Friday Ministry Spotlight: Perdido Bay Youth

This week, we'll hear from our Youth Director, Ryan Etheredge about what's going on with our 6th-12th grade students! Ryan has been on staff since summer of 2023. You'll also see him frequently using his musical gifts during Sunday Morning Worship Services. Find out more about what's going on in "The Wave" Youth Ministry each week in the BayPlanner where you can find a link to the newsletter!

How are you seeing God at work in the youth ministry?



“God works in mysterious ways” is a very true statement, but equally true is that “God works in and through Youth." I can clearly see God at work using the Youth Ministry, The Wave Youth, here at Perdido Bay Methodist Church to do some

really cool things as a collective unit and at the same time we see God working in the individual lives of the youth who come through our doors. From a director’s standpoint, I am very encouraged by the attitude towards serving that our Youth

have. All of them enjoy volunteering and do it with a joyful spirit whether it’s building beds for a family they’ve never met, serving as “elves” for Breakfast with Santa, or getting their hands muddy (sometimes literally) at a summer camp when they are asked to make clay bricks or serve in the

community. I am also impressed by some of the tough questions that our Youth have on their hearts. These young people are not afraid to think deeply and further their faith on a real, tangible level. Many of them have a true passion for

learning more about Christ and truly seek to deepen their roots of Faith while discovering what Christ’s call is for their own personal lives.

What are some specific ways we, as a church, can pray for the youth ministry?

• Pray for the hearts of our Youth to be pointed in the right direction, ask that God would continue to teach them how to hear the Holy Spirit in their heart and mind so that they would know which way to go and where to seek answers.

• Pray for safety over their lives, physically as well as mentally. Ask God to protect them in all that they do and keep them from harm so they can continue to be effective vessels for the will of God. For their mental health, pray that God would grant them peace and guidance when their minds try to take over with worry, anxiety and doubt.

• Pray that they would foster a passion for the Word, a desire to know God’s Will for their lives and an inward yearning towards something more than what the world has to offer. Pray that they would stay involved and active in this ministry for as long as they are able to.

What is something funny/unique that has happened recently?

Regardless of which combination of individual personalities are in the room something funny and/or unique ALWAYS happens when we get our youth together. However, I’ll tell you about a time recently that I thought was funny but it occurred when I was not actually at the Church. During Thanksgiving I traveled to see family in S.C. and so some of our phenomenal parents and adult volunteers stepped up to host Sunday School in my absence. I got a text report that everything went well and the Youth had a good time. However, a few days later I received the picture below from our frequent guest teacher and all around cool person, Sandra Dye. The caption to the photo was “How many youth and chaperones does it take to turn on the music!?” Apparently I had forgotten to leave instructions or teach literally anyone how to get music going from the Youth

Room sound system! They “found every remote except the right one”

Thanks to our wonderful AV Guru, Mr. Kenny, they were able to figure it out later that day! Silly as it is, this actually helps to highlight the commitment and support The Wave Youth have from parents, adults and the entire Church congregation.