When Miami, Oklahoma’s, New Life Church of the Nazarene welcomed their new pastor, Matthew Lee, in 2024, he admits he brought along a heart for youth ministry. Having served over 20 years as a youth pastor, he stood outside the church, looked across the street to the junior and senior high schools, and asked his congregation of 40 what they thought about opening their doors to the students who walked by every weekday.
The church was eager to welcome young people and families, and soon, students were stopping by on Tuesday morning for “Donut Tuesday,” where they could grab a donut and a prayer with Pastor Lee before heading to school. About 15 students came by regularly, and through conversations and observation, the church felt God calling them to do something more.
Many of the students who came by for donuts come from lower-income, single-parent homes. They were facing bullies at school and on the streets where they walked home. They didn’t have the same experiences or opportunities that other teens their age took for granted. New Life Church of the Nazarene began a Youth Night on Tuesdays where these teens could grab a meal, socialize and play sports and games, and hear Biblical messages of hope, love and salvation offered by Jesus Christ. Youth night became a place where they felt safe, where they belonged, and where people cared about them.
The church already had the space, including a gym, and partnerships in the community to provide meals for the youth. Six members of the congregation assist with the youth activities and serve as mentors. A grant from the Foundation allowed them to start youth night, and the group has grown quickly to 25 youth who attend regularly, which has produced the wonderful problem of needing to hire a youth pastor!
These students aren’t just growing in number, they’re also growing in their faith. A recent baptism service celebrated the commitment of seven teens, five of which became part of the church through attending the Tuesday youth night. Most of the students are males, and do not have positive male role models in their lives. The church identified this as a need, so a few men from the congregation have “adopted” some of the teens and are mentoring them. That doesn’t mean things are easy, though. One of the biggest challenges has been helping these students navigate bad situations in their lives, but the presence of a positive adult to listen, offer advice, and be a stable presence is helping.
Pastor Lee and the church say that they are surprised at how quickly the youth group has grown. Several of the students have begun attending a special “Be the Church Sunday” held monthly, which is a time the whole church goes out into the community. The teens who wouldn’t normally come to a Sunday service want to be part of this hands-on experience with their church family. And some have started attending the church service and Sunday School on Sundays.
By opening its doors on Tuesday mornings and evenings to a group of teens, New Life Church of the Nazarene has grown a reputation – one of a serving church. Word is getting out! Pastor Lee says, “We have received more calls in the past few months from people that want to donate…or help with the youth ministry….” All this by opening the doors, serving donuts, giving of their time and attention, and letting God lead the way.
