Beginning in June, Susan Sutton will move from full-time to part-time Youth Admin and Skylar Bussing (currently a youth apprentice) will begin working as the JH Ministry Coordinator.  Though Skylar’s focus will be primarily on the JH Ministry, she will also take on some of Susan’s admin duties.  Other admin duties will be spread across our youth ministers.  Skylar will now serve as the primary point of contact for the youth ministry.  The phone number on the front door will ring her and any general inquiries can go to her as well.  The entire youth staff is not only excited to have Skylar moving into this role, we’re also ecstatic that Susan will still be serving alongside us.  Susan’s years of faithfulness and excellence is matched by few.

Get to know Skylar

Tell us a about you?  Where you grew up, went to college, hobbies, etc. 

I was born and raised in Wylie, Texas (Greater Dallas Area). I grew up acting and pole vaulting (probably not a combination you’ve heard before). I just finished my Bachelors in Christian Ministry and Mental Health from ETBU. Go Tigers!! I absolutely love any outdoor activity, watching my little sister dance, and I am always down for a run to Shivers.

Tell us a little about your family?

I grew up with my mom, dad, and sister Rayne (17). I am so incredibly thankful for my parents and my relationship with them. They made such an effort to be involved and spend one-one-one time with me as a kid and I can see the great impact it’s made on who I am today! My little sister Rayne just graduated from high school – she’s a drill team dancer, and she is my best friend! My family loves Jesus wholeheartedly and it’s been such a joy watching them really dive into their church community from afar while I’ve been at school.

Favorite Bible Verse?

My all-time favorite verse is John 3:30, “He must become greater; I must become less.” I have always struggled with attempting to make more of myself. In different seasons this has looked like anything from wanting to be center-stage as a kid to believing the lie that I can fix everything on my own today. This passage where John the Baptist describes who he is in relation to Jesus, he explains that he is full of joy to say, “More Jesus! Less me!” It is such a great reminder and encouragement to me!

Give us one of your God stories?

I have been so incredibly blessed to see the Lord work in such big and unexpected ways throughout my life! One of my most treasured memories was my freshman year at ETBU. It was my second Sunday at Mobberly and I had just experienced so much growth in my life and salvation in the lives around me in my first couple months at ETBU. I had begun not “feeling” God work in my life in the ways I had previously seen. I was confused and worried that I needed to “do more” in order to “fix” this feeling I was having (lots of quotations). I was so exhausted from just trying to do, do, do, so I finally broke down. I got on my knees during worship and begged God to not give up on me. I asked him to reveal truth to me in areas I was not seeing the full picture. It seemed to me that my time of kneeled prayer was done so I stood up, opened my eyes and the lyric “Even when I don’t see it you’re working, even when I don’t feel it you’re working” from Waymaker was on the screens. The Lord was so kind to remind me in such a tangible way that my temporary feelings don’t outweigh the truth of His word and His promises. He is always working, and He desires to work in our lives!

Anything you want students and parents to know as you begin serving at Mobberly?

Excited, blessed, and awestruck are the words I would use to describe my emotions about moving into this role! I adore your students and our church family and have grown to love y’all so deeply over the last two years as an apprentice. This role I just stepped into is genuinely my dream job. If you were to ask me at what point I feel most confident that I am exactly where God desires me to be, it’s in conversations with your students. I am beyond blessed for the opportunity to get to know you and your family more, and if there’s any way you think I could help support you as you disciple your students, I would love to chat with you. I am so pumped to keep seeing the big things God is doing in the lives of Elevation students and East Texas!