people to grow closer to him and to join with Jesus in reconciling and restoring all things. I'd like to work with a team of people who sees All Souls as a space for healing, growth, and transformation, for the sake of our whole community and not just for attenders. ”
WHAT OTHER WAYS HAVE YOU SERVED AT ALL SOULS?
"I’ve been a Sunday School teacher for preschoolers (my best job, so far), a prayers-of-the-people pray-er, a global missions committee member, and a coffee-maker (with my son Ewan). We’re part of a community group led by the Duke family. ”
HOW HAS GOD USED ALL SOULS IN YOUR LIFE?
“All Souls was like a hospital ship for our family when we first arrived, and it felt like a very stable, nurturing place that we really needed. Over time, the teaching and preaching here has been a huge inspiration for Joanna and me in our jobs and in our family life as we try to live out the Gospel in Decatur. Since the last men’s retreat, I’ve felt a strong call to be more transparent with other men about my struggles and fears, and not to live such an isolated life."
TELL US SOMETHING INTERESTING AND UNEXPECTED ABOUT YOURSELF.
Rusty works for the UK-based, Tearfund, where his job is to establish a U.S. presence for the large, Christian relief and development organization. He shares: “Since we’re just starting in the US, I do a little of everything: public speaking, admin, fundraising, reviewing Bible plans, trips to the countries where we work, and political advocacy.”