It is a red-letter day when our young people are intentional in their commitment to God, and February 26 was one of those days for the Auburn Adventist Academy Church. Payton Arnett, a senior at Auburn Academy, was dedicated as student pastor. Arnett's journey with God is compelling, and he shares his testimony here:
"The Auburn Adventist Academy Church is a church that has always been meant to be a church of the students, as the title suggests. Here at [the Academy Church], Pastor Rome Ulia and I started to create a position under the title of student pastor. I have now officially taken on the responsibilities that accompany that role, and I am humbled to do so. As Pastor Ulia said, it is not a promotion, but a humbling demotion. My journey with GOD has been an unexpected one, as I never saw myself in ministry, but HIS plans are better than mine. It was around two years ago when, through reason and apologetics, my journey with GOD accelerated to where I am today. I am grateful to my church family and humbled to serve the LORD in this way and form the role for future student pastors to come."
"I first met Payton Arnett last year during Covid lockdown when we were trying to get the Youth Ministry started," said Ulia. "Immediately, Payton stood out as a youth that was determined to help wherever he can. He has a clear passion to serve both his church and his school. The Auburn Academy Church recognizes his heart to serve, and so do his fellow students at the Academy. On two occasions, he led out in his youth group in a debate program where he revealed his passion for apologetics. In those debates, he demonstrated his intellectual ability to defend his faith through reason and the Word."
Ulia continued, "This year Peyton is leading an Apologetics club at the Academy every Wednesday at 12 p.m., and he took the initiative to gather the students and organize a time and place for these classes. All this is because Payton believes that the Word of God can transform lives. His dedication has not gone unnoticed by both his church and his fellow students. He has been involved in many church events because of his heart to serve the church. He is the sort of student that can be counted on whenever there is a need for people to help with a program in the church service or outreach in the community. He is a huge support to me as a pastor to young people, a natural leader in the Academy Church, a helping hand in the youth ministry and a blessing to his fellow students at the Academy. For this reason, we as a church and school decided to dedicate him as the Student Pastor at Auburn Adventist Academy Church. The Lord has clearly revealed, to both Payton and his community, his call and purpose."
