Knox Chambers, 12, sees school as a mission field
CLARKSVILLE — “If you met Jesus today, what would you say to Him?”
This is the question 12-year-old Knox Chambers uses to open gospel conversations with classmates.
As a 6th grader in Montgomery County, Knox has led five of his classmates to Christ as well as started a lunchtime prayer group that’s grown to 10 students.
“He’s sharing the gospel and building bridges with people,” said First Baptist Clarksville pastor Ronny Raines. “It’s really unusual to see someone like this. You don’t see many at that age having that kind of spiritual discernment.”
Knox Chambers (center), stands with his dad, Brandon (right), and Ronny Raines, pastor of First Baptist Church, Clarksville (left).
Knox, a member of First Baptist Clarksville, found inspiration in pastor Raines’ initiative for the congregation to have 5,000 gospel conversations in 2024.
“He came in one Sunday, and I think he really accepted the challenge,” said Brandon Chambers, Knox’s dad. “He started school in August at the middle school. So that was a new school for him. That was his new mission field.”
This lunchtime prayer time began with just a few friends from Knox’s fourth period.
“We had always made it a priority to pray first before we eat, and then it just started growing and growing,” Knox explained.
Admittedly, he found himself wrestling with nerves when he first began praying before lunch.
“I guess I was a little nervous, just being around other people. But then again, Jesus died for us, so we should be willing to openly talk to others about it,” he said.
Knox accepted Christ at eight years old and was baptized at First Baptist shortly after. Despite his youth, Knox brings a spiritual depth to his outreach, having read the Bible twice through and maintained daily devotions with his family.
“We do some Old Testament, some New Testament, so we can talk about it and we hold each other accountable,” said Brandon.
The Chambers’ commitment to family Bible study has fostered a perspective that follows Knox into his school week.
“Sometimes on Sunday nights, I’ll always be sad that we have to go back to school,” Knox said, “But then I have to remind myself that it’s an open mission field that God can give you a gospel conversation wherever, whenever.”
‘The right mission field’
The decision of where to send Knox to school wasn’t a simple one for Brandon and Kendyl Chambers. With three daughters already split between private and public education, the couple weighed their options.
But they knew God was calling Knox to Montgomery Central Middle School.
“I think seeing that he’s in public school, he’s in the right mission field,” Brandon said. “The mission emphasis of this church and this congregation has grown. So right now, his mission field is the sixth-grade lunch table, and we pray that the legs hold up every day.”
Knox’s desire to connect with peers stems from recognizing their struggle to believe in Jesus’ unconditional love.
“It’s, ‘Why would He love me? I’ve done all this stuff, why would I deserve that?’ And they just don’t believe,” Knox explained.
But that doubt opens up opportunity.
“For example, Paul, he was crucifying people, and on the road to Damascus, God changed him. So that’s always a good thing to bring up.”
Knox initiated his first faith conversation by asking his close friend the question, “If you met Jesus today, what would you say?”
His friend paused, then Knox shared his own response: “I would say thank you for dying on the cross.
“I didn’t want to force anything on him — you just want to give them the option,” Knox explained. “I asked him if he wanted to pray, and he said yes. We prayed that prayer, and I was so excited that day at school.”
This success was meaningful because it came after an earlier attempt with another classmate who had declined to pray with him. But Knox remained undaunted.
“I always like the saying when God closes a door, he opens the window,” said Knox.
The church of today
With Rubix Cube in hand, Knox’s fingers go to twisting each colorful row until the puzzle is solved. His fastest record for solving one of these cubes is six seconds.
With this hidden talent, he’s competed in statewide Rubix Cube competitions, another place he uses as a mission field.
“When you look at the Great Commission, the focus is ‘as you’re going.’ And as he’s going to cube competitions, going to school, he’s on his own mission for the Lord, carrying out the Great Commission. So, it’s a lifestyle, as you’re going,” said Raines.
Instead of viewing young people as the “church of the future,” Raines sees them as “the church of today.”
It’s an outlook that drives many Baptist churches, like First Baptist Clarksville, to invest in their youth.
“This church group has poured into our family and for that we’re eternally grateful,” Brandon said.
Raines added, “When you look at the Scripture, you just look at so many personalities and how God used people of various ages. He used a lot of young people, and to see that God is still using this next generation, and Knox, and so many others as well, it’s just so fruitful and rewarding to see.”
Sliding the cube into his hoodie pocket, Knox holds a thick, leather-bound Bible with his initials engraved on the front, a gift from his parents on his first day of middle school.
“I’m just thankful the Lord has placed me here,” said Knox. B&R
