7th & 8th Grade Girls

Lauren works at Orange Park Junior High School as a guidance counselor.

When did you become a Christian? I became a Christian in 2019. I was baptized as a child, but came to realize that I truly had not yet surrendered my life to Christ, so was really baptized in 2019 following my surrender to Christ.

Why do you work with youth here? I enjoy working with youth in this age group. At this age, teenagers are trying to figure out who they are, what they want to do, and plans for the future. I want to work and help guide them as they are trying to figure this out. I also want to help them deepen their relationship with Jesus. I want them to have a safe place to talk as needed.

What excites you about being part of the FBCOP Youth Ministry Team? Getting to see the students get excited about sharing the Gospel with their friends. Also, seeing how these students can impact other members of the church body with their excitement about Christ.

11th & 12th Grade Girls

Shari is a licensed RN and currently works at our church as our Membership Secretary.

She is married to Phil and they have two adult children.

When did you become a Christian? I became a Christian at age 15 while attending youth camp. I realized then that the public decision I made at age seven was not truly one of surrender and thus, did so as a teenager.

Why do you work with youth here? I enjoy serving with youth because I was their age when I was a teenager and seeing all that students are bombarded with today, I feel they need a safe place where they can hear truth.

What excites you about being part of the FBCOP Youth Ministry Team? I am excited to see the students get excited about telling their friends about their own relationships with Christ.

11th & 12th Grade Boys

He is married to Sondra and they have two married daughters and five grandchildren. Tommy works for a local architectural design and engineering firm as the Production Operations Manager.

When did you become a Christian? I fully surrendered to Christ in 2013.

When I was a child, I made a public decision to follow Christ and was baptized, but never put him first in my life. Throughout my teenage years I continued to live in my selfish ways and Christ was always second. This caused me to constantly doubt my salvation and therefore I made other public decisions to follow Christ (and got baptized several more times), but never put Christ first in my life. This behavior continued into my adult years. Christ, being the loving God he is, never gave up on me and called me to himself again in 2013, when I finally and fully surrendered to that call, now living for Him daily! I was baptized one more time, but this time it was in direct obedience to my full surrender to Christ and not just another dunk in the water.

Why do you work with youth here? I originally volunteered because there was a need, but soon understood that the empty position I filled, was God calling me to work with these students. My prayer is that I can be an encouragement and mentor to them, so they go down the path of living daily for the Lord.

What excites you about being part of the FBCOP Youth Ministry Team? I get excited knowing that God is using me to impact young adults for His Kingdom and how these young adults, through a daily surrender to Christ, can further Kingdom growth for eternity, which is really what matters in life. (and God is allowing me to be used for that purpose).

7th & 8th Grade Girls

Haleigh is married to Patrick and they have two daughters and one son. She works as a Relationship Specialist at VyStar Credit Union.

When did you become a Christian? I became a Christian at age 13 while at youth camp our church was attending at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center.

Why do you work with youth here? I am so excited to work with the students at FBCOP. I have a passion for students and helping them learn about Jesus Christ.

What excites you about being part of the FBCOP Youth Ministry Team? I cannot wait to see what God has in store for these students! God is going to do some amazing things and I’m blessed to be a part of it. I am most excited to watch new relationships develop in different ways.

7th & 8th Grade Boys

Patrick is a route driver for a local company and is married to Haleigh. They have two daughters and one son.

When did you become a Christian? As a young adult.

Why do you work with youth here? I worked with teenagers at a previous church and missed helping students grow in their relationship with Christ.

What excites you about being part of the FBCOP Youth Ministry Team? I am excited at the prospect of serving the church and helping the students.

9th & 10th Grade Girls

Ashley is a personal trainer at Burn Boot Camp and formerly served as Athletic Trainer at Preferred Physical Therapy, working at Green Cove Springs Junior High School and Lake Asbury Junior High School.

She is married to Jordan, who serves as one of our worship leaders on Sundays, and they have two children.

When did you become a Christian? I became a Christian as a child and was baptized here at FBCOP.

Why do you work with youth here? I have always been in the youth group, being the child of a Student Pastor, being in the student ministry myself and then serving as a young(er) adult. Teenage years are rough, tough and confusing and all about finding identity. I want to help guide teenagers to find their worth in Christ alone and remind them of our purpose to honor the Lord with our lives. I want to lead by using my experiences, both good and bad, to influence and the next generation to ask questions, to own their relationship with Christ, and to dive deeper in their walk with Christ! All while jamming out, eating ice cream and learning from them too!

What excites you about being part of the FBCOP Youth Ministry Team? Being a part of the coolest part of the church body!

Serving others and being held accountable in my own walk with Christ. In order to lead well, I need to know what the heck I'm talking about.

9th & 10th Grade Boys

Jacob serves as a police officer for the Clay County Schools Police Department.

He is married to Crystal and they have three children.

When did you become a Christian? August 1989.

Why do you work with youth here? It is our responsibility to disciple our young people, and the right connections at the right time can change lives.

What excites you about being part of the FBCOP Youth Ministry Team? Seeing what God is doing with these students.

7th & 8th Grade Boys

Joshua is a firefighter/paramedic for Alachua County Fire Rescue

He is married to Haley.

When did you become a Christian? I became a Christian at about 12 or so. I did turn away from doing the work when my parents got divorced. I didn't really start getting serious about my walk with God until my adult life.

Why do you work with youth here? I just remember that time of my life being especially difficult and want to help others feel like they have more support and resources in a increasingly challenging age. Plus, Jesus never put an age limit on making disciples.

What excites you about being part of the FBCOP Youth Ministry Team? Being able to sow into the lives of others is always exciting. It's truly an honor to be able to teach someone and watch them grow in the faith. Watching things start to click and watching people begin to apply the principles are always super encouraging. I am privileged to be able to take part in cultivating the faith of others in any capacity.

11th & 12th Grade Boys

Chuck is married to Sherry and they have two adult children. Chuck is retired from the US Postal Service and a retired Master Sergeant in the US Army Reserves. He currently volunteers at Ascension St. Vincent’s Clay County.

When did you become a Christian? I thought I had accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at a young age, but later realized I had just gone through the motions, so in October 1997, I truly surrendered to Jesus Christ as Savior.

Why do you work with youth here? To strengthen their relationships with Christ, to encourage, and to help those who are in need of hope through the study of God’s Word.

What excites you about being part of the FBCOP Youth Ministry Team? To work together as a team to bring enthusiasm and fun in the teaching of God’s Word.