Travis Mundy
by Phil Richardson, Communications Committee
Our story begins September 1, 2004, with Travis Mundy following the romantic trail from Los Angeles to Tucson blazed by fiancée Shauna, now Mrs. Mundy, who came to the University of Arizona in search of her dream of becoming a speech therapist. Those of us in the crowded “old” Sanctuary (now Chapel) to whom Travis was introduced were instantly charmed by the new Youth Ministry Leader.
Though he will be first to edit this essay, we’ve forbidden the excision of words such as “brilliant,” and “energetic.” Humility has its place and he is certainly that. We wager Shauna would quickly agree with us, saying that he is thoughtful. Soon, he and Shauna pray, he will have earned, through diligence, weary hours, and many road miles between Tucson and Seminary in Phoenix, the hard-earned title of “Reverend.” He already has the work behind him that has earned a Masters of Divinity degree and passed all five tests in the two-year, six-month graduation process posed by Presbytery de Cristo. The next plateau in a long, long trail: ordination.
Shauna continues to lead in the family quest for a vocation. She graduated from the U of A in the summer of 2006, with a degree in Speech Pathology and is employed by St. Mary’s Hospital.
First came Travis’ Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies at Azusa Pacific University. We’ve already given away something unknown only to newcomers: Marriage in Las Vegas to Shauna, officiated by Dr. Joe Bettridge, soon after their arrival here.
Let’s take a peek at his immediately upcoming calendar page: the eagerly awaited Moonlight Dinners, May 2 and 3, graduation for Middle and High-Schoolers; scholarships awarded to our youth for summer camp and mission trips; a fund-raising golf tournament; and a wildly anticipated mission trip for 22 of our students and six adults to Costa Rica, Central America for 10 active days, repairing hurricane damage to homes in the village of Puerto Viejo. In the meantime, The Well on Sunday evenings, many one-on-ones wringing out challenges to individual young people approaching adulthood, along with many group sit-downs involving a myriad number of youth activities. Did we mention tag football?
So, how has Travis Mundy’s perspective, and his vision, changed in the crowded, last four years? It is definitely less about “numbers”… i.e. less about a count of the number of Young People who are doing this or that and more thought about generating a collaboration by adults with them and their dreams. Remember when we were their ages, and how we defined ourselves then? Travis proposes a greater integration, if you will, of our lives, programs, and activities and theirs—both inside and outside the church—taking nothing away from the care and concern of each of their parents. It means, in effect, finding ways of expressing our love and concern beginning with a lowering of the barriers adults often unconsciously erect.
“Pray about how each of us adults could be led to help change this,” is Travis’ and Shauna’s humble prayer.