August Update 2025
Dear Friends,
What a month! Thank you for standing with us in prayer, encouragement, and support. August has been full of gospel encounters, meaningful connections, and fresh momentum. Here are a few highlights:
Campus Missionary Trip – Eureka Springs
Before school started, I took campus missionaries from five schools to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for training for their 9-month mission trip. Students boldly shared the gospel in town and at a community picnic. They experienced the Great Passion Play and a Holy Land tour, including a life-size tabernacle walkthrough that powerfully connects Christ’s work to God’s plan of salvation.
A highlight of the trip was meeting Dr. Gary Crossland, an archeologist and author, who gave each student and me a book, The Merged Gospels. He also shared about his Octagon Project (a virtual Holy Land tour) and showed us a photo of himself touching the rediscovered stone that once sealed Jesus’ tomb—an unforgettable faith-builder for our students.
Our campus missionaries also served locally, helping with the back-to-school backpack drive at Five Oaks. Then, at our final gathering, we watched To Save a Life, which stirred students’ urgency to reach the lost and love the lonely.
First Priority & Collision Ministries
God is opening doors for new partnerships. I connected local youth leaders with Ashley Jones, who oversees First Priority in North Houston. This ministry is launching student-led gospel clubs in schools, connecting students to Christ and local churches. Fort Worth already has 50 clubs, and now Montgomery County is joining in!
Also, one of my mentees, Chloe Melton, joined staff with Collision Ministries, another campus outreach. Alongside FCA, CRU, and Students Standing Strong, we’re seeing a movement of unity and gospel impact across Texas schools.
Footprints Prayer Initiative
The first two weeks of August were filled with prayer. With help from state strategists and partners, students completed over 700 campus prayer walks statewide!
We’re already seeing results. At Grand Oaks in Spring, students reported no fights for the first time in years, replaced by kindness, conversations, and community.
Across the state, new clubs are springing up around the Prayer, Care, and Share model.
Other wins include:
The Ten Commandments displayed again in schools
School boards approving prayer and Bible study times
Gen Z Bible sales up 23%.
God is moving, and spiritual transformation is taking root in this generation.
Growing the Team
I’m deeply grateful to Sarah Amato for helping me build my incredible local volunteer team, who will be instrumental in advising, praying, marketing, administration, fundraising, and planning.
This year, our goal is to reach underserved areas, provide leadership in every region, and host at least eight Accelerate gatherings to equip leaders so every student can hear about Jesus. We are close to having a strategist in every part of Texas, working in unison to reach our students.
Coming in September – Global Vision Trip to Manila
I’m honored to be one of 25 North American representatives at the Global Youth Leadership Conference in Manila, Philippines. Youth leaders from 11 world regions will:
Build lasting friendships,
Discern a global vision,
Design sustainable strategies,
Foster collaboration, and
Celebrate diversity and intergenerational leadership.
It’s a rare opportunity to give and receive from leaders shaping youth ministry worldwide, and I’m grateful to represent NxtMove DFW and NNYM.
How You Can Be Involved
Pray for more strategists across Texas.
Mark your calendar: See You at the Pole – September 24 (35th year!).
Lift up student leaders this school year.
Continue supporting the growth of this ministry.
Pray for my Manila trip—that it multiplies gospel impact globally.
Thank you for being on this journey with me. Your prayers and support are bearing eternal fruit. Together, we are reaching the next generation with the hope of Jesus.
Gratefully,
Rick
Thank you all again for your love and support.
