Jeff Buckhout
Class of 2018
Nominating (Chair), Finance
How long have you been a member at CSPC? Why did you join? After consulting with my parents, we started attending CSPC in either 1995 or 1996. I was confirmed later (shoutout to Alan Vicory, my confirmation mentor!). I joined obviously because my family joined the church, so the more relevant question would be: “Why did you stay?” I came back to CSPC after returning to Cincinnati because I missed having a closely knit church family who loved me and supported me. This church supported me throughout my rambunctious childhood, and that support has continued without ceasing into adulthood.
Do you have a favorite scripture, hymn, or praise song? What makes it your favorite? My favorite hymn is Be Thou My Vision, and my favorite praise song is Mighty to Save. I love the reminder that we serve a mighty God, capable of moving mountains. Through grace and mercy, He saves us from our shortcomings and sin. He has a vision for us that includes redemption and fullness of life. Those two songs pack a lot of critical reminders of our identities in Christ and the inheritance we are given through that identity.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Hobbies, etc? First and foremost, I love to hang out with my awesome wife, Monica and our dog Trenton. I also like to play golf and softball. I enjoy trying new restaurants around Cincinnati and arguing about politics with Scott Mozea.
Tell me about someone who mentored or inspired you in faith. While there have been countless people at CSPC who have motivated me, encouraged me and loved me unconditionally, some people deserve some special kudos…
Alan & Kathy Vicory. Alan was my mentor through confirmation and I was lucky enough to be taken under his and Kathy’s wing for years after that. They continue to be so special to me to this day. They chewed me out when I needed it, motivated me to succeed, embodied commitment and loyalty, and showed me what it means to embody true generosity and a giving spirit.
Joe Stephenson. Joe actually encouraged me to serve on Session, something I had never considered. To be honest, I thought he was joking when he first mentioned it. I also thought there was no way that CSPC would think it was a good idea to put 21-year-old me on Session. Joe also taught me a great deal in my first two years on Session and served as a role model for what it meant to serve with wisdom, integrity and a great sense of humor.
Tim Reed. It’s no secret that Tim is somebody who embodies a heart tuned to serving others with great humility. He has shown me what can be accomplished if you really care and also what it means to lead through service. He’s also taught me both on and off the softball diamond how to compete in a way that is to God’s glory and how to encourage others to achieve beyond their own expectations.
What is one thing you wish people knew about serving as an elder? I think those that haven’t served as elder assume a few things: that being an elder is either boring, crazy difficult or somehow draining. Personally, I’ve served a three-year term, a two-year unfinished term and a one-year unfinished term, so after six years, I have to rotate off. But I can tell you that I wouldn’t have stayed on Session for two additional terms if I didn’t find it to be fulfilling, meaningful work. It has pushed me and challenged me in my faith, deepened my relationship with God and my church family, and given me a new way to use spiritual gifts. This is going to sound crazy to some, but being an active elder has been a lot of fun! It has been demanding and there have been significant challenges, some of which I felt ill-prepared for. Thankfully, there are eight other Elders, and we have worked well together to take on those challenges, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to watch our church come through those challenges and grow!
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.