Mt Zion Youth

Mt Zion Youth A unique bunch of kids ranging from 6th grade - 12th grade. There is a place for everyone.

We are on the road to visit our youth pastor this week. First stop, Buc-ees! Gotta get those slushies and nuggies.
03/07/2026

We are on the road to visit our youth pastor this week. First stop, Buc-ees! Gotta get those slushies and nuggies.

01/17/2026

“‘But you,’ he asked them, ‘who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’”Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1713/mrk.8.29.CSB

The Bethlehem StarIn the Gospel of Matthew, we see the star in the sky, signifying the birth of Jesus. It's seen by ever...
01/10/2026

The Bethlehem Star

In the Gospel of Matthew, we see the star in the sky, signifying the birth of Jesus. It's seen by everyone - this supernatural activity in the night sky. Even creation was yelling about the arrival of Emmanuel. 💫

The Bethlehem Star was what caused the wise men from the East to travel, searching for the king of the Jews to worship Him. They were looking for what God was doing, and they found Jesus because the star led them to Him. And this is what I want to do with my life.

Like the star, I want to lead people to Jesus.

Your Life Today
This isn't just a unique call on my life - it's for every single one of us.

"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation." (Mk 16:15)

We are asked by God to tell people about Him. Your life should be lit up by the Love you know.

How is your life leading people to Jesus?

To Stay Or To Go?Moses + The Burning BushDo you remember the story of Moses and the burning bush? In Exodus 3, we see Mo...
01/07/2026

To Stay Or To Go?
Moses + The Burning Bush

Do you remember the story of Moses and the burning bush? In Exodus 3, we see Moses tending to the sheep of his father-in-law. He is being faithful to what God has called him to do in that moment - tend sheep. He's being a responsible steward of what God has asked him to do, even if it felt a bit mundane in that moment. After all - he grew up as royalty in Egypt.

As Moses was being obedient and keeping the flock, he noticed something supernatural - a bush that was burning, but not burning out. It says that Moses 'turned aside' (v3) to see what God was doing in that moment. And because of his pursuit of God above something else really good - faithfully tending sheep - Moses had an encounter with God and received insight into His calling and what God wanted to do.

The Shepherds + Angels
What does the burning bush and my reluctance to 'turn aside' from my small group plans have to do with the Nativity?

We also see shepherds faithfully tending their sheep. They are doing what God asked them to do - faithfully care for the flock they're entrusted with. Then their normal, everyday call was radically interrupted by the supernatural - angels and the glory of the Lord shining around them. And they had a decision to make - 'turn aside' to see what the Lord was doing, or stick to their plan. (Spoiler alert - they travelled to Bethlehem and met the King of Kings.)

Your Life Today
In our own lives, God is so pleased with us living out our 'ordinary calling' - whether that's raising children, living out a particular vocation, pursuing a career, or even pastoring in a church. But there will be times when God interrupts our 'ordinary' good thing we're called to do, and we have a decision to make in that moment - will we continue on without responding, tending to our 'sheep', or will we turn aside to see what it is God is wanting to do or say?

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas to my youth group!

I wish I could be with you all in person, but please know you’ve been on my heart and in my prayers. Christmas reminds us that God showed up for us in the most unexpected way—Emmanuel, God with us. Even when we’re apart, He is still present, still working, and still drawing us closer to Him.

I’m so proud of each of you—your growth, your questions, your faith, and your willingness to show up and seek God. Keep leaning into Him, keep encouraging one another, and never forget how deeply you are loved.

Miss you all and can’t wait to be together again soon.
Merry Christmas ❤️✝️

CHRISTmas 2025 was a hit! It’s always good when we can celebrate the reason of the season together.
12/18/2025

CHRISTmas 2025 was a hit! It’s always good when we can celebrate the reason of the season together.

“Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there...
12/17/2025

“Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
‭‭
Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1713/luk.2.7.CSB

No Room At The...Youth Camp?

I spent a good chunk of my late teens/twenties as a volunteer youth leader, and eventually a youth pastor. I couldn't have imagined any other way to spend those years - in fact, God often still calls me to minister at youth events around the world, and there's nothing like seeing a young person have their lives healed and wrecked (in the best way) by God. He loves to interrupt a young person's life with the hope, the peace, the purpose that they've been longing for.

At a youth camp one year, we were pushed for space. Every cabin throughout the site was full to capacity with excited teenagers or exhausted youth leaders. As an introvert, all I could think was, 'I'd do anything for my own space right now!' So I went for a wander and discovered the storage space for the gym equipment. I took one look at the stack of red gym mats amongst the dodgeballs and cricket bats and thought - 'This is perfect.' In reality, it was literally a large cupboard which smelled of sweaty socks and was overflowing with sports equipment, but it seemed like heaven to me! I laid my sleeping bag out on top of the stack of plastic gym mats, and the quiet was exactly what I needed to show up well for the youth that weekend.

