The busy schedules of our students is the biggest challenge I face. It’s a simple answer, but successfully implementing any solution is much more complicated. We want students to be present at church programming so that they are raised in faith, but when the activities they’re involved in hold practices or rehearsals on a Wednesday night, or it’s their only night home to catch up on schoolwork or work a job, church is rarely the top priority. The hard to swallow truth is that we don’t live in a society where the church dictates the family schedule anymore.

I take a unique stance compared to most youth leaders on this. If Sunday morning or Wednesday night is a student’s only time of the week to rest or catch up, I want them to stay home and get that rest and get caught up on their obligations. As Youth Director, caring about our student’s mental health is a top priority for me, because I understand how mental health impacts our relationships: with God and with the church, both as an adult, and especially as an adolescent. I want our students to take time away to relax when they can find the time. If that’s a Sunday or Wednesday, so be it.

The last thing I want is our students to grow to resent church (and God), because they’re made to come to church when they feel the need or want to be somewhere else. I want God and the church to be so much the foundation of their lives that it permeates into everything else, which means church is then the place our students know they can come when everything else they’re doing becomes too much to handle on their own. When they crave and desire rest in this way, they’re wanting the peace that we find through faith in Jesus. I want them to know without any question or doubt that they can find peace and faith within the walls of Westminster no matter when they show up.

The reality is that their busy schedules – while providing crucial developmental experiences like social enrichment, physical activity, competition, and creative outlets – leave students with little time for relaxation, rest, and calm, things we know from Scripture that God prioritizes. In Genesis, God rested on the seventh day. In Psalm 46 we’re told to “be still and know.” However, my favorite instance comes from Elijah in 1 Kings 19. This story is one I use to open the door to conversations about suicide with our students. Paraphrased, Elijah asked God to end his life because it had become too much for him. God gave Elijah rest – he fell asleep under a tree. God gave Elijah food & drink, then even more rest before leading him on a journey to a cave at Horeb. Elijah met God there, but not in an earthquake, not in the howling wind, not in blazing fire, but despite all of those tremendous and powerful things, Elijah met God in the sound of sheer silence. After spending time with God, Elijah decided he could continue. This story is an example that shows us why rest and faith are so important in our lives.

During the pandemic student anxiety tripled, and depression quadrupled. Suicide rates currently peak in 10th grade. According to the CDC (2023) and Springtide Research Institute (2022) in a post-pandemic study, nearly 60% of teen girls and 70% of LGBQ+ teenagers report persistent sadness/ hopelessness. 10% of teen girls and 20% of LGBQ+ teenagers attempted suicide in the last year. 60% of young people say, "adults don't know how much I'm struggling." Suicide rates among Black young people ages 10-24 years increased 37% between 2018 and 2021, the largest increase of any racial group. 1 in 3 young people feel invisible in their faith community. 1 in 2 believe they wouldn't be missed if they left. From the New York Times (2023) "Three decades ago, the gravest public health threats to teenagers in the United States came from binge drinking, drunken driving, teenage pregnancy and smoking. These have since fallen sharply, replaced by a new public health concern: soaring rates of mental health disorders."

Those are a lot of data points, and those figures are hard to digest for any age or demographic, but my point is this: if our students are so busy that they can’t make it to church on a Wednesday night and the only time they have to take a break and sleep late is on a Sunday morning, I tell them, “go for it. Sleep in. Get the rest you need. We’ll be here for you when you’re ready because you are always welcome here.”

Besides, I’m fairly certain God can find them when they’re home resting, too.

Tell us a little bit about your family and what you do together for quality time?

My wife, Paige and I met and started dating in 2010 and married in 2017, and we have two daughters together — 18-month-old Josie and Bethany, our angel baby, would be 4. Josie’s favorite family member is “her kiki,” our Bengal-tabby cat, Dorian Grey. Paige works as a Service Coordinator with Optimae, helping to support individuals in the Des Moines area with brain health concerns, disabilities, and histories of substance use. At 18-months old (going on 8), Josie very much runs our lives. We love watching Bluey & Elmo together, listening to music while “singing” and “dancing,” and reading a wide variety of books. As Josie's skills & coordination allow, we also love cooking together, art projects & crafts, and exploring outside, and we always love spending time with Gam-Gam & Pop-Pop, GiGi & Poppy, and Grandpa. Josie is looking forward to attending her first match at CPKC Stadium cheering on the KC Current, attending her second year of Synod School, and spending time on the lake with family.