Back Student Ministry welcomes eight new summer interns

June 8th, 2012

Summertime at Brentwood Baptist also means summertime interns, assisting our ministries in all that goes on during May, June, and July.

Linc Taylor, Student Minister at Brentwood Baptist, just welcomed eight college students to his team as he prepares junior high and high schoolers for mission journeys, beach camp, service opportunities, Bible studies, and more. And two of the eight students will be partnering with the Missions Ministry to serve specifically as Student Missions interns.

"This group of college students will be pouring their lives into our ministry over the next 10 weeks," Linc said. "They've all grown up in our church and were involved in our Student Ministry. This is a very gifted group and we're thrilled that God has brought each of them to us. I'm looking forward to the summer and the opportunities that we'll have to challenge students and their families to pursue Christ."

Meet your 2012 Brentwood Baptist Student Ministry summer interns.

Ben Bayless
Junior at University of Tennessee
Last summer, I felt the Lord tugging on me to help out with the youth in Knoxville at Fellowship Church. I led a small group of ninth graders there and found so much joy in it. Through that, I really felt the Lord calling me to apply and become a part of the Brentwood Baptist Student Ministry.

There are too many great memories to choose from when I was in the Brentwood Baptist Student Ministry, but I think summer camp was always a blast. The amount of fun we have during the week and also the spiritual growth that took place, not only for myself but also for the other students with us. It truly was an incredible time every year.

I'm looking forward to seeing how God moves throughout this group. I've already seen it through Mission 615 with the middle school students and that was just the first week. I'm looking forward to meeting students and developing relationships. I just want God to use me in any way He can this summer.

Clay Huddleston
Sophomore at University of Tennessee
I didn't become plugged into our Student Ministry until the very tail end of my senior year of high school. But my favorite memory would have to be that first day. I was so blown away by the worship service and how the students seemed to show real worship and not just mouthing the words. It changed my entire outlook on what I assumed student ministry was.

A summer inter from last year, Josh Shelley, was the reason I chose to apply to become an intern. That pushed me to become more connected and really changed my life. I thought if I can do for one kid what he did for me, then it would be worth my entire summer.

This summer, I'm a part of the middle school team, planning middle school Bible studies and fellowships. As interns, we really have the power to shape the summer, and this year's group is really focused on creating movement. We're trying to get students plugged in, in any way possible.

I'm looking forward to getting to know the students. I know that sounds terribly cliche, but it really is. At the end of the day, I'm here for them—no matter what they're going through. There are a lot of really awesome students here, and I'm lucky to be able to work with them.

Elizabeth Cantrell
Sophomore at University of Tennessee
Working with and sharing my faith with college friends and international students at UT, God has given me a passion to work with students as He's given me various opportunities to boldly share my faith and see one of my friends come to Christ! This has spurred me on to come back to Brentwood Baptist to work with other students. I feel that God isn't done using me here.

Through this ministry, I met my best friend and many other friends that have been incredible in encouraging me in my walk. There have been countless memories, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. I've learned that He's enough for me, in every situation, and that He can use anyone for His glory and His renown—no matter their past, present, or future.

I'll be helping out this summer with Mission 615, beach camp, VBS, and the Chicago mission journey, but I'll also be working with the Missions Ministry some, helping to mobilize students by creating opportunities to serve those around them in the Nashville area.

I'm looking forward to the relationships I'm going to build because God will reveal Himself through those relationships. I can't wait to invest in the lives of the students of Brentwood Baptist and serve them along the way. It's going to be a great summer. He's on the move!

Eric Warren
Senior at University of Tennessee
Unfortunately, I wasn't really involved in the student ministry here at Brentwood Baptist during high school. I attended church regularly but didn't make a habit of attending the student service. God chose to captivate my heart through Young Life at Franklin Road Academy and the men involved in that ministry. Through it, I felt God's undeniable pursuit for me.

I applied to become an intern because of a strong calling God placed on my heart to serve in ministry for the rest of my life. I've been blessed to be a part of the Young Life ministry throughout high school and now as a leader at Carter High School in Knoxville. After some meditation and time with God, I felt Him tug on my heart to serve within church ministry, then the opportunity to apply as an intern at Brentwood Baptist arose.

