Dr. Brent Isbell began his job as the new pulpit minister at University Church of Christ about five weeks ago.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Isbell said. “It has been very, very busy. There are a lot of folks to get to know, a lot of names to learn. Right now, I’m really trying to learn the church.”
Isbell and his family moved from the Bering Drive Church of Christ in Houston, where he was the preacher for five years. He is familiar with the Abilene area, however; he graduated from ACU three times – with a bachelor’s degree in 1986, a master’s of religious education in 1988 and a master’s of divinity in 1995 – and his wife, Melinda, is also an ACU alumna. Isbell is planning to teach Bible classes at ACU next year, as well.
University contacted Isbell after the previous pulpit minister, Eddie Sharp, left to take a preaching position at University Avenue Church of Christ in Austin about a year ago – after 28 years of service at the University Church in Abilene.
“I think a lot of it was about being nearer to family,” Isbell said. Sharp has children and grandchildren living in Austin. Isbell said he also thought Sharp was ready for a change.
Whatever the reason, Sharp’s decision left University without a preaching minister, and a search committee was formed to find a new one. Dr. Dickie Hill, chairman of the elders at University and professor of exercise science and health, said the committee, composed mostly of members of the congregation, started with a list of 30 candidates.
“We were looking for those who would be a best fit for the needs of our congregation,” Hill said.
Eventually, the search committee narrowed the list to three candidates, and those three were invited to interview with church elders. Isbell was hired in May.
“His preaching capabilities were excellent,” Hill said. “We felt he would be a good candidate to help us grow spiritually and in numbers, so that made the choice fairly easy.”
Hill said University’s attendance has already increased by a small amount, and the church expects that growth to continue.
“He brings some enthusiasm from the pulpit, and members comment on that, so that’s a good thing,” Hill said.
Isbell brings a maturity born of experience, as well. He was badly injured in a car accident in September 1999 and spent most of the next year undergoing multiple surgeries and learning to walk again. Despite his injuries, he and his wife decided to begin the process of adopting internationally. The Isbells adopted two Chinese girls – from the same province, in fact. Jordan is 8 years old, and Sarah is about to be 4.
“We made the decision in the midst of that tragedy as a show of faith, a sign of hope,” he said. “We saw that very much as part of our healing process.”
His faith is apparent to many, including Gloria Fields, the campus ministry intern at University and a senior social work major from Kerrville.
“He has some really good things to say, some good life experience,” Fields said. “He’s done an excellent job as far as I’m concerned.”
The campus ministry will be interacting closely with Isbell in the future, if all goes according to his plans. Isbell said he is working with the staff and congregation to include a younger demographic to preserve the long-term health of the church. He said he hopes to become a younger church by making young families and young singles, including college students, feel comfortable.
“We want our worship service, for instance, to be a welcoming experience for people of all ages,” he said. “We want our Bible classes and small groups to have an atmosphere were college students feel welcome in the life of the church. I think over time we’ll learn ways to do that.”
Hill said the feedback about Isbell has been positive, so far.
“I’m extremely happy,” he said. “He is doing what we had hoped, and we’re seeing things progress, and we just expect it to continue every day.”
