David Keen has been Youth Minister since January of 2007. He is also currently finishing up his Bachelor’s Degree of Liberal Studies in Humanities and Religion at UNCG, then will be obtaining his Certificate of Youth Ministry through Fuller Theological Seminary. He and his amazing wife Kiera (pronounced K-ear-uh) along with their two toddler sons Tyler and Tucker are involved in the daily opportunity and blessing of working with our teenagers and their families here at South Fork. “Words cannot express the joy and gladness we feel everyday to see these young men and women grow and mature in Christ’s footsteps. Our prayer is that Christ will use us in what ever way he sees fit, to fulfill His will.”
“For you are the potter, and we are the clay” – Isaiah 64:8
Our Youth Group: includes students ranging from 6th grade through 12th that come from all over the Triad to fellowship together, study God’s Word, and to praise him with their worship. Our youth ministry seeks to help them face the daily pressures of this world while constantly pointing them to Christ as our true Refuge. Our youth are led by passionate leaders and teachers who care deeply about their relationship with God and their spiritual development. We want our young people to understand that the Christian walk is should not be done alone and the presence of Christ, as well as friends who share their faith and values will help them through this exciting and challenging time.
What you can expect: Quality over Quantity! I understand that “Family Time” is more important now in our society today than ever before. Parents and Teens schedule’s are crazier and busier now than they have been in the history of man kind, and I believe that this is a direct result of us letting our priorities get way out of whack! In the mean time, or at least until we all get our heads on straight, the last thing we want to do is to take even more family time away from you and your children. So, our Youth Ministry purposely tries to do fewer “things” and to do these fewer things “well”. Please notice that we use the word “fewer” and not a “few”.
Our Values are: Parental Involvement, Quality over Quantity, Safety, Encouraging Relationships, Development of Spiritual Disciplines, The Education and Application of God’s Word and Being Outwardly Focused.
Some of the Big things that we do:
Winterfest (www.winterfest.org)
Bison Daze at Harding (http://www.harding.edu/admissions/bisondazeiv.html)
Sing-a-rama at Lipscomb (http://www.lipscomb.edu/page.asp?SID=41&Page=3231)
Honor’s Symposium at Harding (http://www.harding.edu/symposium/)
Impact (http://www.lipscomb.edu/page.asp?SID=56&Page=4565)
Carolina Bible Camp (http://www.carolinabiblecamp.org/)
Carolina Work Camp: a group work camp/mission trip for Junior High and Senior High teens. This camp is put on by Carolina Teen, which is a board of youth ministers (of which I serve on) from Church’s of Christ all around the Carolinas. This event will be in Charlotte, NC this year.
Out of Country Mission Trip: this year I along with several other adults will be taking our High School Seniors to Guatemala on a Medical/Work Mission trip.
Restore Fall Retreat: our annual Fall retreat @ Myrtle Beach Kingston Plantation. Also put together by the Carolina Teen Board, which I serve on. For all Junior High and Senior High Teens.
Some of the smaller but extremely important things that we do:
Make’em Smile: Every first Sunday night of the month, our youth go somewhere with the sole purpose of bringing and sharing the joy and love of Christ to someone, or group of individuals. We normally meet at the building around 5:30 pm and typically return around 7:30 pm.
Family & Youth Devotional: Every third Sunday night of the month, our youth and their families get together in one of our members homes and we share a meal together, have a time of fellowship and worship, and then have a short devotional that both relates to our teen’s and parent’s.
Our Bible Classes and Discussions: meet every Wednesday at 7:00 pm and every Sunday at 9:00 am.
1 Timothy 4:12 – Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.