July 2026
Dear friends, prayer partners, and supporters,
Thank you!
Every month I'm reminded that none of this ministry happens alone. Your prayers, encouragement, and financial partnership make it possible for me to keep investing in students, leaders, and churches across Texas and beyond.
July was one of those months where I found myself saying over and over, "Only God could do this."
As I celebrated my 75th birthday, I also celebrated God's faithfulness. Looking back over more than five decades of ministry, one truth has only become clearer:
"Methods come and go. Trends come and go. But after five decades of ministry, I've found that Jesus' strategy for making disciples still changes lives."
That conviction shaped everything that happened this month.
Camp 220 — More Than a Week at Camp
I had the privilege of serving at Camp 220, July 6-10, at our church's annual student camp hosted by Declaration Church in Spring, Texas, led by my pastor and friend, John Sherrill.
This year's theme was "More," and God certainly gave us more than we expected.
I served as the Yellow "Iota" Team Pastor, spending the week with about 100 students—teaching God's Word, listening to their stories, cheering them on, getting muddy with them on the field, and simply doing life together. Those are the moments I love most.
By the end of the week, in our school alone, we celebrated:
5 students trusting Christ
27 recommitments
25 students sensing God's call to ministry
Those numbers represent changed lives, not just camp decisions.
On Friday—the day I turned 75—the leaders surprised me by naming our team the "Camp Champs." It was a birthday I'll never forget.
Youth ministry has always been in my DNA. While I loved investing in students, I also had countless opportunities to encourage younger youth leaders who are just beginning their journey. That may have been one of the greatest gifts of the week.
Investing in the Next Generation
The very next week, our Campus Missionary team partnered with Fellowship Church of Fort Bend County to help lead Vacation Bible School in Missouri City.
This multicultural church replant is making a real difference in its community, and it was exciting to watch our students serve with joy, lead worship, share the Gospel, and love children well.
Around 45 children and leaders participated; the Gospel was clearly presented, and we've already been invited back for next year. I'm grateful for the leadership of our student pastors, Travis Shaheen and Lauren Mack, who helped make the week such a success.
Watching students become servants and missionaries never gets old.
A Reunion That Reminded Me of God's Faithfulness
During part of our vacation, I reunited with my old rock band, Phase V.
Back in the mid-1960s, we had the opportunity to open for The Doors and share the stage with bands like The Box Tops, The Grass Roots, and The McCoys. Those were unforgettable days.
But what blessed me most wasn't reminiscing about the music—it was seeing a group of lifelong friends who still love one another, still pray together, and still point each other toward Christ.
We gathered around a backyard barbecue, honored our longtime roadie Billy Renfro, prayed for his healing, and thanked God for His faithfulness through the years.
Looking back, I realize God used those early years in music to prepare me for over 50 years of leading worship and investing in students. His plans are always bigger than we can see at the time.
After that special time, we spent a few days in Eureka Springs/Branson thanks to our dear friends, the Amatos, who allowed us some downtime in their vacation home there. They are always a blessing to us.
A Special Homecoming
While traveling, I also had the opportunity to speak at my former church, Oak Grove Baptist Church (below) in Burleson.
Their faithful support and prayers since I joined the National Network of Youth Ministries have been an incredible encouragement. It's a blessing to return to a church family that continues to believe in what God is doing.
Looking Ahead
Our Campus Alliance team has been hard at work preparing a national webinar this September to equip youth leaders and ministry partners with practical strategies for reaching every school.
I'm especially excited that my good friend Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Director for the Southern Baptist Convention, will be our keynote speaker.
Our vision remains simple:
Every campus. Every student. Every opportunity to hear the story of Jesus through a sustainable Prayer, Care, and Share movement.
Later in September, I'll also be hosting the Dallas/Fort Worth Discipleship Learning Lab, a partnership between NNYM, Fuller Seminary's Tenx10 initiative, and Dare 2 Share. I'll be teaching on evangelism and discipleship as we help leaders build ministries that make disciples who, in turn, make disciples.(pictured below with Miguel Faundez, the Next Move DWF Director of Community Engagement).
How You Can Pray
As schools begin opening across Texas, we're launching Footprints on Campus, our annual August prayer initiative.
Our prayer is bold:
To see 1,000 Texas campuses prayer-walked before students return to school.
Please pray:
That students, parents, pastors, and educators will cover campuses in prayer.
That God will open doors for Gospel conversations this school year.
That students who know Jesus will boldly live and share their faith.
That God will continue raising leaders with a heart for the next generation.
I'm always proud and honored by the dedication of our Campus Ministry Team (above). These kids have a heart for Jesus and spreading the gospel wherever God takes them.
Thank you again for believing in this mission. Your partnership allows me to keep encouraging youth leaders, equipping churches, strengthening networks, and helping students discover and share the hope of Jesus.
I'm grateful for each of you.
Gratefully,
Rick Eubanks
Texas State Coordinator, National Network of Youth Ministries
reubanks@nnym.org
(and the NNYM Team)
