More than 300 students converged on Brewer High School’s (BHS) football stadium Aug. 6 to kick off the school year with the first-ever Morgan County Youth United.
The 6 p.m. joint worship service featured a praise band comprised of youth from Shiloh Baptist Church, Somerville; Cave Spring Baptist Church, Decatur; Shoal Creek Baptist Church, Decatur; The Arc of Morgan County, Decatur; and Central Baptist Church, Decatur.
Morgan County Youth United was a collaborative effort of these churches and promoted by students for two months prior to the event.
Michael Walters, youth pastor for Shiloh Baptist and key speaker for the event, organized Morgan County Youth United in an effort to make this school year, which started Aug. 7, different from previous years.
“Too often [students] go back to school with great expectations but fall back into the same old cycle,” Walters said. He noted this event gave students “the chance to spark a revival” in their schools.
Heath McCutcheon, a senior at BHS and Shiloh youth group member, said teenagers in different youth groups often feel separated from one another. “We’re all one Church, so we decided to be united,” he said.
Following the student-led worship service, Walters delivered a message challenging students to dive into their faith, be a part of the community of Christ and not worry about offending people.
“Don’t operate under the assumption that just because we live in the South, everyone is saved. Don’t live with assumptions — live with assurance,” he said.
Two students accepted Christ and two rededicated their lives at the end of the night.
McCutcheon said being able to pray with someone as she received Christ was a powerful experience.
“You could tell that there was an unspeakable joy about her,” he said.
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