New director brings energy to youth ministry

GARDNERVILLE, Nev.

by Sharlene Irete

sirete@recordcourier.com

A herd of monster tumbleweeds blew across the highway in front of Jonathan Cleveland the night he was driving a moving truck to his new home in Carson Valley.

"I thought, 'What was that?' I never saw tumbleweeds in real life before. I had to ask what they were," said Cleveland.

There are other things Cleveland noticed after he took a new job as the director of Christian education at Gardnerville's Trinity Lutheran Church about two weeks ago.

"Everyone smiles here. People let their kids go out and play," he said. "When I see kids on the street, they say hello. They're polite."

What's noticeable about Cleveland is that he's the only black director of Christian education in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

He came here by way of Portland, Ore., to fill the vacant position at Trinity. He is responsible for the education curricula for Sunday school and vacation Bible school and will be the junior and senior youth minister.

At his job interview, Cleveland asked if his nearly shoulder-length hair would be OK.

"They said, 'Oh yeah, no problem.' That's great. I can be me and do God's work too."

Cleveland, 45, was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Concordia University in Portland, which is affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

He said he always wanted to be a pastor, but became a youth minister at a college professor's suggestion. Cleveland was installed as director in a March 29 church ceremony and said he thinks what Trinity's congregation liked about him was his experience.

"I've been serving in the ministry for 23 years so I will bring a lot to the youth ministry " my ideas, energy and gifts," he said. "I have a lot of faith that God has sent me for a reason. I'm an instrument doing his work. I'm musically inclined."

His main musical instruments are drums and percussion and his gifts include being able to remember what it's like to be young.

"I like to teach kids what I know about music," Cleveland said. "God has given me the gift to understand kids and remember what it's like to be that age. We all go through the same things as kids."

He said a classroom setting isn't necessary in teaching youth.

"We need to completely enter their environment to show them you really care. You need experience with activities and games, things to see and hear, instead of just lecturing to them," he said. "Basketball is my game. I run and play different sports. Kids will keep you young."

Cleveland is the single parent of three daughters, 26, 24 and 15, two of whom will move with him to Carson Valley.

"I'm very happy to be here," he said. "I didn't doubt that this wasn't the place for me. It's a great fit for me and my family. I'm grateful to be here and be a part of this family community."

He said Trinity's Pastor Eric Borchers and the church volunteers love what they do.

"That's what I see here," he said. "The ministry is based on volunteers and that's a blessing. It's strong here. It's what I like about this place.

"This is not a job for me. I feel guilty for getting a paycheck for this. You are providing a service and you are compensated when your congregation shows approval. Just like Christ " we love because he loves us. Our congregation loves us because we love them."