Youth Ministry Blog

Hi my name is Peyton Houston and this is my second year working in student ministry. It all started when I was in 11th grade at Booneville highschool. My baseball coach, John Sandlin asked me to speak at the school’s FCA one week early in the first semester. One week turned into the majority of the school year, and by the end I was the student leader over FCA at Booneville. Senior year rolled around and we began to grow, and grow fast. We went from averaging 10 to averaging 50 plus by the time graduation came. I was learning to lead under supervision as well as invest in a younger student that would take over the following year after I left. I am proud to say that FCA has continued to grow and a new team of student leaders are over it. Last I heard they average 180-200 weekly. At this time I also began leading a small group on Sunday mornings at my home church, but only as a volunteer. I spoke at various churches, youth events, even filled in for a couple preachers my first year of college. Fast forward a few years to today and this is how God is currently using my ministry. I work part time at East Booneville Baptist Church in Boonevile, Mississippi. I felt like I needed to be in the ministry as a career, not just on a voluntary basis, the summer of 2018 and a job became available January 2019 at my home church and I applied. I felt this was a way of God confirming to me that this was the role which he wanted me to serve Him. God has blessed me in ways I never even imagined was possible. Most importantly we have seen souls saved for eternity and relationships with God begin to grow and flourish. Our attendance has gone up from 12-15 to 40 plus on Wednesday nights! It is so much fun having relationships with these students as well as serve God all at the same time. God has given me a great platform through basketball and now being one of the youth ministers at East Booneville. He has also blessed me in my personal life. I met the most beautiful girl inside and out, Ashley Moore, over the summer and her little girl, Briella. We are now engaged and have our wedding set for April 2021! I never imagined life could be this good! This is the overall summary of my life now and how I gradually worked myself into student ministry. I want to take this blog from various angles over this semester and break down my experiences in ministry to the smallest the details.