No Room At The Inn
I might have stayed a few nights in a gym equipment cupboard, but God was born in a stable and laid in a manger when there was no room at the inn. I can't imagine a stable was the cleanest, most organised place to have a baby. The innkeeper had run out of room, and probably wasn't prepared to host people in the animal stable - but he made room anyway. He wouldn't have felt prepared. In reality, he was probably a little overwhelmed with the census creating high demand for accommodation, a bit stressed (at least, I would have been), and maybe a tad guilty for putting a pregnant woman into a barn. But Jesus still wanted to come into the middle of the innkeeper's chaos and 'mess.'

Isn't this just like God? Often, we feel like we want or need to 'sweep out our stable' (life) before we welcome Him to rest in the manger of our heart. After all...surely God doesn't want to be in the middle of the soiled straw (sin) and animals wandering around (chaos) and noise (distraction). Wouldn't He want to be in a tidy, regal, orderly environment?

But Jesus just wants to enter into our hearts this Christmas, whether we feel like we've had time to prepare well for His arrival or not. The King of the Universe, being born in a messy stable and placed to rest in a humble manger, shows us that.

Your Life Today
Do you feel like you are telling God to 'wait at the door' before coming into an area of your heart, until you've had a chance to clean up and prepare properly for His arrival?

He is not afraid of our mess. In fact...His presence can help with what feels broken or shameful. ❤️

““See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.”‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬...
12/15/2025

““See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.”
‭‭
Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭38‬ ‭CSB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1713/luk.1.38.CSB

Mary's Yes
When I think of men and women who have run the race of life and faith before me, and have done it well and in a way I want to draw from and imitate, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is one of the first people I think of.

Imagine you are living out your very ordinary, safe life, and one day God radically interrupts it. He asks you to go somewhere, do something, give your life to serve the Lord in a way which may cost your life, and would destroy your reputation.

Would you want to say yes? How long would it take you to give God your yes? Would you hesitate? As I shared...it took me months to give God my 'yes' for a preaching ministry.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her she would be the Mother of God, the reality is that she could have said no. Free will is a gift the Lord has given us to make our love real. He doesn't control us, force us to love and obey Him. That's not love - that's manipulation. We are able to decide how we respond to His love.

Mary could have said no, but instead she responded with her 'fiat' ('let it be to me according to your word' - Lk 1:38). She gave the Lord her entire life to be used by Him however He wanted.

Mary was a normal girl. If she can do it, we can too.

Your Life Today
If God asks you to give up the job and pursue another career, or move to another city or nation, or pursue the vocation He invites you to, or stand up for what you believe in, even if you will be humiliated - will you have the courage to say Yes to God too?

“And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love rema...
12/13/2025

“And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love. We love because he first loved us. ”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1713/1jn.4.16-19.CSB

“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whateve...
12/11/2025

“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable #— there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy #— on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1713/php.4.9.CSB

11/23/2025

🔥 Rebuilding an Altar 🔥
1 Kings 18:21 & 30 • Matthew 6:24

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah looks at a nation that had drifted, wavered, and mixed their worship. Before God moved, before the fire fell, he rebuilt the altar that had been torn down.

Sometimes the first step back to God isn’t emotional… it’s intentional. It’s choosing to rebuild what’s been broken.

💔 Name what is broken.
Where did the cracks start? Where did the drift begin? God can heal what you’re willing to bring into the light.

⚔️ Remove the competition.
Matthew 6:24 tells us “No one can serve two masters.” If something is fighting for the throne of your heart, it has to go. God doesn’t share altars.

🔥 Believe for fire again.
Elijah prayed, “Answer me, Lord… so these people will know You are God and that You are turning their hearts back” (1 Kings 18:37).
God still answers. God still restores. God still sends fire when His people return to Him.

If your altar has been neglected, torn down, or crowded with idols… today is the day to rebuild it.
Return. Repent. Realign.

And watch what God will do. 🙏🔥

Address

2194 White Road
Florence, MS
39073

Opening Hours

Wednesday 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Sunday 9am - 11am
5pm - 6pm

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+16018451577

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MTZ Youth!

Mt. Zion Baptist Church is an amazing church, full of loving, faithful men and woman who love God and others! Youth are the future of our church, and community. As the current youth pastor, I take the responsibility of teaching younger generations about the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We would love for all who are in grades 6th - 12th grade to come by and join us in our games, and worship time, along with our studies as we walk through the bible. Join us! -Wilton