Citylight Students (CLS) exists to disciple students in knowing Jesus, growing in Jesus, and going out to share the good news of Jesus. You might have heard the saying that the youth are the future of the church. Brian Pruch, Citylight’s new Student Director at the West location, would say they are part of our church now. He would even go further by saying they are taking bigger steps of faith with leadership and evangelism. Having been in student ministry for over 14 years, Brian has seen the Holy Spirit do amazing work in and through students.
“We can’t just say "Oh they will be our next leaders",” Brian shared. “A lot of those kids are leading right now. They are ministering on their campuses. They are maybe even taking steps of faith that are bigger than their parents or others in church. Evangelism is scary and we can get timid, but for teenagers, when they can unlock it and when they get passionate about it and excited, they tell everybody.”
Brian grew up in a Christian home where his parents would now label their parenting style as legalistic. The joke in their family is that they “raised little Pharisees.” Because of the rules, Brian was not all in with Christianity nor his own faith. He didn't see Jesus as a friend nor fun. As a teenager, there was even some bitterness towards Jesus.
“I wasn’t allowed to play baseball on Sundays,” Brian described. “But when I turned 16, my parents said that I could make the decision whether I was going to play baseball or go to church on Sundays. That was my out. I was going to play baseball. Baseball was my god. I was gone from the church for about 6-8 months.”
During that summer, when he was 17 years old, a pivotal conversation happened. Brian and a few guys from his team were driving back from a game. Brian remembers the time, date, and exact location where they were when his friend Dan turned around and asked him the question that has stayed with him.
“It was my three friends, Chaz, Dan, Brent, and I” Brian recollected. “I can still see Dan in the front passenger seat. He leaned back to me and asked me “Pruch, you're a Christian, right? You go to church? What do you believe?” I can’t tell you what I said but I do know I stumbled. I remembered he had the most confused look on his face. I looked over to Brent next to me and he was nodding. I couldn’t tell him what I believed.”
After being dropped off at his car and driving home, Brian was surprised that his friends didn’t know what they believed. And then it dawned on him. He didn’t know what he believed!
“I felt this overwhelming presence with me in that moment,” Brian described. “I knew I wasn’t alone in that moment. I think in the first time of my life I felt a personal engagement with Jesus Christ. His Spirit was right there with me. I gave my life to Jesus right there in my car. That wasn’t just my “yes” to Jesus moment, but also my calling. I knew right there I was going to spend the rest of my life investing in guys like Chaz, Dan, Brent and myself. The next day I was at practice, I told my coach that I was going to be late to the game on Sunday because I was going to go to church. I did pick the church that was right across the field. It was a shift to Jesus and that he was going to be more important than baseball. I had a scholarship at the time to play for Missouri State. I opted out and went to ministry school at Crown College. Jesus was going to drive my choices in life. He took the idol away.”
Brian has stayed strong to his conviction the past 14 years. He married his college sweetheart, Sara, and after college, they both joined Campus Life. They have been running after students and reaching unchurched families since then. Brian has been the Ministry Director in Omaha for the past four years and his love for students and families has only grown.
“Student ministry is 6-12th grade with kids ages between 11 and 19-year-olds,” Brian described. “There are Barna studies that have shown 93% of people come to know Jesus before the age of 20. It’s an important age range. Often their faith starts to become their own and they make choices for themselves. There is generational change that can happen because of one significant moment in that age range. I am one example of that. Because of that, for me, I’m a lifer in student ministry. I think I will be in student ministry until I am done.”
Brian is splitting his time between Campus Life and Citylight until August. He wants to finish his time with Campus Life well and at the same time, forge strong friendships and understanding with the students and families at Citylight. The goal is a strong fall launch but also, deep and meaningful relationships right now all pointing and supported by the truth of Jesus Christ.
“It's not about me and this is not about us,” Brian confessed. “I want parents to know when their student comes to Citylight, it’s a place that they will fit in, have fun and belong to. I want every student that shows up to feel like this is an extension of their family. A place to be themselves. Working in a lost kid world makes us want kids to feel they belong here. Every kid will be known by name and face. We will be invested and known in their lives. Families and members will see a team of leaders who have an abiding relationship with Jesus. This Christ-likeness and centeredness. Also, we will be focused on who is here and equally focused on who is not here and invite them in. I’m excited to see what God does with His ministry. He will do great things. Citylight is primed for growth and leadership is behind it. We have the ingredients of great parents and volunteers and now it’s time to put it together. I want to help with direction.”
After being in a management support role, the past four years, Brian and his wife Sara are excited to get back in and around kids. He wants to know every kid’s name and hear every family’s story. He anticipates many conversations and incredible opportunities to share and equip kid’s with truth so that they have it for themselves. Also, to equip them for those moments when they are asked by friends or their family “What do you believe?”
For more information on Student Ministry and to get involved, visit citylightomaha.org/students.