Scholarships Help Student Pursue Calling
By Olivia McCarver
November 16, 2021
Tylar Lee is technically classified as a traditional undergraduate student, but there is little about his journey to JBU or his time as a student, which could be labeled “traditional.” He balances a full class load, extracurricular commitments and his burgeoning career in ministry all while leading a young family. He and his wife, Sarah, have a two-year-old daughter and another baby on the way.
Although he never expected to attend a Christian college, much less prepare for a future in full-time ministry, scholarships helped open the door for Lee to attend JBU.
Lee’s early experiences with faith were not easy — he battled deep depression as a teenager after the loss of a loved one, admitting that he wanted nothing to do with God during that time. After “hitting rock bottom,” he began to realize the need for Christ in his life and started to rebuild his faith foundation. He felt a call to ministry not long after. Today, he uses his life experiences to connect with those who are struggling and encourages people with a simple but powerful message: “hold on to your hope in Jesus.”
With goals of becoming a youth minister, college professor and ordained minister, Lee enrolled at JBU in 2019 to study Christian ministry and formation. A year later, he preached for the first time at First Church Siloam Springs, sharing a sermon titled “Hope and Suffering,” which he originally prepared for his preaching and teaching class at JBU.
Lee has developed a passion for the Old Testament and plans to write his senior capstone project about a topic from the division. He also hopes to pursue the same field of study in seminary.
This summer, Lee served as the youth ministry intern for First Church Siloam Springs, which fulfilled the internship requirement for his degree.
“It was such a blessing to our church family to have Tylar complete his internship here. He had such a great attitude — willing to serve wherever he could,” said Manny Anchondo, minister to families with children at First Church. “Once we gave him an opportunity to lead in ministry, you could really see his growth in leadership and sharpened ministry skills that he had attained since attending JBU. I’m excited to see where God will place him in the future, and I am confident that wherever it is, he will be well-equipped.”
In February, Lee was approved as a candidate for ministry through the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church and has had the opportunity to preach in several Northwest Arkansas churches this fall.
Lee’s time at JBU is almost over, and he is grateful for his experience.
“The education I have received at JBU will always be with me, and I will be sad when that time is over,” Lee said.
Lee is a shining example of what students can accomplish when their financial status doesn’t dictate their educational opportunities. Scholarships benefit hundreds of students every single year and provide a way for young men and women like Lee to follow God’s plan for their lives.
