Our last senior high night of the ’23-’24 youth group season was marked by surprises, laughter, tears, and amazing fellowship! Our sweet youth groupers threw me a surprise baby shower. I went home with bags of books for Baby Baldwin! My husband and I are so excited to read our son all the wonderful stories that we were gifted.

After the gifts, we had a classic boy-versus-girl relay race––baby shower style! Kids had to taste various baby foods and chocolate bars and guess what flavors they were. Did I mention the baby food and chocolate bars were in diapers? It was hilarious watching everyone’s reactions to tasting the food. The second round of the relay race was a diaper change for baby dolls and drinking water out of a baby bottle. Again, a hilarious thing to watch! The boys’’ team won the race and the right to give Baby Baldwin his first nickname: Megatron. A story we will forever be telling. Thank you to all the youth groupers who celebrated Baby Baldwin––we felt so loved!

This youth group also marked our senior send-off. David anointed our seniors’ heads with holy oil, and then we laid hands on them to pray over them. While this was a sad moment for the youth group, it was also a joyful moment, celebrating our seniors’ accomplishments over their middle school and high school years and rejoicing in their next chapter. It has been a blessing seeing our seniors grow up through their years of youth group. We have shared so many moments filled with prayer requests, joy, fellowship, and 9-square.

To our seniors: we are so excited to see what God has in store for this next chapter of your life. We know that God will carry you through the ups and downs of freshman year. Just know that God loves you, will carry you, and lead you through it all! Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.” Turn to these promises in the next year. Always know that the youth group is praying for you and will always be here for you to visit!