Brayli Sterbel, a graduate student currently working on her master’s in management and leadership, recently took on the job of children’s minister at Heartland in Campbellsville. Heartland is a church plant, so it’s just starting up. Sterbel is stepping into a new role and is starting it from the ground up for those to follow her.
“I would love to use my leadership skills to create a solid foundation for the ministry, and in the future, pass it along to someone else,” Sterbel said.
Children’s ministry wasn’t something she planned on doing, but she wanted to be used where God has put her.
“I didn’t have a huge desire to do children’s ministry and when they asked me, I was shocked,” Sterbel said. “But I wanted to be useful during this spot that the Lord has me in at Campbellsville.”
Sterbel has been meeting with other children minsters across Kentucky to learn more about how to build the program. Doing this has made her a stronger leader because she has had to go outside of her comfort zone.
Sterbel’s biggest challenge is trusting that she’s making the right decisions. She wants to make sure that her choices align with what God is calling her to do, while also finding the courage to make those decisions.
“Starting the ministry up from square one has been a big challenge,” Sterbel said. “I’ve been trusting that the Lord has been guiding me through it all.”
Sterbel said Campbellsville University has prepared her for this job and has helped her grow.
“Having time management and deadlines were huge and the structure carried over well,” Sterbel said. “Being at an institution that had Jesus as the root of it all, even in the classes, helped me grow in my relationship with Christ and it carries over.”
Sterbel said the church has been supporting her and has been a huge help to her.
“The church has been very supportive in this new role,” she said. “They have been using a lot of words and encouragement to solidify the calling.”
She said even though her work has changed, she still allows herself time to hang out with her friends.
“I like to get what I need to get done throughout the week so I can enjoy the fun things in life as well,” Sterbel said.
According to one of Sterbel’s friends, junior Jay Sipes, her kindness will benefit the children’s ministry.
“She’s very approachable and kind to strangers,” Sipes said. “She loves to make new friends.”
Sipes said Sterbel is easy going, but when she needs to get things done, she can.
“She’s always on top of everything but not stressed about it,” he said.
She’s good fit to be the children’s minister, according to Sipes.
“She loves being around kids,” he said. “She doesn’t get stressed out and her love for the Lord makes her fit to be a children’s minister.”
While this new job will be challenging, Sipes thinks Sterbel can handle it.
“I think it’s awesome that she is taking up this challenge,” he said. “If it’s God will, then He will make it happen.”
Sipes said he knows Sterbel will manage her time wisely and still allow time for friends.
“She’s very good at balancing her professional life with her personal life,” he said.
Campus Minister Trent Creason said he’s seen Sterbel grow as a student and as a person.
“One of the things that’s amazing about Brayli is her heart for people and the Lord,” Creason said. “I’ve seen her heart grow deeper in that and grow as a leader.”
According to Creason, Sterbel has been able to grow from the different opportunities at Campbellsville University, and hopes other students will, too.
“She’s been able to practice skills in practical ways in campus ministries,” he said. “That’s one of our hopes with people working in campus ministries is to give them an opportunity to serve where they are and also develop skills to go where God is calling them.”
Creason said starting a children’s ministry can be tough, just like any new project. Engaging leaders and volunteers is an ongoing challenge for youth pastors and children’s ministers, he said.
“Starting anything new is hard to get the momentum going,” he said. “You want to get it right and to do what God desires but there’s a lot in planning, especially in children’s ministry.”
Creason said Sterbel is a leader and he’s seen her be one. She isn’t someone who has to have a “title” to be a leader, and she goes where she is needed.
“I’ve observed Brayli be a leader by her care for people,” he said. “She doesn’t need a position to lead others to Christ… Oftentimes people view leadership as a role or title, but real leadership is seen in the simple moments, in taking time in your day to meet people where they are. I see Brayli do that all the time.”
Creason said his favorite memories with Sterbel are the deep conversations they’ve had about faith.
“She’s a deep thinker,” he said. “You don’t have to ever worry about if Brayli has thought about something deeply.”
Creason said students who want to follow a path like Sterbel’s should engage across campus and serve in different ministries. He said Sterbel is someone for people to look up to.
“When you think of examples to follow and people who love the Lord and aren’t perfect but pursuing him, Brayli is a person to look up to here at CU,” Creason said.
Heartland Lead Pastor Chapman Bean, who graduated from Campbellsville University in 2018 in pastoral ministries, said Sterbel is a genuine worker.
“One of the reasons we hired Bryali is because she’s been a servant leader from the beginning,” Bean said. “It’s easy to hire people who want a paycheck but it’s hard to hire people who just want to be there.”
While Brayli is still a graduate student working on her masters, Bean doesn’t think it’s a bad thing.
“Brayli being in so many different places gives her the chance to have really strong relationships with people who don’t come to church and be evangelistic to others,” he said.
According to Bean, Sterbel is a hard worker and does things she’s not asked to do.
“A couple of Sundays ago she showed up with a craft and no one even asked her to do that,” he said.
According to Bean, Sterbel is very adaptable and able to lead in different aspects.
“She can lead worship, go to children’s ministry, go to youth. She’s able to jump into different roles and be successful,” Bean said. “She’s accountable.”
Bean also said Sterbel helps with their mission as a church.
“The staff culture we’re trying to build is one that’s living out what our church is trying to do, which is loving one another and serving others,” he said.
According to Bean, Sterbel is someone that means a lot to their staff, and they’ve welcomed her with open arms.
“She’s a part of our family and we love her,” Bean said. “She’s been a perfect fit for our team.”
