What an amazing weekend we had at Lads to Leaders! It was so uplifting to see all of our kids’ hard work pay off. We had several that were finalists in their events, including three that were participating in the competition for the first time! We even had two kids who won first place in the Mass Media competition and because of the year-round events every kid that went got at least one medal; most got several. Winning is always fun but when I was watching the kids this weeke

We just completed our yearly L2L convention in Orlando. As always, we had an amazing time, and everyone was truly blessed by the event. I...

In our teen class on Wednesday nights, we have been studying a series entitled “Finding Our Identity in Christ”. We have been looking at how we can identify ourselves by Christ’s standards and not the worlds. In Matthew 16:13–20, Jesus asks a question that echoes through the centuries: “Who do you say that I am?” It’s a moment of deep significance—not just for Peter and the disciples—but for every one of us. Our answer to that question reveals not only what we believe about J

Wow! What a year it has been! I can’t believe that Andrea and I have been here for a year all ready. It seems like we started yesterday. This year has been both edifying and challenging but through your constant support and encouragement we have made it through. The best part is that we are only just beginning. We are continuing to see our kids and teenagers grow and thrive each and every week. Just in the last year, we have started a new Sunday morning kids program focusing

Proverbs chapter four begins with Solomon challenging us to pursue wisdom in everything we do. In verse one he says “Hear, my children, the instruction of a father and give attention to know understanding.” What a wonderful passage. However, we don’t always heed this warning. As adults we can admit we did not always listen to our parents. If we had, we might not have gone through some of the obstacles that we did. As kids and teenagers, we can admit that we don’t always liste

On Wednesday nights in the teen class, we have been studying the book of Proverbs. Probably the most quoted passage from that book is Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” This passage of scripture is really the theme of Proverbs. Solomon here gives us a synopsis of what he is trying to get us to understand. God knows best! Often times we think

This week in our Wednesday morning Bible class we began studying the 12th chapter of Hebrews. There is so much to absorb from this chapter that we could spend the better part of a month on it. Starting in verse three, the writer begins to talk about God’s discipline. He compares it to that of our earthly father. We can all remember times as children when we messed up and had to be disciplined. At the time, it was unpleasant but as we grew older, we began to understand that ou

This past month in our Christian Soldiers Sunday morning classes, we have been studying the story of Abraham. We have learned how God called him to leave his homeland and go to a place that God would show him. We learned how God made him a promise that he would be the father of many nations and how God would bless the whole Earth through his descendants. We learned how God asked him to sacrifice Issac his son, and how Abraham was willing to follow though with it. Throughout t

Last week we introduced our theme in the youth group for 2025, “Set Apart”. One of the many ways that we can be set apart from the world is to choose to follow God instead of following the crowd. Often, we are faced with a decision of whether to do what everyone else is doing or to do what God has commanded us to do. Following the crowd is usually convenient. It rarely requires any effort or sacrifice. It certainly is the easiest decision but not always the right one. In the

This year our theme for the youth group is “Set Apart.” We are using I Peter 2:9 for our theme verse, which says “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” God calls us to be different than the rest of the world. We are called to talk differently, act differently, have different relationships, and be set apart from the world. How

Next Sunday, we are going to start an exciting new opportunity! We talk a lot about giving and how we can never out give God. This is something that we need to teach our children. We should be teaching them how important it is to give back to God especially since we are so richly blessed here in the United States. So many of our brethren throughout the world are not as fortunate as we are. That is why I am excited to announce that starting next Sunday, we are going to begin K

Every day of our lives we are faced with choices to make. We choose when to get out of bed, what to eat for breakfast, and what we are going to wear that day. Life is full of choices but sometimes we make poor choices. In Genesis chapter 13, Abram and Lot are facing a dilemma. There is not enough room for all of their livestock, so they choose to separate. Abram gives Lot the first choice of where to go. Lot can choose anywhere around them to move to and Abram will go in the

Today our kids studied the story of the tower of Babel. It’s a familiar story, but one that we probably don’t think about very often. In it, the people decide to build a great city and in the middle of that city they begin to build a tower to Heaven. They say to themselves in verse four of chapter 11 “Come let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose tope is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole Earth.” Th

For the month of November out Christian Soldiers group has been studying Noah. The story of Noah is a familiar one to most of us but there are so many lessons that we can learn from it. It is a story of Faith, Action, Obedience, Grace, and Love. This morning, they focused on how Noah put his faith into action. Noah didn’t just have faith that God would save him from the flood and then sit on his hands he acted on that faith and started to build the ark. This is such a great l

This past weekend we took three of our teens to the FUEL youth retreat at Gulf Coast Bible Camp. It was a fantastic weekend, and I know that they were blessed by being there. This year’s theme was “the between”. We studied the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus but focused specifically on the Saturday between the two events. Scripture does not give us much information of what went on during that time, but our focus was on the emotions of the Apostles and what they were goi

Today our Christian Soldiers group started studying Noah in there Sunday morning class. We will spend four weeks on Noah. There is so much packed into this story. It is a story that we are all familiar with. We learned it early in Sunday school and VBS but sometimes as we grow older, we forget the great lessons of the “Bible class” stories. The story of Noah is filled with lessons that are practical for us today. The Bible tells us in Hebrews the eleventh chapter that Noah ha

As we near to the end of October, our minds generally drift toward the next two major holidays: Christmas and Thanksgiving. While most of the world prepares for Christmas, remember that Thanksgiving comes first. As a Christian that should always be our motto. Give thanks first. I give thanks to God everyday for my church family here at Summerdale! I thank Him that He has allowed me to work with so many wonderful young people and to belong to a group of Christians that love th

Today our Christian Soldiers group studied Genesis Chapter 2, where God puts man in the Garden of Eden and gives him charge of all of His creation. Adam went on to tend the garden and name all of the animals. However, something was off. When Adam looked around every animal had been made both male and female, but there was no companion for Adam. God noticed this and said in verse 18, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him”. Of cour

With the devastation of Hurricanes Helen and the Milton we here on the Gulf Coast are so blessed. It reminds me though just how precious life is. It can be lost in an instant. It is so important as Christians that we remember that and take every opportunity we have to share the Gospel with others. We never know when we will take our last breath. We have to be resolved to share the Gospel! It is also so wonderful to see people coming together in their communities to help those

With the recent devastation in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas I know that many of us can empathize with those people. So many people are without basic needs and are struggling. I know many of us are willing to help and I am so thankful for God’s church who is always willing to step in a help those who are in need. I can not help but think about those who have lost their life due to this tragedy. Over 160 souls were thrust into eternity in an instant. It reminds