5 minutes with Jodi Rushing, First United Methodist Church minister

AGE: 46

HOMETOWN: I’m originally from Urbandale, Iowa, and now I live in Mount Ayr, Iowa.

FAMILY: I am married. My husband, Skip Rushing, is the United Methodist minister in Mount Ayr. I have a daughter, Sara, who is 27, a son, Jacob, who is 15, another son, Lucas, who is 11, and a third son, Ben, who is 9.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: The people. Just amazing people, all the diversity and all the different personalities.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PASTOR? It’ll be 15 years in July.

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE: 1 John 4:7-12. Beloved let us love one another because love is from God, is essentially the focus of it.

FAVORITE SERMON SUBJECT: Probably loving God and loving your neighbor.

HOBBIES: Outside of church and family, reading. I have learned how to quilt and I like working in my flower garden.

FAVORITE AUTHOR: Right now, it’s probably John Grisham.

IF I WASN’T A PASTOR, I’D BE: An elementary guidance counselor

FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: Psychology, sociology

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT CRESTON? All of the people I’ve met. It’s just a very friendly community, not just the people in the church, but out and about. It’s just a very kind community.

MOST EMBARASSING MOMENT ON THE JOB: Several years ago, at a different appointment, it was during the children’s sermon and it was our summer fun Sunday, and I was hugely pregnant with my son. One of the girls asked if I would be wearing my swimsuit. I said no. So the next year, when it was summer fun Sunday, I borrowed one of those shirts that has the women’s body and the swimsuit and I was wearing it for the children’s sermon and it wasn’t until I put it on that I realized in the back, it was a thong bikini. So I had to try to maneuver my children’s sermon so no one saw the back of my shirt.