Paul Wallace

The positive influence of ministers in his young life - one of whom was his father - convinced Paul Wallace ('98) to pursue the same career.

Ironically, Paul's youth minister, Dr. Robert Oglesby Jr., now directs ACU's youth and family ministry program.

"He instilled in me the desire to be a youth minister by the way he acted around us, treated us, discipled us to be Christian young people," Paul says.

He learned much from internships at two congregations, Belton (Texas) Church of Christ and Southern Hills in Abilene. A 1998 graduate, Paul is now Southern Hills' full-time youth minister, focusing on 100 energetic middle schoolers.

"ACU did an excellent job of showing me the balance between the practical side of ministry - what to expect - and learning the Bible," Paul says. "It really helps that teachers here have been ministers themselves."