Ty Huston, this year's Hancock County Journal-Pilot Leader of the 21st Century from La Harpe High School, isn't sure what life will be like in 20 years.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By Natalie Dutton, Staff writer
from Hancock County Journal, (used with permission)
Ty Huston, this year's Hancock County Journal-Pilot Leader of the 21st Century from La Harpe High School, isn't sure what life will be like in 20 years.
But he's okay with that because Huston knows that wherever he ends up, it will be God's will.
"I don't know what I'll be doing exactly," said Huston. "But I know that He is leading me into the ministry, and the rest will work itself out."
Huston, the third of seven children, says that his Christian upbringing has been a major influence on him. He spent the first two years of his life in La Harpe, until his parents Teresa and Rex moved the family to Shilo Christian Children's Ranch to work as foster parents for children coming into the program. Huston says that as a child, having other kids around was fun.
"I don't think I was old enough to understand what the kids had done to get there," said Huston.
"To me it was just like living with my friends, but now I realize that some of them would have gone to "juvy' if they hadn't come to the ranch."
Huston attended Keokuk Christian Academy through fifth grade until the family returned to La Harpe, where he will graduate this spring. Going to a Christian school and living in a Christian setting made for an adjustment when entering public school.
"I used to joke that the only part of the "real world' that I saw was Wal-Mart," laughs Huston. "But coming back to public school was a little shocking. When you lead a sheltered life like I did you assume that everyone has the same beliefs as you and thinks the same words are "bad words'."
Huston said that his sheltered early life made him an easy target for bullying.
"I was fortunate enough to have friends like Reo Read and Eric McGee who stuck up for me and have stayed good friends," said Huston.
"I also found a place in Boy Scouts which stresses good morals. It was sort of my nitch."
Huston admits that being a teenager is filled with many more temptations than in his youth, but attributes his success to a strong foundation in his faith and a watchful older sister-Bobi (Huston) James, who now lives in Quincy.
"She was a senior when I was a freshman. So if she saw me going the wrong direction, she'd put me back in line," said Huston.
"There is much more temptation when you're out in the world. I admit that I haven't won all of my spiritual battles."
In addition to sister Bobi, he also has an "Accountability Partner" in Chris Boston, from rural Carthage, who he must confide in. He and Boston made the agreement two years ago at church camp.
"We have to tell each other everything and when we mess up, we receive constructive criticism," said Huston.
"We try and get together about one a week, but sometimes it's tough. There are a lot of things that I haven't done because I know that I'll have to tell Chris about it later. I really want to try to keep it going through college."
Huston will attend Augustana College majoring in ministry and minoring in speech communication.Though he will play football, he will be on an academic scholarship. He admits that he had no remote interest in the school until he was invited to a visit by line coach Matt Krill.
"When I came home I knew that was where I was going," said Huston. "I love the football program there. They meet with the players each week and find out where they are at on their classes. It's intense."
Huston will enter school with some ministry work under his belt. In addition to his numerous school activities, he also guest ministers at the Presbyterian Church in Fountain Green, La Harpe Christian Church, and with residents of La Harpe-Davier Health Care Center. He also works as a cooperative work student at La Harpe Christian Church.
"Robyn Thompson said once that being a minister is like being an English teacher," smiles Huston. "You have to write an eight-page paper every week."
He catalogues his readings for future sermons on a computer system he designed.
Though as a young boy he had his heart set on the military, he now says he looks forward to doing God's work.
"I have been thinking a lot lately about bringing people into Christianity from other religions or other denominations" said Huston. "For school I've written term papers on Mormonism and now I'm studying Catholicism. It's interesting to learn other people's interpretation of the Bible"
Huston may get a feel for the career this summer at Life Bridge Christian Church in Brandon, VT.
"There is a huge Catholic population there," said Huston. "There are only three independent Christian churches in the whole state. This all got lined up after I began looking into Catholicism, so I think it's ironic. I believe that God has a hand in every decision I make."
He has been involved in football, basketball, drama club, speech team, National Honor Society, 4-H, Boy Scouts, and maintains a 3.4 grade point average.