JA Youth
Connecting Teens to Jesus
Intern Summer Video: CLICK HERE (9 minute video of photos with the interns)
Thank you Jesse & Sheri!
Service Project on 9/15 with NorthEast Church of Christ
Who We Are
The Jefferson Avenue Youth Ministry (JAYM) is a group of individuals who are committed to God and his Word, supportive of each other, dedicated to selfless living, and always willing to create space for more to join. JAYM exists to transform teens into vessels of God - filled and filling others with God's love, compassion and truth.
New to JAYM?
FILL OUT OUR QUICK YOUTH INFO SURVEY HERE: YOUTH SURVEY https://forms.gle/93Zddu8pD6AZQRMdA
Connect to the latest JAYM announcements through REMIND App!
Thank you Jesse & Sheri!
Service Project on 9/15 with NorthEast Church of Christ
- Our teens have received an invitation to help North East Church of Christ teens with a service project on Sunday, 9/15.
- Teens will meet at 1:30pm at JA and take the vans to the Community Center in Cookeville.
- There we will be joining other teens to organize & pack toiletry care packages for teens.
- The recipients are teens who receive care from DCS (Department of Children Services.)
- Snacks and drinks will be provided.
- There will be a short devotional.
- We'll then break at 4:40pm and drive back to JA for evening services.
- Message Topher if you have any questions.
Who We Are
The Jefferson Avenue Youth Ministry (JAYM) is a group of individuals who are committed to God and his Word, supportive of each other, dedicated to selfless living, and always willing to create space for more to join. JAYM exists to transform teens into vessels of God - filled and filling others with God's love, compassion and truth.
New to JAYM?
FILL OUT OUR QUICK YOUTH INFO SURVEY HERE: YOUTH SURVEY https://forms.gle/93Zddu8pD6AZQRMdA
Connect to the latest JAYM announcements through REMIND App!
- Teens, text “@jayouth” to the number 8101 or click here: https://www.remind.com/join/jayouth
- Parents, text "@jacoc1" to the number 8101 or click here: https://www.remind.com/join/jacoc1
To answer many of your organizational questions, click here to download our updated JAYM Handbook of Policies and Procedures!
Current & Upcoming Activities
Want to see what we have going on?
Follow us on INSTAGRAM or text JAYOUTH to 40650 for updates.
Follow us on INSTAGRAM or text JAYOUTH to 40650 for updates.
Meet the Youth ministry team of Ja.
Topher Wiles
Youth Minister
ChrisTopher loves his wife and four kids. After being inspired by a youth minister to follow Jesus, Topher was baptized into Christ in 1996. Topher then received a degree in theology from Lipscomb University with an emphasis in Youth Ministry & Biblical Languages. By God's grace he also served as principal of the local homeschool cooperative, tennis coach of multiple teams, high school math teacher, and a chaplain at a local hospital. Along with 18 years of experience in full time ministry, in 2020 & 2021 he was also voted "Community Role Model" by the public of White County. His special talents include squeezing as much life as he can into every minute, sparring with three boys at one time without anyone being seriously injured, and bringing adventure to anyone who will join him. Will you join Topher in an adventure with Jesus?
Contact Topher: topher@jacoc.org
Contact Topher: topher@jacoc.org
Don Foy
Elder for Youth
Don has been involved in the Jefferson Avenue youth ministry since 1987, as a youth deacon from 2007 to 2014 and as an elder since 2014. He and his wife Jane have two daughters who went through the youth program at JA. Don has invested much of his professional career in newspaper news media and information technology management. During baseball season you can find Don immersed in everything around his favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves.
Contact Don: dfoy@jacoc.org
Contact Don: dfoy@jacoc.org
Seth Gilbert
Youth Deacon
Seth Gilbert, born and raised here at JA! Seth grew up here in the JA Youth, baptized at age 14. He graduated from TTU in 2005 with a degree in business management, thanks to Brook! Seth is an entrepreneur and started a mowing business at the age of 15, which has now expanded and he continues to do. If you ever wonder where he and Brook are, you can probably find them in a gym or field somewhere watching Cara Lee or Callie playing one of their sports. In his free time, you can find him playing golf, working on the farm, on the lake, watching the Minnesota Vikings or Duke Basketball, or hunting.
Contact Seth: seth_brookgilbert@hotmail.com
Contact Seth: seth_brookgilbert@hotmail.com
Mark McCowan
Youth Deacon
Mark grew up in the church just down the street from Jefferson Avenue at Sycamore Church of Christ. Today, he is joined at Jefferson Avenue by his wife, Lauren, and four daughters, Lily, Kailee, Elin, and Isla. You're likely to run into the McCowan's at a local softball field, where all four girls play, or at a campground somewhere in the Smokies. Since volunteer coaching and camping don't pay the bills, Mark is a financial advisor at Wilson Bank Investment Services, holding his Certified Public Accountant license and Certified Financial Planner designation. When he's not busy being a girl dad, he enjoys hunting, exercising, and playing bad golf.
Contact Mark: mark.mccowan@gmail.com
Contact Mark: mark.mccowan@gmail.com
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