youth Archives - Baptist & Reflector

HOLY SPIRIT MOVING AT MOUNT JULIET HIGH SCHOOL

January 17, 2022

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

MOUNT JULIET — It didn’t take long for Jonathan Jennings to sense that God was up to something big at Mount Juliet High School.

Jennings — the students and missions pastor at Victory Baptist Church and the chaplain for the Mount Juliet football team — has had a front row seat during a powerful move of God that has included 13 football players making professions of faith in recent months.

“The spirit is moving at Mount Juliet High School, and God is doing some awesome things,” said Jennings. “We knew there was something special happening in that (football) locker room.” [Read more…]

INFLUENCE CAN CHANGE CULTURE

June 22, 2021

By Jay Barbier
Youth Specialist, TBMB

Influence is, was and will always be one, of the greatest tools for a follower of Jesus.

Baptist Press recently published an article that shared the results of a survey conducted by Pew Research. The survey revealed that teenagers’ views of religion follow very closely to that of their parents. So, what does this mean? This actually brings me so much joy to see that influence really does make a difference. We can use this information as a motivator for believers to show how close relationships can make a difference. [Read more…]

CAMP CARSON (CARSON SPRINGS) IS A BETHEL

March 2, 2021

By Todd Brady
Vice President for University Ministries, Union University

Back in the day, each summer I went to Camp Carson Youth Music Week. I’ve never been a musician, and I’ve attended other camps which had more of the coolness factor than Youth Music Week. But for my youth group and for friends in other churches, it was the highlight of the summer for us. We wouldn’t have missed it for anything.

For us, it was simply the best week of the year. God did a great work in my life up there on that mountain.

It was there that I met people like Paul Clark and his brother, Ricky who at that time were pouring their lives into young people. As a teenager, I learned from Paul and Ricky that it’s not primarily about how I sing, but who I sing to. All year long, my friends and I looked forward to Bob Brian taking us to Camp Carson. On the way home, we started counting down the days until we’d go back up the mountain again next year. I didn’t know what he was doing at the time, but I’m now thankful for Julian Suggs’s work and heart to lead “One generation (to) commend (God’s) works to another, and (to) declare (God’s) mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4 [Read more…]

THIS TIME, IT’S COMING TO YOU

February 9, 2021

Churches invited to host watch parties for YEC this year

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Long Hollow Baptist Church pastor Robby Gallaty tapes a segment for the 2021 Youth Evangelism Conference. Gallaty is the featured speaker for this year’s conference, which will be streamed to churches across the state.

FRANKLIN — For more than two years, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board youth specialist Jay Barbier has been thinking about the possibility of restructuring the annual Youth Evangelism Conference.

The COVID-19 pandemic opened the door for those changes to be made.

The conference, which has been a popular event for more than 50 years, will have a much different look and feel this year. Instead of being hosted at a central location, the conference will be streamed to churches all across Tennessee on the night of March 13.

Churches are invited to hold “YEC watch parties” on their church campus. Churches can register for the event at yectn.org, and can view the stream, for free, through the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. Churches can also hold breakout sessions on campus. [Read more…]

MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUTH IS A GROWING CONCERN

December 4, 2020

By Shane Pruitt
Next Gen Evangelism Director, NAMB

According to a recent Barna study, half of 18-year-olds in the U.S. report anxiety and fear of failure, and about 40 percent say they often feel sad or depressed. Thirty-four percent of young people say they feel lonely and isolated from others.

The church in America is undoubtedly doing a better job of addressing the ever-growing anxiety of younger generations, but we still have a long way to go. We used to largely ignore it or spiritualize it away. Often, the only response to mental and emotional health was to tell the person struggling to read the Bible and pray more (among other disciplines). [Read more…]

CHALLENGES BECOME OPPORTUNITIES

August 21, 2020

Student pastors, leaders finding new ways to “do ministry” amid pandemic

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — When the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic first began impacting daily lives, many youth pastors were sent scrambling.

The entire landscape of youth ministry changed almost overnight. Trips and events were postponed or canceled. On-campus gatherings were suspended. Things that were once considered “routine” parts of youth ministry had to be altered or even temporarily eliminated. [Read more…]

STUDENT MINISTRY IN MCMINNVILLE THRIVING DESPITE COVID-19

August 21, 2020

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

John Templeton

McMINNVILLE — As John Templeton reflects on the past few months, he is awed by the way God has used these hard days as a time of transformation.

Exhaustion has turned into excitement. Frustration has been replaced by fruitfulness.

Despite the difficult circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Templeton has seen the Lord do a tremendous work in the student ministry at First Baptist Church, McMinnville, where Templeton serves as associate pastor and student pastor. [Read more…]

YOUTH MINISTRY IS MORE THAN WEDNESDAY NIGHT

August 21, 2020

By Jay Barbier
Youth Specialist, TBMB

School is back in session, whether from home or in the classroom. Football schedules have been finalized, cheerleaders are prepping for the games, School bands are filling the parking lots to prepare for “Friday Night Lights”!

What does all this mean to us as youth ministers? This means we have an opportunity to do ministry!

Many of us have been isolated and even limited in what we can do for youth. Now is the chance to prepare for the fall! [Read more…]

STORMY DAYS, STRONG FAITH

June 23, 2020

God at work in Hamilton County amid tough times

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Disaster relief volunteers and others survey the damage at a house that was damaged by a tornado in Hamilton County on April 12.

CHATTANOOGA — The residents of Hamilton County have experienced a trilogy of turmoil in the past few months.

It began when the COVID-19 pandemic first took hold, throwing daily routines into a state of flux. Then came a deadly tornado that created another wave of emotional and physical challenges. And in recent days, Hamilton County, like the rest of the country, has been dealing with racial unrest that was ignited by the death of George Floyd.

The three events might lead some to wonder, “where has God been in all this tragedy?”

Dennis Culbreth, the director of missions for Hamilton County Baptist, said the answer is clear — the Lord has been present and active through it all. [Read more…]

WHAT ABOUT THE GRADUATES?

May 27, 2020

Seeing the whole picture from a family’s perspective

Editor’s Note: The pandemic has wreaked havoc on almost every imaginable event including high school graduations. Keep in mind, not only the graduate missed graduation, but so did his or her family who spent untold hours of helping the graduate reach the milestone. Jay Barbier, youth specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, his wife, Natalee, and son, Jay, provide their perspectives.

The Barbier family, from left, Caleb, Mary-Clare, Natalee and Jay.

Jay Barbier — A dad’s perspective

Let’s take a look into our current situation from one family’s perspective. Going through the experience of a pandemic has been overwhelming. The Lord has impressed on my heart to share thoughts from a student about to graduate, a mother wanting her son to enjoy the last moments of high school, and what is going through my mind as a father and the TBMB youth specialist. [Read more…]

Churches invited to host watch parties for YEC this year

Student pastors, leaders finding new ways to “do ministry” amid pandemic

God at work in Hamilton County amid tough times

Seeing the whole picture from a family’s perspective

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