Page 7 - Focus on Artesia Fall 2019

WHILE THE IDEA OF A SECOND ACT IN LIFE were not in my future. I started to imagine doing something else

IS MOST OFTEN MET WITH IMAGES OF FRESH including possible vocational ministry.” While he was heavily
involved in volunteer leadership roles in his home church at
STARTS, ADVENTURES, AND THE EXCITEMENT the time, he still had not made the full commitment to ministry
and service to the church. “Our God has a way of nudging us to
His plan. I don’t recommend waiting until He nudges, though,
OF A NEW CHALLENGE, IT DOES NOT ALWAYS because sometimes His nudge can feel more like an earthquake.”

BEGIN AS SUCH FOR ALL. IN FACT, MANY
Direction Not everyone is presented with a shiny new opportunity, but my family and we
Our community
TIMES A SECOND ACT IS PRECEDED BY

rallied around
TURBULENCE OR UNCOMFORTABLE GROWTH.

rather led to it by a realization that, perhaps, they have chosen
the wrong path or are not fully serving their life’s true purpose.
For those people, the second act can begin as less inspirational will never fully be
and much more fraught with uncertainty, trepidation, and
sometimes heartache. able to express our

Ty Houghtaling is one who found himself in the latter
category. A lifelong resident of Artesia, he returned after gratitude.
graduating with a Bachelor of Secondary Education from New
Mexico State University to pursue teaching and coaching in
the Artesia Public School system. Along with his wife, Jennifer
(Needham) Houghtaling, they made their way back to Artesia
in the fall of 2000 with the promise of jobs and the comfort of In the summer of 2011, an earthquake did indeed hit the
being back home. Houghtaling family. Their young daughter, Kayci, became ill and
eventually passed away at the age of 7. Because of the foresight
As is common in secondary teaching positions, Ty immediately of former Artesia Public Schools superintendent, Mike Phipps, a
found himself joining in the juggling act of teaching and system was already in place that enabled Ty to stay home with his
coaching. “I was a busy dude!” he explained. During his family and help care for Kayci while maintaining his employment
tenure in public education and athletics, he taught a myriad status in the school district. “Our God knew what He was doing
of subjects such as Early American History, Greek Mythology, in our lives and we were given 5 months to love and focus on our
Geography, New Mexico History, Sociology, and U.S. Military daughter. If I had been a head coach, the stress and strain to meet
History. In addition, he coached Jr. High football, basketball, my job expectations, coupled with a health issue like we were
weight training, and off-season, to name just a few. facing, would have created a nightmare, as if the nightmare of a
sick child already in place wasn’t enough,” said Ty.
Ty began his teaching career in earnest. “I was eager and,
like many first-year teachers, just knew that all the kids After another year of teaching, Ty was approached by First Baptist
would love and respect me, easily making me their all-time Church Artesia about possibly helping lead their children’s sports
favorite teacher.” However, he admits, “That’s not exactly how recreation ministry. While serving, Ty was approached to assume
it happened.” While he still professes his love of teaching, the role of Family Life Minister at FBC Artesia, an offer which he
coaching, and influencing kids, he also admits he knew at an accepted in June of 2014. The church was down to two fulltime
early age he would serve the church in some capacity, though staff members with the hope of finding a new Senior Pastor to
he didn’t believe it to be in a vocational manner, which led him replace their longtime leader, Brother Rick Sullivan. Ty stated,
to pursuing teaching and coaching. “There are not many men like Rick - a man who loved his people
with a deep compassion and patience unmatched by anyone.”
Being an Artesia native and former Bulldog, Ty had the dream
of coaching champions embedded in his DNA. Eventually, he Ty describes that period of time as one of great learning and
decided to take his shot at becoming the head coach of boys personal growth. “I learned what it was like to try and change
basketball, but much to his chagrin was told he wasn’t ready culture. I learned what struggles could occur when philosophies
just yet. However ego-bruising the experience was for Ty, it was, of ministry collided.” He also confesses that he had to understand
perhaps, the beginning stage of what would eventually become some new ways of teaching and learning with compassion in the
his second act. “Looking back, it is obvious God had different hopes of addressing the countless needs of humanity that could
plans for me,” says Ty. “After 14 years in education, I began to walk through the church doors.
realize that I just wasn’t that good of a coach and championships

FALL 2019 | FOCUS ON ARTESIA 7