Whether the arena is athletics, forensics, music, or drama, a coach’s dream is to have well-prepared team members who can confidently face competition or performance. Through the rigors of practice, individuals hone their skills in specific areas. They desire to reach maximum potential to contribute to their teams’ accomplishments.

In a similar manner, a pastor’s dream is to have a youth group of well-prepared students confidently serving the Lord. Talents For Christ (TFC) provides an exceptional opportunity for students to develop their ministry skills. Many pastors and youth group leaders in GARBC churches use TFC as a training program to ready students for serving. TFC offers your students these benefits:

Develop skills—TFC provides an intentional opportunity to train and equip students for particular ministry roles such as vocal and instrumental performance, preaching and speaking, and Bible teaching.

Build confidence—TFC helps students gain confidence as they practice and improve their skills for serving the Lord.

Gain direction—TFC gives students a high view of ministry and prompts students to consider roles God might desire them to fill in their future.

Make friends—TFC brings students from many churches together for competition. These events contribute to a growing network of friends.

Establish identity—TFC cultivates in students a sense of heritage and connection with like-minded Baptists from across the country.

Receive recognition—TFC rewards students with state and national recognition for participation and achievement in performance with the potential of earning college scholarships.

More than ever, students have a great variety of TFC categories in which to participate. This year the non-scholarship competition is expanding to include art, digital media, male and female voice, woodwinds, brass, strings, piano, preaching, female public speaking, Bible knowledge, oral interpretation of Scripture, visualized Bible teaching, writing, and vocal duets, while retaining the prior categories of small and large vocal ensembles, puppets, and drama. In addition, rules for the scholarship competition have been modified to be more user-friendly while keeping the standards for excellence high.

Make TFC an integral part of building your teens toward spiritual maturity. Look for the TFC participation packet arriving soon in your church mail, and check out our website.

Not only will TFC help your students develop their character and abilities, but it will prompt your church family to support the teens with prayer and involvement. May God grant you the joy the apostle John expressed as he received reports of lives he had influenced for Christ: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).

What Pastors Are Saying about TFC

“TFC helps our students mature and equips them for ministry. Students with musical abilities accompany singing and provide special music. Some teach Sunday School classes for young children. Several young men have preached and given devotionals. Others read or recite Scripture during our services. TFC participants learn discipline and hard work, and they gain confidence in platform and classroom ministries.”

—Pastor Tim Capon
Faith Baptist Church, Carroll, Iowa

“Through TFC our students push for excellence in our youth group ministries of choir and puppets. The fact that our students know they will be judged competitively sharpens our group and brings them together as they work on performances. As our teens travel and compete for TFC, we have great times of team-building and fellowship. The opportunity for our group to meet other youth groups who are ministering around our state and across our nation is another bonus. It serves as a reminder that our church is not the only one with teens committed to ministry.”

—Pastor David Burman
First Baptist Church, Elyria, Ohio

“We help students set short-term goals to encourage them to discover, develop, and use their talents in ministry-related areas. Through TFC, students receive quality mentoring, and adults and teens establish lasting relationships. Our church features the students in Sunday and Wednesday services and in services led entirely by the teens. During summer missions trips the students present their TFC selections in various settings (church, park, nursing home, camp chapels). TFC is an effective means of getting the teens out of the pew and onto the platform for the purpose of significant ministry. Having an army of adult coaches unites young and old in a common pursuit of serving Christ.”

—Pastor Bud Hall
Calvary Baptist Church, Bay Shore, New York