A LOVING MAN. A SERVANT. A LEADER
There are no better words to describe Kris Roberts, director of youth and evangelism at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Tullahoma.
Roberts is energetic and enthusiastic, always ready to instill moral values into youth and serve community members in need.
“Out of all the things I do, whether it’s youth or evangelism, I love to teach,” Roberts, 44, said. “I love teaching the scriptures. So preaching is something I enjoy doing, whether it’s preaching to our young people or to our congregation. Ministry with people is a long obedience in the same direction.”
Growing up, the youth director did not anticipate going into ministry. Born in Houston, Roberts primarily grew up in Red Bay, Alabama, where he graduated high school and attended church at Red Bay Church of God. He initially sought to obtain a business degree, but when Roberts was 19, God made it clear that He had other plans.
“Our church that [my current family] attended—the youth was led by a guy who was a college student. And when he went off to school, my pastor knew that I was growing in my faith, and he called me basically to cover youth group one night just to share with the kids what God was doing in my life and share my testimony—that kind of thing,” the youth minister recalled. “And I agreed to do that, that one night. And as I shared my testimony with the kids, I had this natural connection with what I was doing, and I felt the calling that night.”
He had been working part-time at the Red Bay church for about seven years before accepting his first full-time assignment in Mississippi and then later in Orlando, Florida. In 2009, he could not fathom his next step until he received a call from FUMC about a youth minister position. The rest is history.
Over the years, Roberts’ church role has transformed, as his positions changed from youth minister to director of youth and family life to director of youth and evangelism, which allows him to help integrate people into the church. He also assists as a pulpit minister, preaching several times a year.
The youth minister has used his role to lead many projects in Tullahoma. One of his main projects has been the church’s “Serve Days,” which are weekend events where youth and adult volunteers from FUMC complete projects that can involve outdoor work, cleaning, painting, and more. Roberts also leads his students in working with FUMC’s Henry Center Ministries, which are outreach ministries that assist people with financial struggles, providing clothes, furniture, food, and monetary assistance for utilities or rent.
As part of the church’s evangelism initiative, Roberts hosts movie nights for the community, dispensing free food and drinks to guests. Over the summer, he taught a prayer course and, in November, started hosting a “Night of Prayer,” a monthly event where he and others teach people how to pray.
But Roberts’ kind acts do not stop there. He completes yard work for the elderly or disabled people of FUMC’s congregation and organizes teams for mission trips to assist with disaster relief or homeless ministry. He also enjoys attending events that his students are involved in and much more. The list is simply endless.
Cathy Manis, a former youth parent and volunteer alongside Roberts, said the youth minister develops personal relationships with the kids and positively affects everyone around him.
“If I could say one word—he makes them feel special and important, seen and heard, and loved. It doesn’t matter if he’s known you for a long time or just met you. That’s how you feel when you’re around Kris.”
However, the youth director’s influence extends beyond Tullahoma, as he also leads his youth ministry in summer mission trips in and out of town. In June 2021, the group traveled to the Bahamas for their first international trip. George Jensen, who has accompanied Roberts on mission work, said Roberts brings out the best in people.
“A general favorite memory is spending time with him on mission trips where we’re out somewhere in an unfamiliar place and getting youth to understand more about who they are and what their life is about,” Jensen said.
Kris is married to Crystal, with whom he has two wonderful girls, Bailey and Analiese. From examining his lifetime, Kris has one lesson of advice for those reading.
“Number one lesson is just to remain faithful to God, man,” Roberts said. “God is not gonna let you down. God doesn’t change like our world changes. Just be faithful and trust that He is good.” GN
