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...
Over the course of the summer, several thousand kids will make their way to locations all around the country and all around the world. While they may visit a tourist site or two or make their way to an amusement park at some point during their journey, these are simply fun breaks in the middle of something a whole lot bigger. All of these kids, along with their adult leaders, are giving up a week...
Before my daughter was born, I swore she wouldn’t be a girly girl. I had always dreamed of becoming a parent, and I had very clear expectations of how things would work and who she would become. I was certain that she would be a daddy’s girl and that as a result she would trend more towards playing in the dirt than playing with dolls. I actually wrote a song about my expectations entitled...
Typically, when I think of a troll, my mind goes to a book I purchased at a school book fair, “The Billy Goats Gruff.” In the story, there are three goat siblings. They, of course, come in small, medium, and large sizes. They are doing what goats do, wandering around some hillside out in the country, eating grass. Over time, they eat all the good grass on one hillside and decide to head on across...
I almost always carry a pocket knife. It’s a practice I developed when I was fairly young. You might be wondering, “What inspired you to do such a thing? Did you have a parent or grandparent that passed this on to you? Did you live on a farm or out in the sticks where it was a necessary tool?” The answer is, the knife in my pocket is an example of an instance where media influenced an...
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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