I have a confession to make; I am a low-key Taylor Swift fan. I prefer the songs from her earlier albums, when she was still making acoustic-driven country music. I don’t necessarily dislike her more recent offerings, I just haven’t really listened to them. My first exposure to her music came as I was retrieving a rental van for a Winter Retreat. The radio in the van was set to a local country...
For seven years I served as the Pastor of Youth and Christian Education at the First Baptist Church in St Albans, WV. Upon entering the building, you immediately come to a stairwell. Whether you take the stairs up or down, you will encounter a similar sight. You will find rooms with tables and chairs. In both cases, people will be seated around these tables, probably eating food, engaging in...
I’ve always had a busy mind. For as long as I can remember, my thoughts have continuously gone in a million different directions, all at once and all the time. I have never been formally diagnosed with any sort of attention disorder, but if we’re all honest, most of us fall somewhere on that spectrum from time to time in life. There are so many things that demand our attention on a daily, if not...
My brother-in-law came through town the other night and invited me to grab dinner with him. My wife and kids were out doing youth group things for the evening, so I had some time on my hands and it was just going to be the two of us. It’s always good to have family in town, but I really enjoy hanging out with my brother-in-law and consider him a close friend. We had a little trouble figuring out...
We have a new guitarist in the worship band at First Baptist Church. He’s played with us a few times now and he began playing at his own request. Oh, and he’s only five years old. I don’t exactly remember who initiated Cooper’s involvement in the band the first time, but I can tell you that the last few times he’s played with us have been because he was courageous enough to approach me and ask...
I attended the First Baptist Church of Elkhart, Indiana from the time I was in kindergarten until I graduated from high school. At the time, the church was located on the corner of Prairie and Hively right across the street from a mall. It was a big, prominent church in the community; and while “times they were a changing,” it was, for the most part, a traditional Baptist church. I don’t know...
One of the hardest things as a youth pastor, and I’m assuming as a parent, is releasing your kids to go out to make their mark on the world. You spend years investing time, energy, and money into them. You lovingly guide and direct them in the hopes that your compassionate care and nurturing will help them become productive members of society. In one of nature’s dirtier tricks, just when you get...
I am not a hunter. It’s not for ethical reasons. I find many of our furry woodland friends, particularly deer, to be quite tasty, and enjoy having a freezer full. I do not, however, enjoy getting up several hours before any reasonable creature is up and at it in order to climb up into a tree in the freezing cold of winter surrounded by the thick darkness of night. What was most torturous about...
In the early 90’s, the slogan for Burger King was “your way right away.” They have since changed it to “have it your way,” but the older version continues to stick in my mind. The whole idea is intended to convince you of the flexibility and customization of their menu items based on your personal preference and desire. As an organization, they want you to know that they have evolved well beyond...
I really enjoy all of the diverse and unique opportunities for service that come along with my job, but there are seasons when it becomes a little bit overwhelming. Over the past week and a half, I have officiated my sister’s wedding in Syracuse, Indiana, spoken and led worship at a youth work trip in West Frankfort, Illinois, presented a seminar on developing intergenerational connections...
Jeremy Myers is the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church of Seymour, Indiana, where he has served since 2017. He has over 25 years of experience in local church ministry and not-for-profit leadership. He has a passion for helping emerging and existing generations learn to make space for each other and caring for the under-served and marginalized. In 2016, he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Palmer Theological Seminary, with his thesis focusing on developing connections between senior adults and youth in the church. He is a passionate and gifted communicator and is regularly invited to speak at retreats, camps, conferences, and other events. He lives in Seymour, Indiana with his wife Robyn, their two children, Mikayla and JJ, and their Golden Doodle, Evie.
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