World Changers Youth Experience, WCYE, has a mission to “raise up the next phase of World Changers Church International.” Children and teenagers in sixth through twelfth grade are encouraged to participate in the separate Junior High and Senior High programs. Through participation, these young people are not only cared for on the personal level, but on the spiritual level, too. The Word of God is incorruptible seed, and WCYE endeavors to plant it through a variety of avenues.

While school is generally thought to be the sole training a child requires, WCYE’s Junior and Senior High programs address important subjects usually left out of the classroom like anxiety, depression, life skills, struggles linked to single-parent households, and other real issues. Although the public school system and other learning institutions provide structure to society, reports show that one of the primary reasons kids don’t like school is loneliness; this was exacerbated due to the pandemic. WCYE works to address this and more! Further studies indicate that extracurricular activities provide improved mental health, social development, and positive habits; a youth ministry—and youth groups—specifically offers the opportunity to develop an early relationship with Christ, as well as the chance to learn leadership skills.

Young people benefit from a foundation that prepares them to build a godly, fruitful life. As a result, when seeking a church home, parents and guardians often ask the question, “How many areas of my life does this church benefit? What does it have to offer my children?” WCYE is fueled by the passion, wisdom, and gracefulness of spiritual construction workers. This ensures that every member of the family is fed the Word.

Senior pastors Constance and Anthony Adams have been directing World Changers Youth Experience—which they founded—for more than a decade. They were partly prepped for these roles by their four children who are now ages 21, 20, 18, and 17.  Many of the programs within WCYE, and how these programs are executed, are informed by their journey as parents.

“We are fueled by our own experience,” Constance said. She is the youngest of six children, and her father was in the military. Growing up in a big family has allowed her to help kids and young people figure out how to resolve conflict and find the best perspective when it comes to their own families. On the other hand, Anthony was raised in a single-parent household, and this has given him the heart for assisting single mothers in enforcing a sense of discipline, accountability, and empathy within their sons.

Both Constance and Anthony have been at WCCI since they were children; Anthony since age 6, Constance since age 11. They grew up in the teen ministry here and can clearly identify how what was sown into them helped them overcome mistakes and trials. “I used to cause so much trouble for the youth pastor and children’s ministry director,” Anthony said. Despite this, love and compassion for him remained among the staff and volunteers. Ultimately, he and his wife became the first youth pastors at WCCI to have teenagers actively involved in teen ministry. “I remember every teacher and every volunteer as a forty-two-year-old man,” Anthony added. “We are a direct reflection of what was poured into us.” Similar to Pastors Creflo and Taffi Dollar, they can acknowledge the power of adults who invest in young people and help them become adults who contribute to society in a positive way.

WCYE’s entire week is spent in preparation for Sunday. To encourage engagement, they commit to phone calls, group chats, meetings, and events to build momentum and volunteer involvement in the youth group. It’s important to create an experience both volunteers and young people want to be a part of again and again. Anthony does most of the teaching; his previous role was youth pastor at WCCI’s Norcross location. He also handles maintenance, owing to his operational background. In addition to pastoring, Constance completes office work, including budgeting and staff preparation.

Anthony and Constance translate and communicate how God’s Word applies to a young person’s everyday life. This gives them the opportunity to apply Scriptures, which is especially crucial to Christian youth who often are in the midst of discovering their faith. Part of the work is building up the desire to be involved in service and making sure the young people are excited to return.

WCYE also works with Victory in Education, a volunteer ministry of WCCI that offers free tutoring. Anthony stated, “Anytime we have students that are failing in a class, we just partner up with them. Their care for the young people is thorough and offers many chances to become well-rounded and successful.”

An important component of WCYE is to equip the youth to fulfill roles within the service. Student volunteers fill positions such as the ambassador, resource, and hospitality teams. They keep track of mournful moments, as well as celebratory ones, like graduations. For example, WCYE will shout them out on Instagram, give them an opportunity to come up on stage, take pictures with them, and show up to their sports games. Volunteers help prepare menus that are attractive to the kids, and those with creative skills serve on the production team and with the music ministry. There is also a team that helps students who decide to get born again. Anthony and Constance understand the importance of these roles and are very vigilant about who is allowed to be an ambassador. They believe in boundaries that allow for interaction but prevent unhealthy reliance.

Safeguards are in place to ensure the protection of all students. For example, middle school/junior high students are not mixed with high school students. The goal is to create “peer presence more than peer pressure.” While it is important for the younger kids to have positive interactions with the older ones, separation allows this to be done without exposing them to themes and content beyond their maturity level.

WCYE meets several needs of World Changers Church International and the older congregants. Every ministry has a successor, and this youth group hopes to train up the new praise leaders, sound technicians, and speakers. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, WCYE connected with O.A.S.I.S., Older Adults Still in Service, to create a bridge between the youth and elders and build a healthy line of communication between the two groups.

They also offer parenting classes, which help parents relate to their children and build bridges within their family. Essentially, they translate to parents what their kids are trying to say. For example, parents can have a sense of confusion about why their child opens up to youth ministry staff but not to the parent. WCYE’s ability to be a godly mediator is important.

Children are the future, and WCYE is dedicated to investing in their present through empathy and without judgment. They address contemporary issues that teens face, all while uplifting Christ and His promises. They discuss “the root of the thing instead of the fruit” and educate the students about their mental, spiritual, and physical needs. For example, instead of condemning a young person who might be addicted to social media, WCYE reveals where the addiction comes from, and how their feed is specifically curated to their likes and interests. “Your feed begins to show you who you are, and we teach them about it from that standpoint,” Anthony explained. “We try to highlight for them that when you don’t understand the purpose of a thing, abnormal use or abuse is inevitable.” This understanding, in the case of social media, promotes healthy, careful usage.

They have also been blessed with opportunities to invite political figures to teen conferences so that they could talk to the kids about sexual exploitation and discourage things like sexting. Constance spoke of the concern in the local area about sex trafficking and how they address the telltale signs with the students. Taffi Dollar, herself, has a heart for empowering and restoring women involved in the sex industry, and inspired by her, they also empower the young ladies and young men of WCYE.

World Changers Youth Experience does not simply hope for a better future; they invest in many futures. The youth experience change, but also exceptional care. Constance and Anthony encourage you to connect with them via the WCYE Jr. High YouTube page or the WCYE Senior High YouTube page as well as on Instagram (@worldchangersye). They are especially thankful to their staff members, Pastor Alyssa Worrell, who works specifically with the 6^th through 8^th graders, and Chastin Lusbourgh, the administrative coordinator. If you are passionate about young people and want to join them on this great journey full of godly purpose, don’t hesitate to volunteer!

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6, NKJV).

To set up Christian advisement for or concerning your teen, please call 770-210-5839.