Connecting Teens to Jesus
3/5 Note - Parents of Jr. High students. Our Spring topic on Wednesday nights for Jr. High has been the Sermon on the Mount while the High School studies the life of Daniel with David Webb. Due to much of the religious world participating in Ash Wednesday today (March 5), we will move up our fasting study to tonight. Matthew 6:16-18 will be our focal point. We will be talking about multiple forms of fasting and encouraging our students to give up something (like video games or social media) over the next week for the purpose of talking about it next Wednesday night (March 12).
We know that fasting can be a tough topic for young students to understand, so we will tread lightly. We will not pressure them to give up all food over the next week. Any conversation that have about food fasting (water only) will be directed to parents at home and their guidance. I will be fasting and praying along with our students. Message me if you have any questions. Much love. - Topher
Join the Breakfast Club! Current Signups are January through June
https://mealtrain.com/nwmndq
Each Sunday morning before Bible class we provide breakfast for teens as a way to say, "You are loved." We invite parents to take part in sharing love with the teens and visiting the basement on Sunday mornings. Stay a few minutes and chat with these great teens. Any morning that isn't volunteered for will have donuts provided by the Wiles. Milk & Juice are provided every Sunday. We average about 25 teens in class on Sunday mornings. Thanks for joining in the JA Youth Ministry!
Click here to go to our Meal Train platform to sign up: https://mealtrain.com/nwmndq
Summer Youth Ministry Intern Info - Click here to download the 1 page info sheet
8 Ways to Connect to Our 2025 Events Calendar!
Who We Are
The Jefferson Avenue Youth Ministry (JAYM) is a group of individuals who are committed to God and his Word, supportive of each other, dedicated to selfless living, and always willing to create space for more to join. JAYM exists to transform teens into vessels of God - filled and filling others with God's love, compassion and truth.
New to JAYM?
FILL OUT OUR QUICK YOUTH INFO SURVEY HERE: YOUTH SURVEY https://forms.gle/93Zddu8pD6AZQRMdA
Connect to the latest JAYM announcements through REMIND App!
We know that fasting can be a tough topic for young students to understand, so we will tread lightly. We will not pressure them to give up all food over the next week. Any conversation that have about food fasting (water only) will be directed to parents at home and their guidance. I will be fasting and praying along with our students. Message me if you have any questions. Much love. - Topher
Join the Breakfast Club! Current Signups are January through June
https://mealtrain.com/nwmndq
Each Sunday morning before Bible class we provide breakfast for teens as a way to say, "You are loved." We invite parents to take part in sharing love with the teens and visiting the basement on Sunday mornings. Stay a few minutes and chat with these great teens. Any morning that isn't volunteered for will have donuts provided by the Wiles. Milk & Juice are provided every Sunday. We average about 25 teens in class on Sunday mornings. Thanks for joining in the JA Youth Ministry!
Click here to go to our Meal Train platform to sign up: https://mealtrain.com/nwmndq
Summer Youth Ministry Intern Info - Click here to download the 1 page info sheet
8 Ways to Connect to Our 2025 Events Calendar!
- Download a printable .PDF of our Events and Birthdays Calendar. CLICK HERE
- Add our Google Events & Birthdays Calendar to your calendar. CLICK HERE or HERE and use the "ADD" or "+" option.
- View our Youth Page on your JACOC App CLICK HERE.
- Follow our JAYM Instagram or join our private JAYM Facebook Group.
- Join our Youth or Parents REMIND messaging system.
- View it on the bottom Youth Page on the website. (SCROLL DOWN)
- View it on our Bulletin Board at the top of the JAYM Basement Stairs or outside the Youth Minister office (at church building).
- View our church weekly bulletin (check your email or come to Sunday service).
Who We Are
The Jefferson Avenue Youth Ministry (JAYM) is a group of individuals who are committed to God and his Word, supportive of each other, dedicated to selfless living, and always willing to create space for more to join. JAYM exists to transform teens into vessels of God - filled and filling others with God's love, compassion and truth.
New to JAYM?
FILL OUT OUR QUICK YOUTH INFO SURVEY HERE: YOUTH SURVEY https://forms.gle/93Zddu8pD6AZQRMdA
Connect to the latest JAYM announcements through REMIND App!
- Teens, text “@jayouth” to the number 8101 or click here: https://www.remind.com/join/jayouth
- Parents, text "@jacoc1" to the number 8101 or click here: https://www.remind.com/join/jacoc1
Meet the Youth ministry team of Ja.
Topher Wiles
Youth Minister
ChrisTopher loves his wife and four kids. After being inspired by a youth minister to follow Jesus, Topher was baptized into Christ in 1996. Topher then received a degree in theology from Lipscomb University with an emphasis in Youth Ministry & Biblical Languages. By God's grace he also served as principal of the local homeschool cooperative, tennis coach of multiple teams, high school math teacher, and a chaplain at a local hospital. Along with 18 years of experience in full time ministry, in 2020 & 2021 he was also voted "Community Role Model" by the public of White County. His special talents include squeezing as much life as he can into every minute, sparring with three boys at one time without anyone being seriously injured, and bringing adventure to anyone who will join him. Will you join Topher in an adventure with Jesus?
Contact Topher: topher@jacoc.org
Contact Topher: topher@jacoc.org
Don Foy
Elder for Youth
Don has been involved in the Jefferson Avenue youth ministry since 1987, as a youth deacon from 2007 to 2014 and as an elder since 2014. He and his wife Jane have two daughters who went through the youth program at JA. Don has invested much of his professional career in newspaper news media and information technology management. During baseball season you can find Don immersed in everything around his favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves.
Contact Don: dfoy@jacoc.org
Contact Don: dfoy@jacoc.org
Seth Gilbert
Youth Deacon
Seth Gilbert, born and raised here at JA! Seth grew up here in the JA Youth, baptized at age 14. He graduated from TTU in 2005 with a degree in business management, thanks to Brook! Seth is an entrepreneur and started a mowing business at the age of 15, which has now expanded and he continues to do. If you ever wonder where he and Brook are, you can probably find them in a gym or field somewhere watching Cara Lee or Callie playing one of their sports. In his free time, you can find him playing golf, working on the farm, on the lake, watching the Minnesota Vikings or Duke Basketball, or hunting.
Contact Seth: seth_brookgilbert@hotmail.com
Contact Seth: seth_brookgilbert@hotmail.com
Mark McCowan
Youth Deacon
Mark grew up in the church just down the street from Jefferson Avenue at Sycamore Church of Christ. Today, he is joined at Jefferson Avenue by his wife, Lauren, and four daughters, Lily, Kailee, Elin, and Isla. You're likely to run into the McCowan's at a local softball field, where all four girls play, or at a campground somewhere in the Smokies. Since volunteer coaching and camping don't pay the bills, Mark is a financial advisor at Wilson Bank Investment Services, holding his Certified Public Accountant license and Certified Financial Planner designation. When he's not busy being a girl dad, he enjoys hunting, exercising, and playing bad golf.
Contact Mark: mark.mccowan@gmail.com
Contact Mark: mark.mccowan@gmail.com