Pastor waited for right time to join clergy

The youth pastor described himself as a big kid.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
BOARDMAN -- Josh Arrington thought he would become a pastor but spent the first part of his life in sales.
Now, as a second career, he's going back to school to become an ordained minister.
God wanted it this way, Arrington says.
The 46-year-old Akron native and resident grew up as an active member of the Presbyterian church and planned to attend Louisville Theological Seminary. Along the way, Arrington, whose real name is David, picked up the nickname "Josh," which he even uses on his business cards.
But in his prayer life, he said, he felt he was told, "Now is not the time."
So he tried various jobs, including managing restaurants and being a private investigator, often doing stakeouts.
"It's definitely not 'Magnum P.I.,'" Arrington said.
He moved into various electronics sales jobs and eventually wound up doing church sound systems, including one for St. Charles in Boardman.
Current positions: Arrington is now the youth pastor and worship coordinator just around the corner at Boardman United Methodist Church. He's also attending Ashland Theology Seminar. Both are full-time occupations, which is nothing new to Arrington. He said he's worked two or three jobs at the same time for most of his life.
Arrington had given up on the idea of becoming a pastor and had moved away from organized church.
"As time wore on, I thought God was basically saying, 'No.'"
In 1988, Arrington met his wife, Eileen, a longtime member of Talmadge United Methodist Church. He began to attend that church on holidays and eventually became its youth pastor.
In 1999, the electronics company he worked for went under new management. Arrington left to become a substitute teacher in the Akron schools.
"God said, 'Now is the time,'" Arrington recalled.
Being a youth pastor comes easily to Arrington.
"I'm a big kid," he says with a smile. He's into gadgets, and on trips to Wal-Mart, he says, he always stops to check out the toy section.
Casual services: His style with youths also rolls over into the new contemporary service at 9:15 a.m. Sundays at the church. Dress is casual, the music is more modern, the message is shorter, and refreshments are served beforehand.
Reaction to the contemporary service has been good, he said. The service has attracted, among others, several adults who had drifted away from church.
Mainline churches in general have seen a dwindling of their congregations and a shortage of ministers in recent years. When Arrington graduates in 2003, he plans to become a pastor.
Second-career benefits: Arrington said probably three-fourths of his classmates are also second-career pastors.
Arrington said second-career pastors can bring experiences to the job younger people don't have. And being a pastor is a difficult and stressful job.
"You have to have life experiences behind you," he added.
Overall, there are more second-career pastors now because people generally aren't staying in one job for life. And that's acceptable. Arrington said the congregations at Boardman and Talmadge United Methodist churches had been very encouraging and understanding of his choice.
Arrington doesn't know why God didn't call him to be a pastor as a first career.
"No man knows the mind of God."