Today we’d like to introduce you to Dustin Hicks.
Hi Dustin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2011, my wife, Glory, and I were living in Texas when we felt a deep sense of calling to a place that had a lot of baggage regarding religion. We had both grown up in Texas, and when you spend your whole life as a part of the majority (religious, racial, cultural, etc.), a sense of unrest can sometimes develop, especially when you take seriously the call to go and serve. Utah was not on the radar whatsoever, but I came across a job posting for a church start-up in South Jordan, and after months of conversation and a visit, it became clear that this was just the type of place we were sensing a call to. There’s plenty of religious baggage, primarily in the form of people who feel like outcasts for not being a part of the dominant culture here, and we feel as though the Gospel of Jesus has an answer for that feeling that actually helps to shed religious baggage instead of piling it on. After all, he does say, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It certainly hasn’t been a smooth road. Our church community has met in 5 different locations over 10 years, and has tried church partnerships and mergers in order to share the burden of the calling and vision, which have ultimately been unsuccessful. I spent the better part of 9 years working multiple jobs on the side to help make ends meet and served as a work-from-home-dad while our kids (now 4 and 7) were young and my wife worked full time as an elementary teacher. Along the way, we’ve seen that the work of planting seeds requires a long-suffering attitude and takes time and long-term commitment to relationships in order to see any fruit. Being far from our families (who are all still in Texas) has also been challenging in certain seasons of life. However, we’re reinvigorated by a recent fresh start and renewed vision, and are confident that the best is yet to come.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a pastor at a church plant called Cultivate Community Church. Our mission is to nurture a community of belonging and growth while pursuing the reconciliation of all things to Jesus.
What’s next?
We want to be a place where people can come with all their baggage–their doubts, questions, even confusion and anger–and find refuge. We want to be a community that isn’t just there to hand out answers, but to wrestle through the questions with people. We value spiritual formation, which is a process that can start from any point in a person’s spiritual journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cultivateutah.church
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultivateutah.church/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cultivateutah.church
