Jim Ruark is new man in the pulpit at Mt. Zion UMC in Laurel

When God called David to defeat Goliath, David was not a person one would select as a giant killer. Of course, God does not look at the physical; he looks at the spirit. In the same vein, Jim Ruark is not a person one would expect to be taking on his first church assignment at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Laurel, but God does not call the equipped, he equips the called.

A man does not usually go into ministry in his 80s. Although Ruark was one of two octogenarians in his certified lay minister class, one would not expect someone to take over his first church pulpit well beyond the usual retirement age. God has a different economy because he looks at the spiritual and not the physical.

Looking at the physical side, one would probably give Ruark trying to grow small church about the same odds as David slaying Goliath armed with just a sling and five smooth stones.

When Ruark got the call from the district superintendent, he prayed all night to get the discernment to make the decision. He accepted the call because the clear answer to his prayer was that he was not being called to preach to a small church, but to a growing church.

Ruark was trained in the United Methodist Church as a certified lay minister. Lay ministers are not ordained, but are trained to handle many of the duties of ministers including leading services, preaching and teaching. Ruark was confirmed as a lay minister in July 2013.

Since then, he has served at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church near Laurel. He is currently teaching a Bible study at St. Paul’s. When he had an opportunity to stand in for the previous pastor at Mt. Zion, the church liked his down-to-earth and straight-to-the-point style of preaching.

Services at Mt. Zion are at 10 a.m., Sundays. Ruark rings the old church bell before the Sunday service. Mt. Zion UMC is  at 28315 Seaford Road, Laurel, on Route 13A between Seaford and Laurel.