This feature originally ran in our Community Matters magazine.
Welcome to the third edition of the Community Matters Q&A series, highlighting local youth pastors who continue to make a meaningful impact throughout the Cullman community. This edition features Crosshaven Youth Pastor Korey Cowart, giving readers a closer look at his heart for ministry, the challenges he and his students have faced and the calling that led him to invest in the next generation.
For readers who may not know you, can you share a little about who you are and a little bit about your youth ministry?
I am currently in my 15th year of youth ministry. I have had the privilege of working at four churches: Hannah Church in Gordo, Alabama, Central Heights Baptist in Florence, Alabama and Jackson Way Baptist in Huntsville, Alabama.
I currently serve at Crosshaven Church in Hanceville, Alabama. and have been there for four years now. I’ve had the privilege of ministering to several students over the years, and our current averages about 30-35 students.
What originally drew you to working with students, and what keeps you invested in youth ministry today?
I was fortunate to have only had one youth pastor through 7th-12th grade and it was he and his wife who led me to Christ at their kitchen table. He was instrumental in my life and one of the biggest influences on my life and leading me to think about youth ministry.
Seeing teenagers grow in their love for Christ is one of the greatest experiences for me. Over the years I’ve seen many teens come to Christ and grow in their love for Him and that has been what has motivated me. Any time a student, parent, church member, etc. encourages me, it’s always a great reminder that what we do matters.
What is one word that best describes how you approach youth ministry, and why?
Discipleship. It’s great for students to have fun and make friends and all, but the Bible says we are responsible for those we shepherd and it’s important for us to show them how to read the bible, pray, share their faith, etc. and the importance of them to then turn around and who others how to do the same. I believe the best way to disciple a student is through God’s Word. A mistake that is often made is that we think students can’t handle deeper truths in the Word so we must “dumb it down” for them. They study chemistry, physics, trigonometry and other things at school but yet we think they can’t take theology for some reason.
Crosshaven Youth Pastor Korey Cowart bringing the Word during one of his many messages (Korey Cowart)
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing today’s youth?
Social media. It’s caused students to become more anxious, depressed and question so many things. While there are positive things about it, I believe it has had a tremendous negative impact on teenagers and we should find ways to try to remind students of what reality is versus what social media tells them.
How do you create an environment where students feel safe, valued and heard?
We try to allow students to participate and lead in our group. From preaching, to leading worship and even starting a student leadership team for students to lead and guide decisions for the ministry. I’m blessed enough that on Wednesday nights students open and lead the service until I get up and preach. When students see other students leading, it’s always a win.
What role does your faith in Jesus play in helping young people navigate the world today?
I believe that because of the position I serve in, my relationship with Jesus not only impacts me and my family, but also the students and church that I serve. They’ve probably seen plenty of people claim to be a Christian but then end up departing from that and I believe they need to have people they look to who stick it out and trust in the Lord. I know that means I must find myself disciplined and realize that when I’m not spending time with the Lord, that also trickles down and affects those who I am ministering to.
Is there a moment or experience in your ministry that reminded you why this work matters?
My first Sunday at one of my previous churches, there was a student who was getting baptized after recently giving his life to Christ. I began meeting with this student every week and talking about the Lord, allowing him to ask me questions and share struggles for three years. He eventually felt the call to ministry and this past week he was able to lead his first baptism of a student. The was an incredible moment for me that I will never forget and that the Lord allowed me to see.
If you had the opportunity to share the Gospel with a student that has never heard before, how would you do it? What would you say?
With teens these days, a lot of people try to sugarcoat the Gospel and tell them how amazing they are or that they haven’t done anything wrong, but I think we need to be honest with them and show them what the Word says about who they are in relation to God and His holiness. We sometimes don’t want to mention sin, and while there are wrong ways to do it, I think it’s important for people to know why Jesus had to die in the first place. Romans 3 tells us that people don’t actually realize how deep their sin goes, so we need to warn them, while also showing them the solution.
Therefore, I would simply explain that we have all sinned against a holy and perfect God. Because of this, we will face the wrath of God and his judgment and answer for our sin. However, God sent His son Jesus Christ, to take our punishment on Himself and die the death that we deserve to die. He then rose again and is alive today.
He died for us when we didn’t deserve it one bit, therefore, how could we not want to live for Him?
What is one thing you wish parents or the community better understood about today’s youth?
I think what’s been encouraging to see is that teenagers these days are looking more for truth rather than the spectacle. Many teenagers aren’t looking to be entertained or hyped up necessarily; they want to know what the Bible says and how to live this out. I think sometimes people don’t have enough faith in God’s Word alone.
What do you hope students carry with them long after they leave your youth ministry?
I truly hope that students leave healthier in their walk with the Lord. I hope that they have a better understanding of who God is and that they yearn for a deeper walk with Him. One thing we repeat over and over is that we want students to know God more which will lead them to love Him more, which will lead them to obey Him more. That’s our goal.
