“Elevate” Elevates Gilmer Youth

Religion

God has been at work amongst the many youth groups Gilmer has been able to provide, as evidenced by, Elevate Student Ministries, a youth group founded by East Ellijay Baptist Church. This particular youth group has been in three different locations since it first started in 2006, growing in population as each week goes by.In 2006, East Ellijay Baptist’s prayers were answered when Eric and Jennifer Colson moved to Ellijay, providing the church with a youth pastor eager to start making disciples of the young teenagers in Gilmer County. At the time, Elevate was meeting in the choir room of the EEBC building, holding between 15-20 students a week. Immediately, the population began to increase, causing the youth group to have to search for somewhere new to meet up every week. “It was clear God was at work,” said, Eric Colson.

James and Vickie Waters were generous enough to donate the attic above the Laundromat located next to Papa’s Pizza, letting the youth group meet there for free up until March. The student participation increased in number each week so much so that safety and comfort became an issue. In March, the group was forced to remove the chairs from the building forcing the students to learn God’s word from the (un)comfort of the floor.

Fortunately for the expanding youth group East Ellijay Baptist is known for its love and compassion for youth, and on March 30th the church willingly opened up their sanctuary on Wednesday nights so that the teenagers would have a safe, comfortable, air-conditioned location in which they were able to worship and love God with less distractions and more comfort.

“We are blessed to be a part of a church that was willing to allow us to use the sanctuary every week now. East Ellijay Baptist Church loves young people and continue to make every sacrifice possible to share Jesus with families. The church and the community has supported the work financially in ways we could not have expected. As our ministry grows the expenses do as well. People keep stepping in to provide when we need it most. God has provided in miraculous ways,” says Colson.

The massive population growth of Elevate is only the beginning of what is to come. There are many other youth groups in Gilmer County that care a great deal about teens, and love sharing the love and compassion of God with anyone and everyone willing to listen.

Other youth pastors in Gilmer County are Josh Moyers at First Baptist Church, Caleb Land at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Daniel Watts at the Orchard, Ian Conrey at Covenant Community, Brandon Dobson at First United Methodist Church, Mike Mayfield at Cross Roads Christian Fellowship, and Matt Simpson at Lifehouse. Youth pastors are working together as a team to reach students.

Colson said, “We have the same goals and celebrate the work of God in each of these ministries as if it were in our own. There’s only one kingdom we are building and it’s not ours. We are not motivated by attendance, but we are motivated by our love for Jesus and our core belief that every student and family needs Jesus.”

God has surely been at work amongst the students in Gilmer County, and if a teen is not plugged into one of these churches, it is highly encouraged for that teen to check out one of these incredible ministries!

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