Rob Oliphant

Rob Oliphant was born in Seattle, WA, but got to Texas as fast as he could.  As a youth, he was active in his youth group, which just so happened to be at Christ Presbyterian. He graduated from Texas A&M in 2000 and decided to follow the Lord’s lead into Youth Ministry, instead of pursuing his major, Sports Management and Business.

Rob worked as the "Junior High Guy" at Cornerstone EPC and eventually won over the heart of the Girl's Associate Youth Director, Kirsten (rhymes with “Ear-sten”), whom he married in 2003.  Rob continued working with youth by teaching middle school math, continuing to teach when he and Kirsten moved to North Carolina for Kirsten to pursue her Masters Degree. During their two years there, they volunteered with the youth group at their home church in Greensboro. Rob and Kirsten felt the call once again to return to full time Youth Ministry, bringing Rob full circle, having worked as a summer intern at Christ Presbyterian 10 years ago with Paul Wise. Rob has jumped in with both feet and is excited and privileged to serve as God's tool in the lives of the youth. Rob can be contacted through the church office or by email.

Rob's Philosophy of Youth Ministry

The youth group was such an important factor in my walk with Christ when I was growing up. Many life-changing events occurred in my life and the lives of my friends that I will hold with me forever, and it was because of the youth group. I have witnessed the importance of the youth group first hand, and I want to see lives changed by Jesus Christ. I see my job as assisting parents in raising their children to be leaders for Christ's church through a personal and relational ministry. Jesus changed the lives of those closest to him by leading, teaching, and discipling them, and they, in turn, went out and changed the world.  Following this example, my ministry will encourage and equip youth to know and grow in their relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in an increasing, continuing, and contagious way: increasing as the youth grow closer to Christ, continuing through a lifelong relationship, and contagious as the youth seek to obey the Great Commission.

In this ministry, it is important to gain the right to be heard by establishing personal relationships with the youth. This goal involves not only meeting youth that come through the church doors, but also going out to meet them where they are.  Through Christ-centered teaching and biblical application, I want to emphasize our need for Jesus not only as our Savior, but also as our Lord. We cannot compartmentalize our lives, letting him reign over some areas but not all. I want the youth to realize that Christ must be Lord of all in their lives or He is not Lord at all.

Within this ministry, different activities meet different needs. Sunday mornings are a time of relevant input of God's word from various teachers. Sunday nights are a time of food, fun, and fellowship. In small group Bible studies, we address real life problems and what God's word teaches us about those situations.