Investing in Our Next Church Leaders

"Go out and make disciples in all the nations. Ceremonially wash them through baptism in the name of the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then disciple them. Form them in the practices and postures that I have taught you, and show them how to follow the commands I have laid down for you. And I will be with you, day after day, to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:19-20

Every year since 2023, I've had the privilege of being on faculty at a camp called Worship4Life. We meet at our Inlow Baptist Camp (supported by your generous giving to the BCNM Cooperative Program), and we teach middle and high school students a variety of ways to serve in their local church. I usually have the honor of raising up the next generation of pianists and accompanists in the church, but this year I was able to help fill the role of vocal accompanist. This camp is awesome; that's why I love it.

Worship4Life is a way to connect with people across our state, and I've witnessed how God calls the next generation of leaders to excellence through the work we do at this camp. I first answered the call to be a worship leader at this camp after wrestling with imposter syndrome as a musician. Needless to say, I know God's hand is among us at this camp. I know He has good plans for the students we bring each year. So why am I talking about this? I'm so glad you asked (even if I made you ask by reading the words, ha!)!

Over the past few years, our church has sent groups ranging from about 1 to 4 students. The 2025 roster of campers from our church included 2 students. That is amazing; please don't hear me say that it isn't awesome, but I knew we could take even more students. I knew we needed to invest in the church's next group of leaders, just as Pastor Kevin and Worship4Life invested in me as a leader. Church, we often tell the youth group, "You are the church now if you have accepted Christ as your Savior. You need to plug in. You need to find your place to serve God."

How often do we give them a chance to actually do that, though? How many times have we opened up the door for our own youth to exercise their serving muscle? That's why I took it upon myself to be as annoying as possible all year long until students committed to this leadership camp. I was so excited when one more student said, "Yes," than last year. I was even more excited when the group grew into eight whole students going to leadership camp! Out of your church, we sent 8 students, 2 sponsors, and 1 of me to the camp. Praise Jesus that we had students who filled their calendars with such an amazing camp for a week!

Church, I encourage you to see how refreshing it is to know our next generation of leaders is sitting in the pews of our church every Sunday and Wednesday. I want you to remember that, as a whole body, we have the tools to reach the lost in our community in ways we've never imagined before! All we have to do is disciple these young folks into their calling, and the Lord will do the rest. Yes, WE have to do something to get them involved, but isn't that the best part?

So here's my report: I'm excited, encouraged, and refreshed to look around and know that we sent two students who had never touched a bass guitar in their lives and now know how to play a whole song! We had two students who went with a little bit of acoustic guitar skill and have grown in their talent within four days of learning! One student who went and learned how to keep rhythm and will hopefully continue learning to play all kinds of drums; one student who learned more about the piano and its place in modern corporate worship; one student who found their voice as a member of a vocal group; and one student who opened themselves up to being a teacher in the church and learned how to write out a lesson and ask questions about the Bible.

We have a wealth of knowledge as leaders; these students have a hunger to learn from us. We need to let them glean as much as they can from our skill and talent while teaching them how to use a bass guitar for the praise of our God. We need to teach our students how to use a sound board as a tool of true and proper worship!

I'm elated, you guys; I truly am. I've prayed hard that God would allow me to send more of our students to this camp that helped shape me into the lifelong learner that I am today. Through your generosity, we were able to send this group to camp with almost no skill, and now we have the opportunity to continue to grow their passion for the Lord. We've been given an opportunity to show these young students how to honor the Lord in everything that they do, and I hope you'll join me in welcoming them into our Worship & Arts team.

I want to leave you with this scripture. It's more important now than ever before to remember the words of Paul as he talked to his spiritual son, Timothy. We have the ability to speak these words to these students, and we need to remember them for ourselves.

"So go out and insist on these things. Teach them. Don't let anyone belittle you because you are young. Instead, show the faithful, young and old, an example of how to live: set the standard for how to talk, act, love, and be faithful and pure."

1 Timothy 4:11-12

Soli Deo Gloria

-Nick Harvey-

Associate Pastor of Music & Worship

Have questions? I'd love to chat! Email me: nick@fbccarlsbad.org