Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Jones New Methodist Minister

Rusty Jones, the new minister of the First United Methodist Church of Gurdon, is interested in evangelism.

He makes his way to Gurdon from southeast Arkansas, coming from the Pansy community, near Woodlawn in Cleveland County.

He and his wife, Debbie, have three children, twin boys, Caleb and Ethan, nine, and daughter Hannah, five.

The family enjoys water skiing, hiking and cycling, and have been getting familiar with Gurdon by riding their bicycles around town.

Jones earned his bachelor of science degree in psychology, with a minor in biology, from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia with plans on being a doctor.

However, there were changes in store for him, as he answered the call to the pulpit.

Jones first studied seminary at Wesley in Mississippi, then going to the Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn., being ordained in 1998.

But, he has been in the ministry since 1987, serving as pastorates in El Dorado, Magnolia, Philadelphia, Miss. and Rison before coming to Gurdon.

Jones said he first felt the call to the church when he was 17, but ignored it because he wanted to be a doctor. The call, though, wouldn't go away, until he answered it at the age of 23.

He said his is a family ministry, with the entire clan involved. "I try to make it a family thing. I try to guard my family time, and wherever I've been the church has been agreeable to giving us time together."

In fact, Jones added, the church leaders have stressed taking time off when needed.

Once the family gets settled into their new home and is used to its new routine, Jones plans on getting involved locally, starting with the Meals on Wheels program.

"I want to get out in the community," he said, "and get involved in Gurdon. I plan on getting involved with the schools if they'll let me."

He also plans on getting involved in area sports and the lives of young people in Gurdon.

For those in his congregation, Jones takes the Bible for what it says, offering no interpretations. "I take it to be true, not just a nice collection of stories."

First off, though, he wants to get acquainted with his flock.

If he's allowed to work in the schools, Jones intends to talk to the young people, not preach to them. "As a pastor, I need to know the people of the community."

Concerning his career as a minister, Jones said he isn't sure he's found his niche yet. "I don't know if I'll stay a preacher all my career or not. I'll go where the Lord leads."

While in the seminary, Jones focused on mission work and church planning. This, he said, may be where he finds himself later in life, but for now, the idea is to remain open for what the Lord has in mind.

Jones and his family have been involved with the Ebeneezer Camp Meeting since its inception in 1836. This is one of the oldest such groups in the state, if not the oldest.

Meanwhile, Jones enjoys reading the history of the church, especially about the early fathers.

"I'm concerned about the persecution of the church around the world," he said. "I would like to raise the awareness of the problem in local churches."