Newman alumnus Kevin Oldham ‘24 began his journey with JCPenney as a part-time seasonal sales associate in the men’s department. Now, more than three decades later, he leads the Dodge City store as general manager, a role he holds with pride and purpose.
While retail shapes his professional life, his Catholic faith defines his personal mission.
Guided by faith
Oldham is a graduate of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City’s pastoral ministry certificate program through Newman University. He’s discovered his lifelong calling: helping others deepen their faith.
“I always felt like something was missing when I wasn’t practicing,” Oldham said. “When I’m engaged with my faith, I feel a sense of peace. It just feels right.”
His path has not always been straightforward. Raised Catholic and a regular churchgoer through high school, Oldham drifted from regular Mass attendance as an adult. But 20 years ago, after meeting his wife, he began his return to the church. His wife was fascinated with the Catholic faith, and the renewed sense of curiosity sparked something in both of them. She completed the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (formerly known as RCIA) and joined the church. Together, the couple ensured their children were baptized and received their sacraments.
As a father of two, Oldham is intentional about planting the seeds of faith in his own kids and the youth he teaches through catechism. While he admits many of his students attend reluctantly, he sees his efforts as part of a longer-term story.
“I know the seeds I’m planting won’t sprout right away,” he said. “It may take 10 or 20 years, but they’ll grow when the time is right. That’s how it worked for me.”
The metaphor of planting seeds took on new meaning for Oldham during a recent conversation with his parish’s director of religious education. The next morning, his daily devotional featured a scripture from St. Paul: “We have planted the seeds, let God water them.”
“It was one of those ‘God-incidences,’” he said. “It really affirmed everything.”
A 150-year-old role model
At work, Oldham said he also strives to live by the principles instilled by JCPenney’s founder, James Cash Penney Jr. The company, founded on the golden rule, originally operated under the name “The Golden Rule Store.” Its guiding belief was that every customer deserved fair, consistent treatment — something that continues to resonate with Oldham more than a century later.
“Mr. Penney didn’t believe in credit or charging people different prices,” he said. “It was simple: cash today, same price for everyone. That fairness and integrity … it still means something.”
An engaging online student experience
Oldham’s love for Newman’s pastoral ministry program — which for him was completely online — stems from its welcoming, community-focused environment.
“Participating remotely could leave a student feeling disconnected from their fellow students and instructors, but that was not my experience at Newman,” Oldham said. “The instructors utilized the break-out rooms to foster great dialogue during our class. I know that I learned as much from my fellow students as I did from the instructors.”
Whether sharing in small group discussions or speaking at parishes about the value of the program, Oldham said the emphasis on invitation and storytelling had a lasting impact.
“I’m really a very shy person,” he admitted. “But in my Newman classes, someone would always say, ‘Kevin, is there anything you’d like to share?’ That invitation made a difference.”
That spirit of invitation extended beyond the classroom. Last fall, Oldham visited Kansas parishes in Garden City, Ingalls and Dodge City to speak about the program and share his personal experience. He jumped at another opportunity to plant seeds.
The importance of ‘extending the invitation’
Oldham described his Newman experience as “transformational,” he said. During his graduation ceremony in Wichita, he stood alongside other Dodge City students that were receiving degrees from Newman University. Even the local middle school principal attended Newman’s commencement ceremony in Wichita to show support for those receiving teaching degrees.
“That day was really special,” Oldham said.
Oldham’s daughter, a high school freshman, hopes to become a teacher in the future. She recently led a confirmation class for her peers, which was a proud moment for Oldham. He said seeing her courage and confidence is a sign that the seeds of faith are already taking root.
“She stood up and taught kids her own age or older than her,” he said. “I couldn’t have been more proud.”
Although his daughter dreams of attending college in Iowa to be closer to family, Oldham noted that Newman University has certainly left its mark on their lives. During his graduation, his daughter proudly wore a “Squirrels Run the World” Newman T-shirt gifted to her by staff — another small reminder of the faith community that helped shape their family.
As he reflects on his journey from retail manager to pastoral ministry graduate, Oldham hopes others will see that faith doesn’t require perfection, just openness.
“People just need to be invited,” he said. “Sometimes that’s all it takes to change a life.”
Earn a pastoral ministry degree
The purpose of Newman University’s pastoral ministry program is intellectual formation for the Catholic laity in these respective dioceses.
