At First Church, we hold dear the value and significance of children and their spiritual growth. We believe that investing in youth ministry is a critical component of building a strong and healthy church. Moreover, we are committed to investing in the future of our congregants. That is why we partner with Purdue University students who are pursuing or have an interest in early education or youth ministry to lead our children’s ministries. This year, two of our remarkable youth ministry leaders – Michael DeHaven and Becca Eyrick – are preparing to graduate. They have been doing some amazing work that we just have to share with you. Let’s meet the team!
Michael DeHaven
Michael DeHaven, a nursing major at Purdue University, found a home at First Church in 2022 after seeing pride flags displayed outside the church and being impressed by the congregation’s welcoming atmosphere.
“At First Church, I was met with overwhelming positivity from the get-go. It wasn’t the type of church I was used to experiencing,” says Michael. “But I kept coming, and I fell in love with the congregation and the overall message of First Church.”
During a chat with Pastor Duane, Michael mentioned that he was looking for a part-time job and was offered a role on the youth ministry team. Since then, Michael has been an active member of the youth ministry, helping to lead Bible study lessons during Sunday School and serving as a conflict mediator for the group.
“My job in the youth ministry is to be a peacekeeper and ensure that things don’t get out of hand,” says Michael. “But I’ve grown more comfortable with doing more, and I now help lead Bible lessons with Becca and Haley. The kids ask great questions, some of which I hadn’t even pondered myself, and in the process, I’ve learned a lot more about scripture.”
Working in the youth ministry has taught Michael many skills that will be beneficial in his post-graduation role as an ER nurse at Franciscan St. Elizabeth East Hospital in Lafayette. He learned how to communicate and spend time with kids, and he credits Pastor Duane for teaching him about how clergy care for their congregation, skills that will help him care for his future patients.
“Working for a faith-based institution has taught me a lot about the interconnectedness of religion and healing,” says Michael. “As a nurse, it’s important to care for patients, regardless of what that may look like. For instance, I feel much more empowered to sit and pray with any of my patients who may request it.”
Becca Eyrick
Becca Eyrick, an Environmental Public Health major at Purdue, became a member of First Church in the fall of 2021 and later joined the church’s queer Bible study group. During a Bible study session, Pastor Duane asked if anyone would be interested in working with the youth ministry, and Becca jumped right in.
“When I heard about the opportunity, I was excited,” Becca says. “Our first big project was planning and running Vacation Bible School (VBS) for the summer. It was a huge project, but it ended up being really successful, and a lot of people within the church were really supportive.”
Since then, Becca has been an integral part of the youth ministry team, working to create a Sunday School program for younger children and a confirmation class for high school students. In Sunday School, Becca and the team teach kids how to use their Bibles, introduce them to important figures in the Bible, and help them develop their faith based on Scriptural knowledge.
“It’s been amazing to watch the kids become comfortable around us and get excited to come to church,” says Becca. “We’re trying to get the kids more involved in the church while also ensuring they have their own space. They’re always looking forward to spending time with us and their friends. Seeing the turnout has been really cool.”
After graduation, Becca plans to join the Peace Corps as an environmental promoter in Paraguay, where she’ll be implementing community building and educational programming around environmental needs and services. She’s eager to learn from other cultures and observe how they handle environmental problems so that she can bring those strategies back and apply them in the United States.
“I’ve always wanted to do something that involved humanitarian efforts and travel,” says Becca. “During my time in the youth ministry at First Church, I’ve gained valuable experience planning big events and building community. This experience will help me create networks in the Peace Corps and plan programs that meet the environmental needs of the communities I’ll be serving.”
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