Running With Rick In October
Reaching the Next Generation. Making Jesus Known.
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
October was a full month of connecting leaders, reaching students, and seeing new opportunities take shape across Texas and beyond. I’m grateful for the many churches, ministries, and student leaders who are working together to help the next generation hear the Gospel and grow in Christ. Thank you for making this work possible through your prayers and support.
TEXAS: Connecting Leaders and Reaching Campuses
Texas Youth Ministry Next Gen Conclave — Bryan
Kevin Miles and I began the month at the Texas Youth Ministry Next Gen Conclave in Bryan, where we connected with more than 400 youth leaders. We reconnected with familiar faces, including several of our local coordinators, and met many new leaders. We also identified schools where new ministry partnerships can begin. It was encouraging to see so many leaders committed to reaching and discipling the next generation.
Fields of Faith — Splendora, East Montgomery County, and Statewide
Fields of Faith continues to make a significant impact. More than 600 students and area churches came together in Splendora, where students heard the Gospel from their peers and could respond. Other schools throughout the area also held events. In Alvarado, my mentee Anthony Tollett shared the Gospel presentation at his school’s Fields of Faith. It’s exciting to see young leaders stepping forward and sharing their faith with other students. Events continue with great results statewide as hundreds of students make first-time commitments to Christ in each region, respond to a call to ministry, and renew their commitment to reach their schools.
AWAKE — Preparing for Spring Campus Outreach
Our North Montgomery County network is developing a campus outreach strategy for next spring called AWAKE. We’re bringing together student pastors, student leaders, and campus ministries to create opportunities for students to hear the Gospel on their own campuses.
Students will plan and lead these before-school outreaches, which will include breakfast tacos and drinks, student testimonies, and students sharing the Gospel with their peers. Bibles and LifeBooks will also be distributed that day. Collision Ministries, First Priority, FCA, and other partners are joining the effort.
Our goal is to develop a practical, shareable strategy that other communities across the US can use as we work toward spiritual awakening on our campuses.
NNYM Texas Hub Team
Our Texas Hub team met this month to discuss how we can strengthen and expand the ministry in every region of the state. We’re looking at ways to grow our leadership team, strengthen local networks, and extend our reach into more communities. There is tremendous potential when local leaders are connected and working together.
Campus Missionaries — Expanding the Reach
Our campus missionaries continue to build relationships with students and develop new opportunities to share the Gospel. Through Lighthouse Ministry, we are preparing to expand into a new area of ministry, bringing together youth leaders and students to reach their peers.
November 14 is the National Day of Evangelism. We will be training youth leaders that day and equipping them to share their faith. On November 15, we’ll review the Gospel presentation and prepare for the outreach ahead. Students will also distribute invitation flyers throughout the new ministry area, inviting other students and families to participate.
Then, on November 18, students will have an opportunity to put their training into practice by sharing the Gospel at a community outreach event in that area.
It’s exciting to see campus missionaries helping move ministry beyond existing relationships and into new communities, while equipping students to become the ones who share Jesus with their friends.
NATIONAL: Prayer and Collaboration
Claim Your Campus — Texas Prayer Tour
The national Claim Your Campus (CYC) prayer team visited five regions of Texas in October: Lubbock, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and the DFW area. At the end of the month, team members spent additional time with us, helping prayer-walk schools and encouraging students to pray for their campuses.
I serve as the CYC Texas liaison. Our national goal is to see one million students praying weekly for their schools. We believe prayer is essential as we ask God to prepare the way for spiritual awakening among the next generation.
NxtMove DFW — Developing Leaders Together
As an advisory board member, I attended the NxtMove DFW gathering at Dallas Baptist University with Carol, the CYC team, and two former students from my youth ministry days, Tim and Tiffany Williams. They recently returned from serving in young adult ministry in New Zealand.
Around 100 leaders from across the metroplex gathered for encouragement and collaboration. Shane Pruitt, Kara Powell, and Mark Matlock invested in the group, while NxtMove leader Jurie Kriel helped lead the conversations and collaboration.
Our North American NxtMove team also continues to meet monthly. We’re identifying gaps in ministry across the region and looking for ways to address them together. The more effectively we collaborate, the more students we can reach.
LoveHouston — A New Outreach Opportunity
I’ve been asked to help with a Greater Houston church-wide outreach connected with our Houston Pro girls volleyball team. The plan is to host a celebration for families following a game, creating another opportunity for churches to connect with the community and share the love of Christ.
GLOBAL: Equipping Leaders Around the World
GenImpact — Nepal and Nigeria
One of the privileges of serving on the board of GenImpact alongside lifelong friend Dr. Barry St. Clair is seeing how God is using technology and partnerships to equip leaders in places where ministry resources are limited.
Last month, approximately 80 leaders were trained in two key cities in Nepal, where Christians make up only about 1.8 percent of the population. Similar training is taking place in Nigeria.
These efforts are possible through online training, Zoom mentoring, and collaboration with Cru, East-West, and local ministries. It’s encouraging to see leaders being equipped and multiplied in some of the most remote and challenging parts of the world, including areas affected by conflict. The impact of investing in one leader can reach far beyond what we may ever see.
PERSONAL: A Little Time to Recharge
After a very full month, Carol and I took a few days to visit the Ozarks. We enjoyed the changing leaves, the beautiful scenery, and some much-needed time to rest. It was good to step away for a bit and enjoy God’s creation.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Thank you for continuing to pray with us. Please remember these needs:
• Health and strength — Pray for our health and energy as we continue serving in these ministry opportunities.
• Upcoming training — Pray that our training events will equip leaders who will multiply ministry in their communities.
• New ministry opportunities — Pray for the development of new ministry areas, including the AWAKE campus outreach plans for spring, and for the leaders who will help establish them.
Thank you for being part of this mission. Your prayers and generosity help connect leaders, strengthen churches, and give students opportunities to hear the Gospel and become followers of Jesus who make Him known.
Together, let’s keep reaching the next generation!
Blessings,
Rick Eubanks
Texas State Coordinator, National Network of Youth Ministries
reubanks@nnym.org
(and the NNYM Team)
