ABOUT
Our Student Ministry exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ by helping students LIVE for God, LOVE the church and LEAD others to Christ.
Who We Are
We are the student ministry of Lakewood Baptist Church: a ministry to middle and high school students and parents. On Sundays and Wednesdays, we gather in The Lodge, our student ministry facility. Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ by helping students LIVE for God, LOVE the church, and LEAD others to Christ. Through partnering with parents, our desire is to see students: own their faith and grow through spiritual disciplines, have a biblical worldview and a global perspective, know and use their spiritual gifts to serve others, be involved in God’s mission of sharing the gospel and making disciples, be involved in an authentic Christian community through a local church.
The Lodge
The Lodge is our two-story Student Ministry space located on the back side of the church campus. The Lodge has two large worship auditoriums for both Middle School and High School, as well as meeting spaces for small groups.
THE LODGE CAFE
Students can purchase food and drinks from The Lodge Café on Wednesday Nights and Sunday Mornings. You can open an account, or pay with cash/card. Click the link below to add funds to a student’s Lodge Cafe account.
Note: It will take up to 24 hours before funds will be posted to your child’s account.
Our Team
Jamie Willis | Next Generation Pastor | Email
Ashley Echols | NextGen Ministry Assistant | Email
Chris McClain | Student/High School Minister | Email
Jon Edwards | Middle School Minister | Email
Bethany O’Bryant | Girls Minister | Email
Hallie Winfrey | Administrative Assistant | Email
Click here for a complete list of our staff.
Connect With Us
CLICK HERE to sign up for important reminders, events, and ways to stay connected in Lakewood Student Ministry.
Subscribe to our Student Ministry Calendar for the latest events and updates.
Ways to Get Involved
Our volunteers play a vital role in pointing students to Jesus and walking alongside them as they grow in their faith.
If you have a heart for investing in the next generation, we’d love to hear from you.
Ways to Serve:
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- Sunday Group Leader
- Wednesday Group Leader
- D-Group Leader
- Wednesday Night Volunteer
SUNDAYS
9:30 & 11:00 AM
Sundays Mornings
On Sunday mornings throughout the school year, middle and high school students gather in The Lodge for Sunday morning Bible study at either 9:30 AM or 11:00 AM. These Bible studies meet with Student Ministry staff and adult leaders to help students connect deeper with God, his Word, and each other. Our primary curriculums for the 2026-2027 school year are Activate by YM360 (for middle school students) and The Gospel Project (for high school students). Bible study groups also meet together outside of Sunday mornings from time to time to hang out, build community, and serve together. In addition to both Bible study hours, we encourage all students and their families to join us for either our 9:30 AM or 11:00 AM worship services.
WEDNESDAYS
6:15-7:45pm
Wednesday Nights
On Wednesday evenings throughout the school year, we meet from 6:15-7:45 PM for our midweek worship experience for students with a live band (led by students and adults) and relevant teaching from God’s Word by one of our student ministry staff. Lodge doors open for all students at 5:30 PM to hang out with friends, play games, or eat in our Lodge Cafe. At 6:15 PM, middle school students will worship together in the Upper Lodge Auditorium while high school students will worship together in the Lower Lodge Auditorium. At 7:15 PM, students will gather in small groups (by grade and gender) with adult leaders to discuss and apply the message they just heard.
PARENTS
Connecting and Supporting Parents of Students
Overview of Parent Ministry
We believe that parents are called to be the primary spiritual leaders for their kids (see Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and Ephesians 6:4). Our role in the church is to come alongside parents and support you in this incredible responsibility by reinforcing the truths you are teaching in your home. In addition to what we do with students at on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings, we support parents through training, resources and parent seminars to better equip you in your God-given role with your kids. Please be sure to contact us about being added to our Parent E-mail list to keep up with these opportunities and upcoming student ministry events.
Resources for Parents
Lakewood has partnered with several ministries to provide parents with biblical, relevant, and practical parenting resources. Click the link below to explore these free resources, including websites, videos, articles, podcasts, Bible studies, discussion guides, and more, to help you invest in the spiritual life of your kids. You’ll also see information about our curriculum plan for what we’re teaching in our Middle School and High School ministry environments on Sunday morning along with resources to help you reinforce these spiritual truths in your home. We hope you will find these resources helpful as you seek to invest in the spiritual life of your kids/teenagers.
Parents of Teenagers Group
On Sunday mornings, Next Generation Pastor (Jamie Willis) and his wife (Joy) lead a group specifically designed for parents of teenagers. This group meets from 9:30-10:45 AM in The Lodge upper auditorium, while students meet with their leaders in small groups. The vision of this group is to be a community of parents who support, encourage and equip one another to be the primary spiritual leaders for their kids. We spend time in different Bible studies and topics that relate to parenting during this life-stage. It’s a discussion-oriented format (not a lecture) and includes time to connect with other adults and pray for our kids. There’s also free coffee.
EVENTS
See what's coming up
Girls Retreat
Middle school and High school girls, join us for this year’s Girls Retreat, August 28 – August 30, we will focus on Ephesians 3:17–19 as we discover the depth of Christ’s love and what it means to be rooted and established in Him. Throughout the weekend, students will enjoy worship, Bible teaching, small groups, swimming, games, great food, and time with friends.
Registration opens Sunday, June 28! Register early to receive the Early Bird rate of $100 through July 22. Beginning July 23, the cost will increase to $125 until August 12. We can’t wait to see you there!
NextGen Parent Connection
Parents of preschool through High school students, join us for NextGen Parent Connection on Sunday, August 16, at 9:30 AM or 11:00 AM at our Lakewood Campus (2235 Thompson Bridge Rd). Learn more about our NextGen Ministry, meet our team, and discover how we partner with families to help kids and students grow in their faith.
Strategic Parenting
Parenting isn’t something we leave to chance in today’s world—we need a strategy. Over six engaging weeks, Strategic Parenting will equip moms, dads, and guardians with seven Bible-anchored, research-based practices that make faith formation a natural part of your everyday family rhythm. Taught by Dr. Jamie Willis, Lakewood’s Next Generation Pastor, and his wife, Joy, this class is built on the findings of Jamie’s doctoral research on passing faith to the next generation, blending biblical truth with practical application. Whether you’re raising preschoolers, elementary-aged kids, or teenagers, you’ll gain a clear framework and practical tools to help your children develop an authentic, lasting faith. Join us Wednesday nights beginning August 19 and discover how to intentionally shape your family’s spiritual legacy.