Randy McNeal, Youth Pastor

Life History
I grew up all my life in Vancouver, WA. After High School I moved 45 minutes south to Newberg, OR and then split the difference in Portland, OR after finishing College. Arvada will be the first time I’ve ever lived farther than 45 minutes from my mommy, and yes, I am a mama’s boy. I attended a small Baptist church where God began to press it on my heart to look into vocational ministry. Since my college of choice Washington State University (Go Cougs!) didn’t have a ministry program I was lead to George Fox University were I graduated with a Bachelors in Christian Education. Upon my second week at Fox I found Countryside Community Church in Sherwood, OR and began helping them out. In total I spent almost 7 years in their youth ministry. They gave me a job after college and have greatly contributed to my faith journey. I am looking forward to continued opportunities to learn at 4 c’s and am excited about the strong youth program in which I get to partner.

What do you enjoy doing on your day off?
I enjoy making a big breakfast, reading books I don’t have time for during the week, and getting to the outdoors to either Hike or play Golf. Unfortunately these are usually set aside by the inability to transition out of my teenage body where I spend most of the day sleeping and indulging in my new found enjoyment of Call of Duty (that’s my only video game on my XBOX360). I’m not very good at it but its still fun.

List one of your most interesting experiences
One of the best experiences I’ve had was climbing Mt. Hood with a group of friends. I’m connected to these friends through faith and the love of working in youth ministry. Imagine, 5 pastors on the side of a mountain, it was great. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done physically and even harder mentally. Through the climb we talked through life, faith, and our ministries. It was encouraging. We related faith to climbing mountains and came away with a 5 week curriculum on faith although I was told I couldn’t count it as a work day J. We eventually had to turn back prior to reaching the summit due to falling ice. Although we were all excited to see Jesus we didn’t feel like it was our time yet. It would be easy to think of it as failure but one thing we all agreed is that the success in getting where we did combined with our conversations of God meant that we achieved our purpose that day. Although, every time I see the peak it mocks me so I will return to conquer it one day.

What is something not many people know about you?
One thing that most people don’t know is that I am the proud achiever of a Hole in One in golf. I remember the day well. I was a sophomore in High School and practicing to make the golf team. It was a Saturday evening with my dad at Heron Lakes Golf Course in Portland, OR. Hole 8 was 145 yards over the water with a slight breeze coming right at us that day. I pulled out my 8 iron and swung. From contact I knew it was going in the hole. What a day that was! The reason people don’t know about it is because it no longer is an accurate reflection of my game. I’ve been meaning to change that.