Courtesy photo
This display is just one of the number of ideas the youth of Corinth Baptist Church have come up with to promote the ‘Just Pray’ challenge. This idea came from Dylan Blackburn.
Billy Todd/Sampson Independent
Dylan Blackburn pauses to pray during the interview session. Blackburn shared that his family has started praying each night at 8 p.m. and he could feel a presence as a result.
Billy Todd/Sampson Independent
Pictured from left are Dylan Blackburn, Samantha Naylor and Abby Henderson. They are just three of a total of five youth from Corinth Baptist Church that are challenging others to Just Pray.
Billy Todd/Sampson Independent
The youth of Corinth Baptist Church, along with their leaders, may be few but they know that great things can come from God with small numbers. Pictured, front row, from left: Samantha Naylor, Abby Henderson and Dylan Blackburn. Leaders on the back row, from left: Angie Naylor and Lesia Henderson. Not pictured are Tyler Williams and Britnie Adams.
Just Pray! It’s a simple statement, but these two words can have great significance if people will just do it. That’s one local church’s youth group believes and it’s what they are encouraging as they challenge the community to join them in prayer.
The youth of Corinth Baptist Church in the Roseboro community are issuing a challenge to other youth groups, civic groups, churches, businesses, school Bible clubs, essentially everyone that will to “Just Pray.” The challenge, like the two words, is simple, but powerful, they attest.
“The challenge our youth group is issuing is very simple,” cited Dylan Blackburn. “We are asking that everyone who will, every Sunday night at 8 p.m., no matter where you are or what you are doing, stop and just pray for the youth in our community, state, nation and the world.”
Corinth’s youth group is quite small.There are only five members, along with two adult leaders. Members present for the interview included Blackburn, Abby Henderson and Samantha Naylor. Both leaders were present, Angie Naylor and Lesia Henderson. Not present due to other commitments were Tyler Williams and Britnie Adams.
“We are a small group, and many times people could think we are too small to accomplish anything,” asserted leader Henderson. “We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful group of youth that are willing to commit to accomplishing goals. Just imagine what the power of prayer can do for the many children and teenagers that are in need of the Savior. If churches, families and individuals pray at the same time with the same purpose God can do an amazing work, even if our number is few. This is something this group has committed to do.
Although the group is small, it has not has not stopped them from participating in a number of activities to spread the word of God and the love of Jesus Christ. The youth have participated in Illuminate, delivering home meals in Garland and working with the seniors at the Garland Senior Center, giving feet and hand massages, assisting the Sampson County Adult Day Care residents with activities, helping with the Salemburg food closet, holding a very successful coat drive for Grandparents raising Grandchildren, as well as a number of other activities in their own church, most recently the annual Christmas pageant.
Blackburn is a freshman at Midway High School and he shared his thoughts regarding the Just Pray challenge. “It is important yet very simple. If just a few people start praying, it will grow. When a bunch of people start praying at the same time, that will make a difference. Last night (Sunday night), my family got together and prayed at 8 p.m. I could really feel a difference after we prayed. Hopefully everyone we know and many others will eventually start praying for the youth in our community, state, nation and the world.”
“Our youth today face so many challenges from evil forces dealing with issues of peer pressure, gangs, drugs, sex, bullying, profanity, lack of respect and many others. They need prayer and they need to know someone cares for them. This is what these young people are challenging everyone to do,” stressed Lesia Henderson.
A student at Roseboro-Salemburg Middle School, Abby Henderson shared that knowing that people are coming together at 8 p.m. every Sunday will really make a difference. “There are issues at my school and I know if we pray and do it together things will get better.Maybe some of the bad students will be changed through our prayers,” said Abby.
Samantha Naylor is also a freshman but attends Lakewood High School. “I think this is a great project. We are small but we can do great things because God is with us. We encourage each other. Too often we do not realize what conditions other people live in, and as we helped some families during Christmas we realized that people our age are out there who do not have the simple things like a hoodie. This is what we are hoping to do with our Just Pray challenge,” expressed Samantha.
“Just Pray is an attempt to get these young people to realize that small groups can do big things and we hope they will see results of the effects of their efforts,” stated Lesia Henderson.
Together these young people expressed how they felt that their efforts would impact people at their schools. “We have been sharing the idea with our Bible Club groups at school and I think it is making a difference already,” said Abby Henderson. “Hopefully, through our prayers, people will come to know the Lord and follow the examples Jesus gave us, when people realize that someone cares and is praying for them,” asserted Blackburn.
Angie Naylor stated that anything can be accomplish through God. “We may not always know what the needs are, but God does and we can always pray no matter what, and God is there to answer those prayers,” remarked Angie.
“From our small group we are expecting big thing to happen. We hope to see other churches, start praying and maybe Just Pray rallies, Just Pray concerts. We know prayer can change things and we know our world will be a better place for everyone if people will accept our challenge to Just Pray!,” concluded Lesia Henderson.
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