Freshmen and transfers aren’t the only new faces around campus. This semester, the Office of Campus Pastors brought on Pastor Kelly Roth as the executive director and pastor of operations and staff.
“I love APU. It feels like home for me,” Roth said. “I gained so much being a student here, and I love the fact that I have the opportunity to give back.”
Roth is an Azusa Pacific 1984 alumna, getting both her bachelor’s in music and master’s in organizational leadership. During her time as an undergraduate, she was part of Bel Canto and University Choir and Orchestra.
“When I was a student here, I really only cared about one thing: music,” Roth said. “As a music education and vocal performance major, I was always busy, and it kept me out of trouble.”
After completing her undergraduate education, Roth returned to APU to teach one of the women’s choirs, Jubilant Song, for three years. During that time, she also volunteered at Cucamonga Christian Fellowship, where she eventually become the worship pastor for the next 20 years.
In the midst of her music career, Roth returned as a graduate student for her master of arts in organizational leadership, which enabled her to take on an additional role as executive pastor.
In 2010, Roth again was called back to APU by Dr. Kevin Mannoia, who is the head chaplain for SoulQuest, a spiritual care ministry for graduate and professional students.
“Kelly has engaged in wonderful ways with the School of Music in touching the lives of graduate and certificate students through SoulQuest. She continues to minister in that capacity and brings experience, wisdom and sound spiritual guidance to the students there,” Mannoia said.
Pastor Roth’s role as a chaplain caters specifically to music students, a job she says is a great way to stay in touch with her musical roots while interacting with artists and musicians.
Before this year, Roth’s position in the Office of Campus Pastors did not exist. The office created it in order to meet the need for more helping hands.
“A friend of mine sent me the job description because he thought it described me,” Roth said. “When I first read it, I was amazed that a position like this existed.”
The application process involved several steps, including many interviews with Lead Pastor Woody Morwood, a search committee and ultimately all of the other campus pastors.
“Pastor Kelly’s long-term experience as an executive pastor in a larger local congregation gives her godly wisdom to come tackle many of the operational tasks and ministry opportunities we have needed with here in the Campus Pastors Office,” Morwood said.
Unlike the other campus pastors, students won’t see Roth speaking at chapel. Her job involves more of the behind-the-scenes duties and in-office tasks.
“My primary goal is to improve overall operational leadership for the Campus Pastors Office. I attend a lot of meetings and help implement strategies that will support the work of all the other pastors,” Roth said.
Although she doesn’t have as much student interaction as other campus pastors may, Pastor Roth encourages students to make an appointment with her so that they can get to know her better. Already, four undergraduate women have reached out to her and asked her to be their mentor for this year.
As for her job at her local congregation, Roth is not currently a part of a church staff, but said that she is back to being a volunteer on the worship team. For now, she is excited to be with students and use her gifts for strategic planning and administration in a way that creates opportunities for ministry.
“As I look back over my life, I can see how God has used each of my life stages and experiences to bring me to this place right now,” Roth said. “If anyone told me when I was a student that I would one day be a campus pastor I wouldn’t have believed it, but I am so thankful that God has brought me here. It’s a perfect fit and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”