Local Youth Gather For Annual ‘Disciple Now’ Faith Event

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — Teenagers from across Northeast Mississippi spent the weekend worshipping with other churches and learning how to grow in their faith. It was all part of the annual event known as “Disciple Now”.

Building five of the Tupelo Furniture Market was Worship Central for Disciple Now 2015. More than 1,000 teenagers from churches across Northeast Mississippi took part in the annual event. The theme for this year’s Disciple Now was “Follower.”

“Especially with the social media uprising, everybody is following someone, and we’re going to try and break down what does that mean, to be a follower of Jesus, how does that work in culture that seems to be following everybody else,” said Stuart Hall, speaker for the event.

Youth speaker Stuart Hall led students in bible study and the messages were broken down and discussed in detail in host homes during sessions with college aged leaders.

Many youth groups took part in local mission activities. Hope Church delivered canned goods to Helping Hands Ministries .

“Missions is a way of life for a follower of Jesus, don’t follow the crowd, we want to follow Christ,” said Brandon Wilemon, youth pastor at Hope Church in Tupelo.

“I think it really shows the community what Christ helps you do, if you are the follower of Christ and you go out and do mission work to show your love for Him,” said Hannah Park, of Hope Church.

For youth pastors and students, Disciple Now is a chance to grow in the faith, learn more about Christ and get equipped to make a difference outside of the church walls.

“What I like about Disciple Now, is that all the churches in the community come together, worship and learn more about God and the faith and we all can show to Him and glorify His name,” said Cameron O’Daniel, of West Jackson St. Baptist Church in Tupelo.

“I just love that all the Christians in the area get to come together and worhsip God as a body , the church and have a good time together and learn more about God,” said Catherine Barkley, of West Jackson St. Baptist Church.

“They look forward to it all year long, Disciple Now, and then those things they learned, hopefully they are applying them to their lives and living it out after it’s through,” said Chris O’Daniel, youth pastor at West Jackson St. Baptist Church.

Disciple Now is organized by local youth pastors. It takes place the weekend of the King holiday.