Newsmaker: Scott Young

Every other week, The Talon interviews a member of the Oklahoma Christian University community, a “Newsmaker,” to answer questions about their role on campus.

On March 31, The Talon interviewed Campus Minister Scott Young.

What was your background before coming to Oklahoma Christian? 

“I came to Oklahoma Christian when I graduated high school to study youth ministry. but I was in love with this girl back home. I went back and forth to Ada every weekend, and if you’re going to do college, you can’t do it and leave every weekend. So I finally decided that I was wasting money, so I left and went back home and went to a state university there in my hometown. I thought my ministry dream was over, but then a minister across town called and he gave me an opportunity to do worship and youth for almost 18 years. Then, Memorial Road called and asked if I would be interested in going there. They’d never had a full- time worship minister. So they asked me if I would be interested in coming up here, doing worship ministry and doing some work with college students in the campus ministry there. And that was the ideal situation for me. It was like, God saying, ‘Okay, I can’t lay this out any clearer for you,’. It was something I couldn’t walk away from. I spent almost 17 years at Memorial road before Oklahoma Christian called me and asked if I would be interested in being Campus Minister. My first reaction was, ‘No, absolutely not,  I’m happy doing what I’m doing.’ Yet, the more I sat with President Jones and listened to him talk about his dream and vision for the University, and how I could be a part of that,  I just felt like, what if this is God saying, ‘Come and do this for a while’, so that’s the reason I came.” 

What are you looking forward to for next year in Spiritual Life? 

 “One of the things I’m excited about, (and I hate even mentioning that now you’re going to hold me to it), but I really would love to focus on what that I really would like to do to get prepared to start a discipleship program. One of my frustrations is not being able to connect as much with athletes as I would like to. It’s the students that you don’t see a lot, and athletes tend to come,  play ball, and then go to class and that’s it. There are some who jump in and get involved in student life, and I love that, but they’re not very many who do. I think, give me two people I can train. And then, and then let them go and put a group of five or six students together. I’ll put this study together that you guys would use, but I have this dream that could take off and be something that students are helping other students grow in their spiritual walk and discipline. We’re called to be disciples, and it excites me to think about doing something like that. It’s a lot of work, it’s a lot to think about, but I think, I think it could be done, that’s one of the things that I really look forward to for next year.”

How much is your focus on current students who are believers vs. those who don’t necessarily believe? 

“I love being with those of you who already have faith, but any time I can get with someone that’s still searching or doesn’t know anything, I love it. I don’t know if it’s more of a focus, but it’s a big deal to me. I’m trying to connect with as many students as I can, and some of them have their faith, and some of them don’t yet.” 

How has God used your time at Oklahoma Christian to teach you about Himself? 

“One of the things God taught me is sometimes I need to get uncomfortable to do some things He wants me to do. I was super uncomfortable my first few months here, but I think He’s taught me that He can take really difficult situations and use those to help students.”