“My passion is taking whatever scripture it is, basing our lessons off that and relating it to a teenage life.”
Photo courtesy of Matthews United Methodist Church
As Rob Hunter has just finished his first year of “retirement” from his career as Police Chief of the Town of Matthews, he’s moved easily into a second career, found (another type of) contentment, fueled his faith-based passions and brought forward a fundamental continuation of his faith in his new full-time job as “Associate Director of Youth Ministry” at Matthews United Methodist Church on South Trade Street.
Where, as Police Chief, he oversaw a $6 million budget; 75 paid employees, 25 volunteer citizens and a myriad of complex and significant issues in the force and the town, he finds his joint religious responsibilities for nearly 300 teenagers, primarily in 10th-12th grade, no less important or insignificant – and no less God-driven – a perspective he takes on in every facet of his life, as he conveys with both wonderment and awe.
“That’s where God wanted me to be,” he said.
Photo credit: Rob Hunter
Growing up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, one of six children (his father died when he was two years old), Rob was impacted by many life situations – a break-in at his home, which left an indelible mark on him regarding the gentility and support his family received from the responding police officers, a superior/coworker in the security department at Carowinds (where he worked as a teenager) who showed him how professionalism, respect and caring were the “ideal” attributes for a police officer. As a newly-married man, he expected to obtain employment as his college degree dictated – in special education – but once again fate and God intervened and led him to a job in the police department. Since then, he has never looked back.
“We are all God’s children,” Hunter said - a phrase and philosophy he clearly attributes to his mother.
And, as church became a staple of his newly married life and religion became more important, he found himself gravitating toward youth-related programs, becoming a youth leader more than one dozen years ago. It was work that he said kept him “grounded.” After a co-worker stressed that he was having a positive impact on kids who previously saw him in uniform as just a “cop,” he also began to see himself as a teacher and mentor. A series of synchronicities (he, again, attributes to the work of God) catapulted him from being a youth leader to becoming a full-time employee in the church he clearly loves.
Among the responsibilities he now holds is to create programs and lead weekly Sunday night faith-based lectures referencing scripture to teenage life. “I try to make it applicable,” he said, adding that he utilizes both current events and his own life stories to make a point about failure, challenges, success and the character traits necessary to be a good human being.
“My passion is taking whatever scripture it is, basing our lessons off that and relating it to a teenage life,” Hunter said. “How does it affect you…to make it impactful?”
As a youth, he recalls hearing many “stories” in church which he remembered as being irrelevant to his life. As an adult who oversees children, Hunter said he is always conveying teachable “accounts.”
As a youth, he recalls hearing many “stories” in church which he remembered as being irrelevant to his life. As an adult who oversees children, Hunter said he is always conveying teachable “accounts.”
With nearly one year in his new position, how does he now feel about his work? “(I’m glad I’ve) not messed up royally,” he says with a laugh, referencing that he came to this job without an educational background in religious studies and that he was “just a policeman.”
“I think at the core of this is the heart – if you love these kids, if you love God, whatever I do (will be ok)……The kids see that you are human. We may stand up here and teach, but we don’t know everything,” Hunter said. “We’re committed to walk this walk together. My greatest accomplishment is that I haven’t failed the kids and I think that God provides (for) that. I’ve kept them foremost in the spotlight of responsibility.”
And, what does he see for his future? “I’m excited to see what God has in store for me. I’ve already proven in history that I thought I knew who I was and what I was doing but he had a plan – not me, so I’m not sure about that one.”