This summer, I get to serve and be faithful to the God who was faithful to me first. I was intensely pursued by some great men in my life so now I have the opportunity to pursue kids here at the church and be a demonstration of love that Christ has for us all. Words cannot even begin to cover my excitement for being a member of this family and working for the glory of God.

I'm looking forward to developing some profound relationships with students this summer. I've been blessed with a great family and a fantastic community of friends around me by submitting to Christ and allowing Him to be the center of my life, so I'm looking forward to showing them the rich well they can draw from by putting God in the center of their lives and seeing all the blessings that flow from that decision.

Evan Kunz
Sophomore at Union University
Last summer was my first time to go to summer camp with Brentwood Baptist since my sixth grade year. While there, I fell in love with the work the FUGE staff did—how they got to minister and interact with youth and motivate them to live for Christ. 

After coming home, God convicted me to become involved in youth ministry, with the hope that one day I might "see a generation rising up to take their place with selfless faith." Linc, Chris, and Amy-Jo offered me that opportunity this summer and I couldn't be more excited.

My favorite memory of being in the Brentwood Baptist Student Ministry is when I went to Guatemala on my first international mission trip. Getting to worship and serve alongside of brothers and sisters of a different culture and in entirely different languages was an experience that truly taught me what Christian fellowship is.

This summer, I'll be going on all the trips, leading a middle school Bible study, working with the students during Vacation Bible School, and building meaningful and influential relationships with the students. My biggest hope and excitement is seeing lives become radically changed by having a deep and meaningful relationship with Christ. 

Grace Taylor
Sophomore at Carson Newman College
As I spent this last year away from home during my freshman year in college, God began to bend my heart more toward people and being intentional in building relationships, especially with students. Throughout my time in the Student Ministry, it played a huge role in my life and my Christian walk. I felt God pulling me back toward the ministry that had meant so much to me, for the sole purpose of loving on students and being intentional with them. 

Some of the best memories of my life were made at Beach Camp in Panama City with the Brentwood Baptist Student Ministry. However, the mission journeys we took to Guatemala, Vancouver, and Chicago were the times the Lord most radically changed my heart. These first mission trips were huge, defining moments in my walk with Christ, and they're where I realized my heart for serving people and sharing the gospel, especially internationally. 

This summer, my main focus is to create movement regarding missions and intentionality with the students that lasts beyond this summer. We want to use these summer events as catalysts to get them plugged into ministry and help them live purpose-filled lives for the sake of the gospel. As an intern, my primary role is to love on students and help them realize the urgency of our call on earth to share Christ with everyone. 

I'm most looking forward to getting to know the students and building relationships with them. I can't wait to see how God will work in their lives and move as a whole throughout this Student Ministry. I'm expecting big things and know that God will prompt everyones' hearts toward Him and His plan for their lives. 

Laura Haywood
Senior at Middle Tennessee State University
I applied to be an intern for a couple of reasons. First off, I felt like the Lord was calling me to work here. He's moving in my life right now and I think that move might be towards ministry. I also wanted to give back to the ministry that was so instrumental in my own walk of faith. But most important, I want these students to know my Lord and Savior.

Some of my favorite memories in the Brentwood Baptist Student Ministry involved LIFE Groups. For example, during the first Genesis Weekend, we all piled into a single car. We got to know each other quiet well. One of the biggest things I learned about was my relationship with Jesus Christ—and for that I'm eternally grateful for the people God placed in my life.

I'm looking forward to seeing how God moves this summer in the ministry, students, and myself. I'm also looking forward to the friendships that will be made with the students.

Pat Cantrell
Junior at University of Tennessee
I applied to be an intern because I want to continue to speak life into the students that I was around last year and also just have a blast with mission trips and camps. I can say, without a doubt, that I have the best job with some of the coolest people around!

Some of my favorite memories from the youth group come from mission trips to Chicago. Having gone the past five years, I've grown to love and get to know so many people there and consider it a second home. It doesn’t get much better when you can go into a different culture and speak the same language, the love of Jesus Christ.

This summer, I'll continue to work in the lives of students and build the relationships that I started last year as an intern. It will also be a wonderful opportunity to strengthen my relationship with Christ even more than it already is. I'm looking forward to teaching students what it truly means to be a child of God, follow His will, and what that looks like.

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