NELA Youth

06/08/2026

06/04/2026

Today our girls’ small group Bible study met at Starbucks for a time of fellowship, conversation, and digging into God’s Word together. There’s something special about slowing down, sharing life, and growing in faith alongside friends.

After our study, we enjoyed a beautiful walk across the bridge at University of Louisiana Monroe, taking in the scenery and continuing our conversations along the way.

Discipleship doesn’t only happen inside church walls—it happens over coffee, on walks, through friendships, and in everyday moments where we encourage one another to follow Jesus.

We are thankful for these opportunities to invest in our youth, build relationships, and help them discover their identity and purpose in Christ. ❤️

06/02/2026

Today NELA Youth kicked off our first pool day of the season! The pool was absolutely packed, but that didn’t stop us from having an amazing time. From swimming and splashing to laughing with friends, our kids made the most of every minute.

Sometimes the best memories aren’t made when everything goes perfectly—they’re made when we simply enjoy the moment together. Seeing our youth having fun, building friendships, and making positive memories is what it’s all about.

Thank you to everyone who helps make opportunities like this possible for our kids. We can’t wait for many more summer adventures ahead! 💙☀️

06/01/2026

What was supposed to be a pool trip turned into a zoo splash pad adventure today, and we made the most of it! Even though the Louisiana heat was in full force, our kids had an amazing time cooling off, laughing, playing, and making memories together.

Sometimes plans change, but the fun doesn’t have to! From running through the water to exploring the zoo and spending time with friends, it was a day filled with smiles, excitement, and plenty of splashes.

We are so thankful for every opportunity to get our youth out into the community, enjoy new experiences, and simply be kids.

❤️ Thank you to everyone who supports NELA Youth and helps make days like this possible. Your generosity creates memories these kids will never forget!

05/28/2026

Today was full of laughs, creativity, and some serious style! 💃🛍️

Our girls had an absolute blast during our thrift shopping challenge and fashion show! From hunting down fun outfits on a budget to confidently walking the runway, these girls showed creativity, teamwork, and so much personality. We loved seeing them encourage each other and step outside their comfort zones.

Congratulations to our fashion show winners who brought the confidence, creativity, and smiles! 👏✨

We also wrapped up the day with a hilarious game of Mouth It, and let’s just say… there were LOTS of laughs and some very questionable attempts at lip reading 😂

Moments like these remind us that mentorship is more than programs — it’s building confidence, creating memories, and giving kids a safe place to laugh, grow, and just be kids. ❤️

05/27/2026

Today’s little outing to the mall was full of fun, laughter, and purpose. The kids handed out evangelism cards, worked together through a scavenger hunt, and finished the day with some really good cookies. Moments like these matter because they build confidence, friendship, and remind our kids that they can bring light wherever they go. ❤️

But if we’re honest, there’s always a harder side too. Sometimes people can be very unkind to our kids — even mall security or employees in certain stores. And it’s heartbreaking because many of these children already carry more hurt than most people realize. A harsh word, rude attitude, or judgmental look may seem small to some, but it can deeply affect a child who is already fighting to believe they matter.

What stood out today, though, was that other people noticed it too. Several kind strangers saw the way some of our kids were being treated and quietly came to me to say something about it. That meant more than they know.

And while there were difficult moments, there were also beautiful ones. Thank you to the sweet employee at the Earth store in the middle of the mall for showing kindness to our kids and helping them with their scavenger hunt. Small acts of kindness make a huge impact, and our kids notice them. 💙

No matter what, we will continue teaching our youth to respond differently — to stay respectful, to keep smiling, and to keep showing kindness even when others don’t. Because that’s what Jesus did.

Please continue praying for our youth — that they never let the hardness of this world harden their own hearts.

05/25/2026

Today was a special day at NELA Youth! We took some of our kids to the zoo to celebrate something bigger than just a fun outing—we celebrated responsibility, consistency, and hearts that are willing to seek God. ❤️

These kids make the choice every Sunday morning to get up, get dressed, and come to church. That may seem small to some people, but for many of our youth, it takes real effort, commitment, and determination. We believe those choices matter, and we believe faithfulness should be celebrated.

At NELA Youth, we want our kids to know that responsibility brings rewards, good choices matter, and showing up counts. Today was filled with laughs, animal adventures, memories, and reminders that they are deeply loved and valued.

We are proud of these kids and the growth we’re seeing in their lives every single week. 🦁🐒🐘