Plugged In and Lighting Up the Community with Jesus
Bethany Eze, Summer Youth Leadership Program Director
This summer, the NCC is another year closer to the 30th anniversary of the NCC Summer Youth Leadership Program. A program, I, Bethany Powell Eze, had the privilege of being a part of as a teenager. We have six returning youth and one new youth participating in the program this year. Because we have a smaller group, it has been great to dive deep with them in the Word and for the youth to develop deeper friendships.
I am so proud of this group of young people! They have been dedicated to serving and pouring into the community and have worked hard. The heart of each youth leader has been to show the love of Jesus Christ, and God has shown up in every place we have visited. It has been a blessing to watch it all unfold for God’s glory.
We studied the book of Ephesians (Paul’s letters from prison to the Church of Ephesus), and it is such a fitting study for the time in which we live today. Ephesians has encouraged us to stay plugged in to the power of God, because when we are plugged in, we can be a light and draw others closer to the Lord. The youth have made this their mission. Each youth leader has grown in faith, and they walk as one family, which is an example of how God desires for us all to live—united in faith, hope, and love.
The teens have volunteered at the Carnegie Art Camp, Camp Safe Haven, St. Paul’s Kidz, Tweenz, and Teenz, Central Baptist VBS, HOTV Camp Hope, SOS, Art and Bible Camp at Abundant Life Church, and Backyard Bible Club at First Baptist Church. They have had amazing speakers including Keith Jackson of Jackson Plumbing, Pastor Scottie Bolden of Wheeler Chapel, Pastor Joel McCarty of New Eden Church, Minister Austin Dupper of First Baptist Church, Taylor Simmons and Jillian Miles Massey of Horizon Point Consulting. It is the goal of the program to encourage the youth leadership to realize and walk in the purpose for which they are created through mentorship and skill assessment in all areas so they will go out into the community and encourage others to do the same through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With this year’s group of young people, there is no limit to what God can do in their lives, and it is exciting to see what comes next as they remain “PLUGGED IN.”
I am so proud of this group of young people! They have been dedicated to serving and pouring into the community and have worked hard. The heart of each youth leader has been to show the love of Jesus Christ, and God has shown up in every place we have visited. It has been a blessing to watch it all unfold for God’s glory.
We studied the book of Ephesians (Paul’s letters from prison to the Church of Ephesus), and it is such a fitting study for the time in which we live today. Ephesians has encouraged us to stay plugged in to the power of God, because when we are plugged in, we can be a light and draw others closer to the Lord. The youth have made this their mission. Each youth leader has grown in faith, and they walk as one family, which is an example of how God desires for us all to live—united in faith, hope, and love.
The teens have volunteered at the Carnegie Art Camp, Camp Safe Haven, St. Paul’s Kidz, Tweenz, and Teenz, Central Baptist VBS, HOTV Camp Hope, SOS, Art and Bible Camp at Abundant Life Church, and Backyard Bible Club at First Baptist Church. They have had amazing speakers including Keith Jackson of Jackson Plumbing, Pastor Scottie Bolden of Wheeler Chapel, Pastor Joel McCarty of New Eden Church, Minister Austin Dupper of First Baptist Church, Taylor Simmons and Jillian Miles Massey of Horizon Point Consulting. It is the goal of the program to encourage the youth leadership to realize and walk in the purpose for which they are created through mentorship and skill assessment in all areas so they will go out into the community and encourage others to do the same through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With this year’s group of young people, there is no limit to what God can do in their lives, and it is exciting to see what comes next as they remain “PLUGGED IN.”
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