Working the overnight shift in a grocery store gave Brian Cushman time to think about what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.
He already knew he wanted to help people. But he wanted to do it live. . .in person. He already had an idea that Christian ministry might be his calling.
Today, the 49-year-old is into his second month of his first full-time pastorate – at Montezuma United Methodist Church.
The self-proclaimed “people person” is going out and talking to people, pitching horseshoes on a court near the church, attending Montezuma ballgames, “and helping wherever I can,” he said.
Cushman and his wife, Robin and their three children, Gabriella (Gabby), Ryan and Ethan, live in the parsonage across the alley from the church.
Brian grew up on a farm in Humboldt County. He graduated from high school in 1991. He attended Iowa Central College in Fort Dodge, where he met Robin. They married in 1994.
He embraced a Roman Catholic upbringing, to the extent that he donned vestments and recited Mass. “I had a priest ask me back in fifth grade if I ever wanted to be a priest,” Cushman said.
“I knew at that time that I wanted to serve, to help,” he said.
Fast forward to his college years. “I wanted to be a police officer,” Brian said. “My mom freaked out the first time I came home in uniform and a bullet-proof vest,” he said.
“But I didn’t want to go to seminary,” he said. “I didn’t want to have to pay.”
Watching how the elders in his family lived further strengthened his resolve to serve.
Brian took the Methodist lay speaker’s courses. “I thought I could fill in at churches,” he said.
He did, while working eight years in a print shop and 13 in a grocery store.
“This (preaching) is what I need to be doing,” he thought, all during a pretty long incubation period.
Brian had become acquainted with the United Methodist Church during the time, and knows former Montezuma UMC Pastor Brian Carter, who was serving in Webster City.
Eventually, “A district superintendent asked if I wanted to go into full-time ministry. I said yes.”
Cushman graduated in 2014 from the Iowa licensing school. He first served at Mackey United Methodist Church, a small church in rural Boone which is now closed after COVID cut deeply into attendance.
After that, Brian helped at Marion Street United Methodist Church in Boone.
Then, came the call to Montezuma. He began serving on July 1.
Cushman said he is an avid collector of toy tractors, and is looking forward to the Montezuma Lions Club’s annual toy show.
He also collects Coca Cola memorabilia.
The pastor is a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and said he felt bad that he didn’t yet own a blue shirt when he attended the Montezuma vs. North Mahaska tournament baseball game earlier this summer.
He also likes the Minnesota Wild hockey team.
He likes people, in person.
Cushman said his horseshoes game, “is a little rusty. My uncle Bud taught me to play,” he said. “One Friday morning, I saw a group playing out here, so I joined them.
“It’s a form of ministry!” he said.