VCS Welcomes Paul Pitts III as New Spiritual Life Director

Village Christian School is proud to welcome Paul Pitts III as its new Spiritual Life Director.

Pitts, who received his Masters of Divinity from The Master’s Seminary in 2020, holds a Masters of Arts and Letters in Liberal Arts and Sciences with an emphasis in Biblical Studies from San Diego State University, where he also earned his Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies with a minor in Counseling and Social Change.

With experience ranging from pastoral ministry at The Hill Church to college ministry at Cal State Northridge and youth outreach at the San Diego Center For Children, Pitts brings a uniquely tailored heart for students to the VCS campus.

"We are so blessed to have Paul Pitts III leading our Spiritual Life Department," said Head of School Tom Konjoyan. "His impact on our students and staff will be tremendous. I cannot wait for the profound ways he will bring the love of Christ to our community."

An accomplished athlete, the former San Diego State wide receiver was named the school’s 2016 Student-Athlete of the Year and the Arthur Ashe Jr. National Male Sports Scholar of the Year. He’s an Academic All-Mountain West Conference honoree, and won the Humanitarian Award through the 2013 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, which the Aztecs won 49-24 over the University of Buffalo.

Additionally, Pitts, who spent his seminary years also working as an intern at Grace Community Church, received The MacArthur Preaching Award from The Master’s Seminary in 2020 and the Dr. Richard Mayhue Honor’s Scholarship from 2017-2020.

But we want you to hear from Paul Pitts III himself. Please see below for a special interview with our new Spiritual Life Director as he discusses his experience and vision for the Spiritual Life Department.

• How have your experiences (i.e., ministry, athletics, etc.) and education (San Diego State and The Master's Seminary) prepared you for this role?
  God's wise, kind, and fatherly hand, I humbly believe, has uniquely prepared me for this role. First, God graciously saved me when I was in middle school and used a number of great men of God in my life throughout my youth for the good of my soul. I'm passionate to do the same for our students. Second, after I tore my ACL playing college football, God deepened a passion in me for His Word and His people. Since that year in 2012, I've given myself to gospel ministry in schools, locker rooms, sports ministries, and the local church. I have a passion for preaching God's Word, making disciples of Jesus, and shepherding His followers. Also, being a football player for the majority of my life has created in me a passion for Christians in sports and Christians in any context integrating their faith in Jesus. Third, in college my undergrad was Religious Studies and my M.A. had a biblical studies emphasis. So, I understand how to prepare students to stay strong in Christ even in the face of going off to college. After my time at SDSU, I was trained for gospel ministry and expositional preaching at The Master's Seminary. My time at seminary was the farthest from dry theological academics, it was Christ-exalted training that pushed me to love Jesus along with His people more. God has been abundantly kind to me and by His grace, I believe I can come alongside VCS for the sake of Christ's glory.

• Please describe the benefits/advantages your youth gives you in this role.
  I understand that some may be surprised that this role was filled by a 28-year-old man who was just married this year. But I can't help my age, all I can do is trust God where He has led me and depend on His promises to be faithful where He's called me. Furthermore, the Bible says to another young minister in Timothy to "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). So, my prayer is to live an exemplary Christlike life that supersedes any distraction from my age. I also believe God can, by His grace, use me exactly where I am to connect with students of this generation and understand their particular struggles. Moreover, I remember being so thankful for my youth pastor as a teenager because He was a young man serious about Jesus, God's Word, and helping people. It was precisely because of his younger age that I was more encouraged by His example. Another thing is that God has allowed me so much learning in less than three decades and I'll begin my Doctorate degree next year. I learn, not to pridefully garner a bigger head, but to pour into others and I believe VCS provides me the opportunity to do that. All in all, God can use any of His children for His glory by His grace and I pray He'll do so with me here.

• What drew you to VCS and this community?
  I was drawn to VCS because of the regional and generational gospel impact God has afforded this institution. This school has such a diverse reach into the L.A. community along with an open heart to serve whoever will come to our school doors. I love that VCS has open arms to all of Los Angeles, as we follow the Savior who said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Also, I was drawn to this school because the mission of this school has Christ at the center. Beholding and bearing witness to the beauty of Jesus is my personal life mission, which coincides well with what VCS wants to do. Lastly, I love the city of Los Angeles and VCS serves the city as a whole with a unique focus upon Jesus. I considered it a privilege to have any part in that.

• How would you describe the importance/value of the Spiritual Life Department and its impact on students?
  The importance and value of the Spiritual Life Department is immeasurable. Precisely because the Spiritual Life Department explicitly deals with that which is eternal--the souls of our students, staff, and community. Jesus said that someone can gain the whole world, but if they lose their soul, it's a worthless tragedy (Mark 8:36). The Spiritual life Department has the privileged stewardship to bear witness to Jesus, the only savior from death, hope for eternal life and life more abundantly now (John 3:16, 10:10).

• What is your vision for the Spiritual Life Department here at VCS?
  My vision for the Spiritual Life Department at VCS is to provide consistent Christ-centered soul-care, devoted to God's Word and prayer (Col. 1:28-29, Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 2:42). To explain that further, my prayer is that the Spiritual Life Department would be a reliable and relational service to our campus/community that cares for our people at the deepest level--matters of the soul in relation to God. Therefore, our care will always be completely focused on the glorious person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only Savior of lost souls and the satisfying sustainer of redeemed souls. The only way to truly care for souls is to point to Jesus in all of His beautiful sufficiency. Jesus is enough for all matters of the soul. Those who make up the Spiritual Life Department are just pointers, Jesus is the point. More practically speaking, the primary way to point people to Christ is to give ourselves to His Word. We want to see the students and the VCS community know, trust, cherish, and bear witness to the Christ of Scripture, so we'll devote ourselves to His Word to see souls turn from sin to come to Christ and become more like Christ (Rom. 10:17, 2 Cor. 3:18, 4:5, John 8:31-32, 17:17). Likewise, we'll give ourselves to prayer because needy people pray (Matt. 7:7-11, Luke 18:1). Here at VCS, we all need Jesus together, and we'll frequently draw near to the throne of grace in prayer (Heb. 4:16).

• What do you hope to bring to the students, staff, and community?
  My hope and prayer is to serve the students, staff, and community in at least five ways. First, I long to bear witness to the glory of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6, John 1:14). I desire that everyone in the VCS community would in faith look to Jesus for life, cherishing His beauty, loveliness, and glory as set forth in Scripture (Heb. 12:2). Second, I hope and pray the power of the gospel would be at work in my service here (Rom. 1:16). The gospel is the power of God to save those who believe, and I pray many souls would come to faith in Jesus and many Christians be encouraged to never graduate from the gospel. Third, I hope to serve in such a way that emboldens students, staff, and our community to gladly believe the Bible for life. I want to encourage and equip our people with the authority, reliability, sufficiency, and truth of God's Word (Psalm 19:7-11, 2 Tim. 3:16). Fourth, I desire to encourage our community toward the beauty of prayer, where we commune and express our dependence upon God. All Christian service, including a Christian private school, must be saturated with prayer because apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). Lastly, I hope love would always be in the forefront and permeate all that we do (1 Cor. 13:1-3, 2 Cor. 5:14-15) and for the love of Jesus to be our greatest motivator in everything (Eph. 3:14-19).

"It is my joy to begin this partnership in the gospel with you all for the good of VCS and the glory of God," Pitts added. "I hope to make many friendships here with you all. All glory be to Christ!"

Please join us in welcoming Paul Pitts III to the VCS community!