When Students Take the Lead, Faith Comes Alive
At Roosevelt High School, peer-to-peer ministry is transforming how kids experience Jesus
Read time: 3 minutes
Gospel Imperative
The heart of discipleship is multiplication—when those we invest in begin to invest in others. Student-led ministry is not just valuable; it is vital and powerful for carrying the Gospel to the next generation. Just as Jesus entrusted His disciples to go and make more disciples, so too must we empower students to lead, multiply, and impact the world for Christ.
"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." — 1 Timothy 4:12
It was a Monday evening at Roosevelt FCA, and something powerful was happening. Two students stepped up to lead the huddle, taking ownership of their faith journey in front of their peers. This is the ministry of presence bearing fruit—when you show up consistently, invest in people, and create space for God to work, students start leading themselves.
These two kids got up on the board and demonstrated the cross in a way that really connected. They drew the vertical line—that's God at the top, our relationship with Him. Then the horizontal line—our relationships with others. They didn't just recite it; they unpacked it in their own words, revealing deep understanding through personal reflection. Then they powerfully shared how God's Word transforms their lives.
The students rotate leadership at Roosevelt, but this particular gospel message was really impactful. You could see their peer group engaging with them, and I think that's what makes student-led ministry so powerful. When kids see faith coming from their peers, it hits different than hearing it from adults.
Coach Barnes always sums it up at the end, showing them how they can use it in their day-to-day life. That's the key—making sure the Gospel isn't just something they hear on Monday nights, but something that shapes how they live Tuesday through Sunday.
None of this happens by accident. Coach Barnes and his staff coach God's way. Every opportunity Coach Barnes gets to disciple a kid, to lead him to Jesus, or help him grow in Jesus, he's always there for those kids in that capacity. His coaching staff follows his lead, and it's gotten to where it's truly student-led at Roosevelt.
We've got a student leadership team forming, being trained by Coach Barnes and his assistants. Two of those assistant coaches have both gone through the courses to become mobilized volunteers with FCA. They completed what we call VIP—Volunteer Impact Portal. They did their spiritual questions, background check, E3 video, and 360 coach training. Now they're mobilized volunteers and character coaches, helping lead the huddle together with Coach Barnes.
Here's what's remarkable: I started at Roosevelt in May 2025 – less than a year ago. And we already have students confident enough to lead these huddles, with solid adult leadership backing them up. We meet the 2nd and 4th Monday evenings, and it's a multi-sport huddle with between 30 and 60 kids depending on the week.
This is what the Ministry of Presence looks like. You show up. You invest. You coach God's way. And before you know it, students are multiplying what they've received. That's the ultimate goal in FCA—to get it student-led FCA Huddle. Because when students own their faith and start leading their peers, that's when real transformation happens.
Heart Check
Are you creating space for the next generation to step up and lead, or are you holding too tightly to control?
Who are you pouring into that could soon be pouring into others?
What would it look like to "coach God's way" in your sphere of influence—whether that's parenting, teaching, managing, or mentoring?
Join the Mission
Student-led ministry doesn't happen overnight. It takes consistent adult presence, trained volunteers, and resources to engage, equip, and empower the next generation of faith leaders. At Roosevelt and my other four San Antonio campuses, we're seeing God multiply this work—but we need partners like you to grow it and sustain it to advance God’s kingdom.
Your support trains coaches, equips student leaders, and makes the ministry of presence possible. When you give to FCA, you're investing in Monday night huddles where students learn to lead, and in the adults who coach God's way every single day.
Will you partner with us to see more students stepping up, taking ownership of their faith, and leading their peers to Jesus?