Meet Andy Ward, Director of Student Ministry
We’re excited to introduce our new Director of Student Ministry, Andy Ward!! We sat down and asked Andy about his life and how he came to Christ. Get to know Andy and consider sending a personal welcome with any additional questions!
Tell us about your family.
My wife, Charleigh, and I met while we were in college at Florida State University. We began dating our freshman year of college, and were engaged the fall following graduation. Since this past October we have been a family of three, with our first child, Ridge, being born. Charleigh works in the event hair industry (mostly weddings) and has been for about three years.
Where are you from?
I grew up just outside of Orlando in Oviedo (northeast of Orlando). I lived there my whole life until college in Tallahassee, and then we spent three years in Melbourne, FL, in youth ministry before moving back to the Oviedo area two years ago. Charleigh grew up in Gainesville, FL, and her dad has been an Anglican priest for most of her life.
Tell us about your education and past work experience.
At Florida State I majored in Economics and added on a couple of minors in business and religion. While at Florida State I played baseball for three of my four years. Up until First Pres I have only worked for Young Life, a nondenominational outreach ministry. I spent three years out of college working for them in the Melbourne area, and then moved back to my hometown to do ministry in Oviedo over the last two years. I have a lot of love for the way Young Life does ministry, and told myself I would be doing ministry with them until I was at a church that had a similar philosophy, of meeting kids in their world, not only at church events and now we're here! Over the course of my time in Young Life I've also received training in various courses regarding scripture, ministry philosophy, and some psychology (really light on that one).
How did you come to Christ?
I first heard what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus as a freshman in high school at a Young Life camp called Windy Gap in North Carolina. After hearing this I had what is a pretty typical high school experience for a new believer, trying to read the Bible but getting pretty lost pretty quickly. It took me a few more years for that relationship to blossom, which it did through a group of college guys a year older than me in my time at Florida State. My relationship with the Lord really took off through community with them and a couple of small groups that I became really involved in, as well as serving as a volunteer in Young Life.
What are your favorite things to do in your spare time?
I like to do lots of different things. We've recently joined in the pickleball craze sweeping over the 20's ministry (and others) at FPCO, and I like playing most any sport. I enjoy escaping Florida every now and again for backpacking when I'm able (just for a long weekend or something, I hate the cold), and I also play some video games. I am extroverted by job, but am introverted in my free time, so typically I'll need at least a couple hours to myself doing one of these things.
Dogs or Cats? Chocolate or Vanilla? Sweet or Salty?
I will be really happy to see your dog, but won't have one of my own, I don't like chocolate so vanilla for me, and salty over sweet!
What makes you most excited about joining the ministry of First Pres?
I am really excited about the opportunity to minister to students in the context of a church. When I thought about this job I fell in love with the idea of getting to pour into kids that on any given Sunday would walk out of service and see a congregation of all ages – generations who really enjoy being together. It excites me that they could look and see a large group of 20's that are attending church and doing life together, not just on Sundays, as well as people of all ages talking until the last second they could before heading to a formation class. In youth ministry it’s always important to know the long term plan for a student and having a "next step" whether that’s for a student who's never been to church, or the one who’s been here since day-one. My fondest memories in ministry come from taking next steps with students, no matter which step that is, and I am excited and grateful for the chance to do that with students at FPCO!