From the Desk of Pastor Ahmad Washington, MSW, MDiv

Parents and church family,

What a weekend of youth ministry.

It has been such a blessing spending time with our students this summer, and this Sunday was no exception. One of the joys of summer is seeing students return from family vacations, summer jobs, camps, and all the other adventures that come with this season. We had several students back with us who we hadn't seen in a while, and it was refreshing to hear their stories, catch up on what they've been doing, and simply see their smiling faces again.

Moments like those remind me that youth ministry is about more than programs and events. It's about relationships. It's about walking alongside young people as they grow in their faith and discover who God has created them to be.

This past Sunday, our own Eric Morrison taught the Youth Sunday School lesson on the story of David and Goliath.

The students were engaged, thoughtful, and fully leaned into the discussion.

What made the lesson so impactful was that Eric challenged students to look beyond the part of the story most people focus on and discover what he described as the "true miracle" of the David and Goliath narrative. The result was a deeper spiritual perspective on a familiar story and a reminder that God's Word continues to reveal fresh truths when we approach it with open hearts and minds.

I'm grateful for Eric's investment in our students and the thoughtful ways he helps them engage Scripture.

Sunday evening was another beautiful reminder that God often does His best work when we simply make room for Him.

Our monthly Open Mic, Worship, and Prayer Night brought together not only students from First Methodist but also students from other churches throughout the area.

We were blessed to have students from Bosqueville Baptist Church, along with their First Lady, and a student from Mosaic Christian Church join us for the evening.



Students shared their gifts and talents through:

• Singing
• Piano playing
• Encouraging words
• Testimonies
• Scripture

One student even shared a word that God had placed on his heart from Romans 12, encouraging everyone present to offer themselves fully to God and allow Him to transform their lives.

Watching students from different churches worship together, pray together, encourage one another, and celebrate each other's gifts was pure water for my soul.

These nights continue to remind me of the importance of holding our plans loosely and trusting Jesus to have His way. Time and time again, He gives each person exactly what they need for the moment we share together.

This week our students will head to Revive Youth Camp at Latham Springs.

📅 June 26–30, 2026

I want to invite our entire church family to be praying intentionally for every student who is attending.

Please pray:

• That they have a genuine encounter with Jesus Christ
• That they connect with the people God wants them to meet
• That they receive everything God has for them
• That they release everything God is asking them to surrender
• That they return home encouraged, challenged, and transformed

Camp has a unique way of creating space for students to hear from God without many of the distractions of everyday life. Let's believe together that God has something significant in store for them.

This Wednesday, we will continue our summer series on Gifts, Talents, and Passions.

Our focus Scripture will be:

📖 Exodus 31:1–5

The passage where God fills Bezalel with His Spirit and equips him with skill, creativity, craftsmanship, and artistic ability for God's purposes.

Our declaration this week will be:



"God can use these hands."

Through creative activities and discussion, students will explore how God uses ordinary people, ordinary abilities, and ordinary hands to accomplish extraordinary purposes.

I'm looking forward to seeing the creative expressions that emerge and the conversations that God inspires.

Church family,



Thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and support.

I continue to be amazed by what God is doing in the lives of our students. There is a genuine hunger among many of them to know Christ more deeply, serve Him more faithfully, and discover how He has uniquely gifted them to impact the world around them.

Please continue to pray for our youth.

Pray for those heading to camp.

Pray for those working summer jobs.



Pray for those navigating questions about faith, purpose, identity, and calling.

And pray that we, as a church family, continue to create spaces where young people can encounter Jesus, grow in community, and discover who God created them to be.

With gratitude and expectation,

Pastor Ahmad Washington, MSW, MDiv

Youth Director

First Methodist Church Waco

ahmad@firstwaco.com

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