SOAR 2024 - "All In"

By Dan Carson, Director • Student Ministry Matters

SOAR 2024

      Next week, hundreds of BMA Baptist students will gather in the DFW area for SOAR, our annual National Youth Conference. It is a time of worship, fellowship and focus on God’s Word. While I won’t have a table set up this year, I will be present and sharing some goodies. The BMA of Arkansas Youth Department is providing a small book for each church’s primary youth leader. It should be included in your registration packet. Let me know if you would like to connect and talk about life, ministry or anything else.

      SOAR is a fun event, but I want to encourage you to make it something more. There is something to be said about going to the Dallas area and having a fun trip, but I think most of us want more for our students. We want them to have an experience that will lead to greater commitment in their Christian walk. This year’s theme, All In, points in that direction. So, let’s be intentional as you head to SOAR ’24. Here are a few ways to do that:

         • Find prayer partners in your congregation. Make sure every student and leader is being prayed over while they are gone. While traveling safety is important, I would much rather see these prayer partners praying for spiritual insight for our students and salvation for those who don’t know Christ. Give your prayer partners a short list of things to pray about.

         • Create or find a short devotional for your students to read as they travel to SOAR. Most of us in Arkansas have a long journey, so there will be time in a van, bus or even car. Get your students thinking about the topic even before the first session begins.

         • Create a playlist for your road trip. Think about the music that you worshipped to at last year’s event. Think about music that has theological depth. However, don’t forget about the fun as well. My group has been more girls than guys over the past few years. That means the Disney songs have been a pretty heavy part of our fun songs.

         • Think about your church group times. Will you have students share? Will your leaders be talking or will it all be on you? While the group sessions will probably shift your discussions, plan what these times will look like.

         • Don’t forget to pray yourself. It is easy to get caught up in the logistics and other concerns of taking a group to an event like SOAR. Did I send out a packing list? Did I create a medical release? Do I have my Bucee’s stop planned? You know, all the important stuff. If we aren’t careful, we can be so caught up in the planning that we forget to talk to God about any of it. What are my students’ needs? Am I laying them at the Father’s feet? What does God need to show me at the conference? Have I asked God for extra patience for little “Timmy?” Pray now and when you arrive. My friends, Wade and Joanna Allen, will be hosting the SOAR Prayer Room again. Take some time to focus your attention there.

      SOAR can be an incredible event if we take time to think about the trip, our students and our leaders. Intentional is the key word. Let’s be intentional and see what God can do this year in the lives of BMA students.