Beginning in August, you can see in this picture how small our numbers were. At first glance, it might have seemed like a tiny group, but even though we were few, God was doing incredible things in the hearts and minds around this table.

Youth ministry is often one of the hardest ministries to grow and sustain. Teens face so many competing demands such as school, sports, jobs, social pressures, and technology, which can make it challenging to get consistent involvement. Many young people are hesitant to commit fully, and it takes intentional relationships, patience, and creativity to help them feel truly connected and engaged.

Despite these challenges, God’s work is not measured by numbers alone. What matters is the transformation happening in each person, the seeds of faith being planted, and the moments when young hearts begin to take ownership of their spiritual journey. Even with a small group, the impact can be enormous and that is exactly what we have seen around this table.

However, God allowed us to grow. We went from about three or four students in August to eight or nine high schoolers by September. At the same time, we launched our college ministry with four students who had a desire to grow in their faith. By October, that group had expanded to about twelve students who were not only coming to Bible study each week but also attending Sunday morning services.

The photo to the left was taken after our very first NexGen Sunday, capturing the joy and excitement of seeing God move in the lives of our students. It’s incredible to see how He takes small beginnings and multiplies them, planting seeds of faith that continue to grow in the hearts of our youth.

A highlight we cannot leave out is the miraculous growth of our high school lunch program. Earlier, I mentioned that we started with just one NexGen youth volunteer, Joy Carthel. Joy has been faithfully serving the youth ministry at Grace Fellowship Church for many years, and her heart for students extends beyond just the youth ministry as she serves in many other areas of the church as well.

Years ago, Joy, along with Paul and Gina Jones, began hosting high school lunch at their home on Thursdays during lunchtime. Over the years, the number of students attending fluctuated, sometimes going up and sometimes down. Beginning in September of 2024, however, the Thursday lunch ministry began to experience incredible growth. As of today, we see over 80 students walking and running from campus each week to eat, fellowship, and be encouraged. Each first weekend of the month, students are further inspired by FCA events put on by one of the local churches.

The growth of this simple ministry is a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness and how He uses small beginnings to impact lives in big ways. What started as a handful of students enjoying a meal has blossomed into a thriving space for connection, encouragement, and spiritual growth for over eighty students every week.

By May of 2025, we saw a complete shift in the ministry. We grew from having just one volunteer in August of 2024 to nine adult volunteers who are passionate about serving in the NexGen Ministry. During this time, we also celebrated the baptism of four college students! On Wednesday nights, we began seeing up to fifteen high school students attending regularly.

Our college ministry experienced similar growth, with fifteen to twenty students coming on Monday nights and joining us on Sunday mornings as well. It has been amazing to witness God’s faithfulness as He continues to expand and strengthen both our high school and college ministries.

Towards the end of May 2025, some of our college students began attending our youth service to help run games, bring energy, and make a positive impact on the younger students. What a blessing from the Lord that has been!

Now, each Wednesday night, we see fifteen to twenty college students joining us to participate and engage during the service. Our junior high and high school students absolutely love having them, and their involvement has brought a new level of excitement, mentorship, and community to our Wednesday nights.

August of 2025 really left us speechless! During our first official week back on campus following the summer break, we had over 40 students attend Bible study at WTC. That incredible turnout quickly grew into full worship services at local churches in the community as well as right here at Grace Fellowship Church.

Now, each week, we see between 50 and 70+ college students coming out to worship, learn, and grow together. God continues to show His amazing grace and mercy through our NexGen ministry and in the lives of these students. WOW!

ByOctober of 2024, we probably had about 10 to 12 students from our college ministry and two or three junior high and high school students attending Sunday mornings. Today, we are thrilled that our NexGen ministry is represented by over 20 to 30 junior high, high school, and college students each Sunday!

The photo to the left is a snapshot from our last NexGen Sunday in November of 2025, capturing the joy and growth we’ve experienced over the past year.