Last Sunday we celebrated all of our high school graduates at an incredible student-led worship service on a Sunday morning, outside, sharing the Ascension of Christ in a clear 3-part message, in song and testimony, with bubbles. Yes, bubbles!

This Sunday, we’ll celebrate three of those high school graduates who have completed AGENT Projects—think Eagle Scout projects, but for ministry. Each student stepped into a leadership role, recruited a team, received coaching, and carried a ministry from beginning to end to accomplish a meaningful goal.

Our student leadership journey begins early. In 4th and 5th grade, students are invited into a Faith Milestone called AMBASSADORS. Ambassadors commit to representing their families, their church, and their Savior through witness, service, teaching, and worship. They attend a fall training and then spend the year(s) putting their faith into action. It’s been a joy to collaborate with fellow children’s ministry leaders to create a two-year, rotating Ambassador Retreat, helping take this calling even deeper and sharing it with other local churches.

AMBASSADOR = one who represents someone or an organization; from 2 Corinthians 5:20

From there, we build into middle and high school with additional Faith Milestones designed to develop students into leaders we call AGENTS:

AGENT = one who acts on behalf of someone or an organization.

• A – Ambassador: a refresher or introduction for those new to the role
• G – Gospel: Learning and practicing the sharing of the good news of Jesus naturally in everyday conversations
• E – Engage: Engaging and leading a team to learn skills and grow in relationship with God and other generations to accomplish a goal to the glory of God; practice humbly receiving direction and graciously offering instruction
• N – Neighbors: serving our neighbors and defining who ARE our neighbors; designing and implementing a purposeful plan to engage our neighbors in a project
• T – Telling the Truth: Trusting and telling the truth of God’s Word from an apologetic (defending the truth) Biblical worldview.

On Sunday, we’ll celebrate three AGENTS and their three coaches with a gift in worship to model the mission of our church to be disciple-makers who share Jesus with neighbors, nations, and the next generation.
Agent Project #1 – Operation Christmas Child Project Leader, including the car wash fundraiser

Agent Project #2 – Sound and staging for the Live Nativity, including our community partners for this annual community event

Agent Project #3 – Youth-led Sunday morning worship service, including the design team and message preparation

I’ve known these three students, and their families, since the students were in 4th grade. Being part of their ‘littles’ season, middle school confirmation season, and now high school season, is truly a gift. These incredible disciples have truly made an impression on me and are very much part of my story. They are also prepared to start things for Jesus as they step out into the world as young adults.

By the way, one of these agents has been running tech and sound in the overflow worship space even before the renovation started of our worship center since last winter and striped the entire parking lot the summer between his sophomore and junior year, on his own, as part of the trustees team. Two of these agents started a prayer team together this year with their high school marching band completely on their own called “Marching For Jesus” which met prior to practices/performances and have effectively handed it off to their siblings coming up behind them. Two of these agents served as the worship and teaching leads on mission in the Czech Republic last summer. Yeah….they have already been ‘acting on behalf’ of their Savior in their world. This 2026 AGENT celebration in worship next Sunday invites their home church to celebrate, too. Well done, church!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9