sharing in service
Story by Susan O'Connor, Photo by Courtney Fitzwater
Eric and Kristie Lloyd spend their lives in service to others. Their devotion dates back to college years at Williams Baptist and continues today as they pursue careers that are God-led.
Eric is the former youth director at CityYouth Ministries and recently accepted a youth ministry position at Central Baptist Church. This June, he will travel to Africa with some students and parents from Central to minister to the Koro people group of Coté d’Ivoire.
Kristie is the director of PACES, a non-profit United Way agency that supports, educates and counsels pregnant and parenting girls between the ages of 11 and 19.
“For me, it’s God’s call 100 percent,” Eric said with conviction. “If I woke up today and said I was going to be youth director at CityYouth or work as a youth minister on my own steam, I could never do it. It’s by faith really.”
Kristie’s words and thoughts echo Eric’s.
“It’s so much more rewarding than a traditional job,” she said. “I feel like I’m there to help and love these girls. It’s not exactly condoned, the way of life the girls find themselves in. They are disadvantaged in so many ways.”
The couple’s love story is very closely linked with their work. They are each other’s biggest supporter.
“I don’t think we can share our story about the ministry without sharing our love story,” Kristie said, looking into Eric’s eyes. “It is such a big part of it.”
Eric rocked their baby, Libby, as he spoke. “If we didn’t love each other the way we do, I wouldn’t be able to love others in the same way. Her support enables me to serve. She is my backbone.”
The call to the ministry came early for Eric. Not from a traditionally church-going family, he attended a Super Bowl party at age 15 with his brother, Lee, and was introduced to Allen Elkins, the youth minister at a church in his hometown of White Hall. Elkins’ impact was huge.
“I saw how much he loved youth,” Eric said. “He has that type of personality that makes you want to do more. I still talk to him often.”
Eric chose to major in Christian ministries at Williams Baptist, and he spent the summer after his freshman year in 2003 as a team leader at SOS Memphis, a summer urban home repair camp where teen volunteers fix roofs, level floors and the like for the needy.
From May 2004 to May 2005, Eric interned at First Baptist Church in Forrest City. In the spring of 2005, Kristie entered his life. They met at a dorm activity on campus and quickly became inseparable.
That summer would prove to be difficult, because Eric and Kristie were called to mission projects in different parts of the world. Kristie traveled to remote villages in the mountains of China to help build greenhouses and foster Christian relationships. Eric had the opportunity to work with Elkins at a church in Fort Smith, as well as to take part in a mission trip to Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Between trips, they saw each other as much as possible.
The fall of 2005 brought Eric an opportunity to serve as youth and worship pastor at First Baptist Church in Marked Tree, a position he filled for two years. Kristie traveled with him several times a week from the WBC campus in Walnut Ridge.
On June 24, 2006, a month after Eric’s graduation, the couple married at the Marked Tree church. Their close friend Allen Elkins performed the ceremony. Eric surprised Kristie by singing “You and Me” by Lifehouse.
They moved to Jonesboro that fall, and Eric began his work at CityYouth. He left an indelible mark there, to be sure. “I miss those kids,” he said. “I’m ready to get back and do some volunteering.”
Kristie earned her bachelor of science in psychology from WBC in 2008.
Now, with the blessings of a new daughter and a new ministry at Central, the Lloyds are moving into new realms of service, touching the lives of countless youth in Jonesboro.
“I’m really excited about my work at Central. Youth ministers poured their love into me when no one else did,” Eric said. “That is why I feel called to do what I do. It is for God’s glory.”