08/27/2026
Another great Tuesday Teen Night. ❤️
Last night we had a few special guests come talk to our teens about something very real, being young and becoming victims of gun violence. Hearing their stories and what they’ve lived through was emotional, but it was something our kids needed to hear.
With everything happening in our community lately involving gunfire and young people, we wanted to remind our teens that the choices they make, the people they follow, and the people they allow to influence them can change their entire life.
At one point, we asked them a simple question: “How many of you consider yourself a leader?”
Not one hand went up. That bothered me.
Because I look around that room every Tuesday and I see leaders. I see kids with influence. I see kids younger ones look up to. I see kids capable of being the one who says, “Nah, we’re not doing that.”
Somewhere along the way, too many of our kids have started believing that being a follower is easier than standing alone and doing what’s right. We have to change that.
Teen Night can’t just be about giving them somewhere to go on Tuesdays. It has to be about helping them become the people they’re capable of becoming.
So we’re going to keep talking. Keep listening. Keep bringing real people with real stories in front of them. Keep reminding them that being a leader doesn’t mean being the loudest person in the room.
Sometimes being a leader is simply having enough courage to not follow the crowd. And we’re going to keep working until I ask that question one Tuesday and see hands all over that room. 💚
A huge thank you to Carl, Julie, Jimmy, Jabree, Kaitlyn and Tommy for being willing to share your stories with our teens. Being open about things you’ve experienced isn’t always easy, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to be real with them. I hope they carry some of your words with them when they’re faced with choices of their own.
And on a personal note, thank you to Hannah, Jimmy, my teens and everyone there for surprising me with cupcakes and singing Happy Birthday to me. 🥹❤️ It meant a lot to me. To be surrounded by those kids and so many people I care about was a pretty special way to celebrate another year of life.
Another Tuesday that reminded me exactly why we keep doing this. 💚
