From the Ouachitonian: Slaton Teague
January 20, 2020
- Brooke WoessnerPreviously published in the 2019 Ouachitonian yearbook
Serving as a student minister gave Slaton Teague the opportunity to live out God’s will for his life. A senior Christian studies major with an emphasis in Biblical studies and Christian ministry from White Oak, Texas, Teague spent the past three years pouring into students as an intern, associate pastor and now a student pastor. His time at Ouachita shaped him into a lifelong learner as he continued to build relationships with students.
“I came to Ouachita to be a better leader because the best leaders are learners,” said Teague. “The Christian studies department here is one of the best in the nation.”
Before coming to Ouachita, Teague still had plenty of exposure to the church. As a fourth generation pastor, Teague grew up in a Christian environment. Attending church camps and going on mission trips cultivated God’s call on Teague. In seventh grade, he was saved, gave his life to God and answered the call to ministry.
“I felt the Holy Spirit convicting me, and so I gave my life to the Lord,” said Teague. “From that moment on, my life changed.”
As his life changed after God’s call, Teague spent the last three years as a minister to students. Teague spent the past three summers working with students at First Baptist Church Bentonville. During the school year, Teague served with the students at First Baptist Church Arkadelphia. From writing curriculum to planning Bible studies to attending camp with students, he spent the last three years with some of the same students and is now getting to study at Ouachita with three classes of his students. Building relationships and watching students fall in love with Jesus was what it was all about for Teague.
“My heartbeat for ministry is that I get to disciple kids and see them make their faith their own faith,” said Teague.
Spending multiple years intentionally pouring into student’s lives, Teague realized the importance of relationships within ministry. He knew that he could not effectively disciple students if he did not know them. By bringing a friendship to the relationship, Teague was inspired by the students and enjoyed spending time with them.
Teague really had a heart for students and for student ministry. He found great joy in being a part of something greater than himself as he shared the love of Christ with students. Youth ministry was his passion, and he found a great God-given joy in what he did to advance God’s kingdom.
At Ouachita, Teague continued to learn about how building relationships with students is the most important aspect of ministry. Reflecting on a passage in the Bible that inspires the importance of relationships is a well-known story that Teague sees in a new light that perfectly describes why relationships in ministry are so important.
“In 1 Peter 5, it calls us to be good shepherds,” said Teague. “I can’t be a good shepherd, the way that the Lord is a good shepherd to me, if I don’t know the flock that’s been entrusted to me. The main aspect of ministry is relationships. If you’re not building relationship, you’re missing a very important aspect to ministry because it’s about people.”
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