June 2026

WHAT A MONTH!!!

We kicked off June with a Portland Mission 

Nineteen members of our team joined fifteen from First Baptist Church Lake Jackson to partner with Garden Church in Portland, Oregon. Throughout the week, God gave us opportunities to encourage a young church plant and its pastor’s family, serve the community, equip students for lifelong mission, and share the hope of Christ.

Sunday
We began by casting vision for a larger worshiping community through relationship-building and worship with the church. That afternoon, we enjoyed team-building time hiking, sharing a meal at Cannon Beach, and worshiping through music and lyrical dance at Ecola Beach. We also spent intentional time encouraging Pastor Dustin and his family on Father’s Day.

Monday
Monday focused on developing relationships with community leaders and serving in practical ways. The team landscaped the church and parsonage, helping improve the property and demonstrating Christ’s love through action. This service also supported Pastor Dustin’s vision of bringing together the Chinese church and Garden Church into a new multi-ethnic congregation called “Kindred Church.”
That evening, we hosted a hot dog and games block party at the Chinese Baptist Church on Ladd’s Circle. Local leaders, adults, and students participated, and we made meaningful connections, including with a local bike club—opening doors for future ministry. Our presence helped signal that something good and hopeful was happening in the community. One of our students even gave a visitor a tour of the church.

Tuesday
Tuesday reminded us that ministry is often more about people than programs. Although no children attended the scheduled outreach, we engaged with residents walking in the park area, including one Buddhist woman. Our team also began painting an educator’s home nearby.
That evening, we held a student worship event with music, drama, and lyrical dance, followed by small group discussions after a video teaching. Four students from the local church attended.

Wednesday
Wednesday brought four children and several parents to our soccer outreach. The gospel was clearly shared, and additional community members connected with our team. We had an extended conversation with a woman from Bulgaria who initially held negative perceptions of the American South and evangelical Christians. Through relationship and conversation, her posture softened and she became more open to our purpose and faith.
We also connected Pastor Dustin with Phil Ball (NNYM coordinator for Pacific NW), forming a strategic ministry relationship which will strengthen Garden Church for years to come, hopefully providing a future worship and youth leader for the church plant. Landscaping work at the church and parsonage continued, leaving a visible and meaningful impact on both the church and surrounding community.
That evening, we led another youth event attended by several students and a mother. One teenage mother was able to experience a relaxed, normal environment with peers while others cared for her baby. She felt included, loved, and part of the group. Our students also led healthy and engaging small group discussions.

Thursday
On Thursday, we visited Phil Ball in Washington and met a counselor named Rey, who offered words of encouragement to our team. We spent time learning from Phil in his role as the National Network of Youth Ministries Pacific Northwest Coordinator. We then spent time at an indoor water park, where Eva joined us as a guest along with the pastor’s daughter. We closed the day gathering in an adult small group home that included the woman whose home we had painted earlier in the week, creating a meaningful moment of relational connection and spiritual conversation as we enjoyed Korean food they provided for us.

Impact on Our Team
We experienced a great impact within our own team. We prepared intentionally to share the gospel and invested deeply in leaders and twelve students from First Baptist Church Lake Jackson, helping them experience what it means to live as missionaries in everyday life. Two students gained clarity about God’s calling on their lives, and one expressed a desire to be baptized.

While attendance numbers were modest, the kingdom impact was significant. (It is worth remembering that the average size of youth groups in Texas is around 10 students.) Seeds of the gospel were planted, relationships were strengthened, local leaders were encouraged, practical needs were met, and students returned home with a deeper commitment to Christ’s mission.

Thank you to our many supporters for praying, giving, and sending us to be part of what God is doing in
Portland.

From Dustin to Rick. “Hey, I love you, man. Thank you for loving us well. Such a gift to know these kids on your team. We were honored to receive you.
Please let the team know my thankfulness.”

Soccer in Tomball special needs assist Blake North Oaks (above)
I’ve been consulting with North Oaks Baptist Church in Tomball to help them redevelop their study ministry. As I’ve been evaluating their needs,  I’ve assisted them with a special needs soccer day, played piano a couple of times with their worship leader, and suggested leadership training in Jesus-Focused Youth Ministry.  

(Below)
I had the opportunity to go to Be Love Camp on Lake Livingston the first of the month and share a bit about the origins of See You at the Pole. 

It was my privilege to baptize my friend, Audrey Amato, a senior at Ischool High in Conroe. I’ve been mentoring her for years, and her parents and family are great friends.  God is using her as a campus missionary and now on a podcast.

Seven students and leaders from my team led a leadership training for FBC Lake Jackson as they joined us on our mission trip.  We trained them on small group work, evangelism, and telling our testimonies.  We also developed a great relationship with their students, leaders, and ministry.

We had a great Advisory Board Meeting with our NxtMove DFW advisory board in Dallas, with great news about how DFW is influencing ministries and NxtMove strategies globally. (above)

I really enjoyed my visit with long-time friend John Bickham, founder of Hot Hearts.  They have led thousands of students to Jesus in the Beaumont area in Southeast Texas for the past 37 years, and we hope to see it continue and expand across our state. 

We have been in preparation this month for Camp 220 and our mission VBS in Richmond, Texas.  We’re looking forward to great things as we invest in students and children through these events. (below)

We were overwhelmed by seeing the movie, A Great Awakening, and can’t recommend it highly enough.  It’s the untold story of George Whitefield’s friendship with Ben Franklin.  It is powerful and a “not to miss” film.  See it on Prime. 

We are continually humbled by your encouragement, prayers, and financial support. Thank you for being an important part of this ministry and for helping make these moments of life change possible.

Gratefully,
Rick Eubanks
Texas State Coordinator, National Network of Youth Ministries
reubanks@nnym.org

(and the NNYM Team)

Please cover these specific prayer requests:
Onboarding new staff, preparation for the World Cup, youth camps, mission trip, and goal-setting for the new year, to help us reach every student in every school.

Also, a special note to donors:  If you’ve had trouble with the new system, please contact Holly Bollinger at holly@linksintlusa.org.