¶ Personal Stories of Youth Leaders
All right , what is up ?
We are on the Youth Podcast and we have some special guests with us . Today it's not one , so I want you all to introduce yourself . They know who you are , but introduce yourself .
Hi , I'm Corey .
Corey , I'm Mackenzie . And I'm Derek and Derek , and just so we have an idea . If people don't know , tell us what you do at the church .
Well , I'm a youth leader for the freshman boys .
OK .
I'm the leader for the seventh grade girls . Ok .
And I'm a youth leader for the sixth grade boys .
Oh , ok , so we thought we'd change it up a little bit . I haven't even told Juan this , so when he finds out about this he might be a little upset . But , we're going to change it up a little bit today and I invited Corey Mackenzie and Derek Derek just last minute decided to be on it .
I told him .
So he decided about it , as you can tell . But I invited these guys on because I want to talk just about our stories . Ok , just about our life . One time , me and Corey we went to lunch , talked .
I asked him his life story and I thought it was really interesting and I was like , ok , students need to hear about this , just to hear our stories and how we became Christians , how we became followers of Jesus . So we're going to do that . So who wants to go first ? Who would love to just share their story first ?
Kenzie .
Kenzie wants to go . No , corey Ken .
Corey , go ahead and go .
Listen , corey , tell us your life . Man , what happened to you ? All right , it was a baby , I'm just kidding as a child , what ?
happened .
Therapy session .
So basically , I guess I never grew up in a church but my family was Christian-ish , Like we didn't end up going to church , but I went to Sunday school during my grandma's choir practices .
Oh nice , but it's always the grandma's yeah , always the grandma's the drag queen and everything , but there was never any teacher . Really .
It was supposed to be some high schooler , I think , but she never showed up , so me and my brother just ran around the churches the entire time .
Nice .
I feel like it's never you student anymore .
Honestly it really is .
So basically I never grew up Christian but when I was 18 , my friend that was going here he moved to Colorado for college now invited me here and a bunch of my other friends and my brother and I . Basically , when Natalie was the youth pastor here , that was the time I started coming .
I think she was doing a illustration on the light of Jesus and oh gosh what Basically she had an LED light like ceiling lights . And she pulled it out and my friend was like , oh my god , it's a lightsaber . So I was never at the age of 18 , I wasn't taking the youth seriously when I first started coming here .
Who does ? Let's be real . Our students don't even do it right now . I'm sorry , but let's be real .
It's true , but basically I just I got into it way more than they did , Because , well , Juan was actually my youth leader .
Oh wow , I'm so sorry . Oh yeah , I love you , Juan .
So I remember Juan just speaking about I don't know , it was one of those .
It's a Juan thing , he just talks , he gets very passionate . He loves you more than that . He loves you more than that .
And then it was I can't remember when it was , but it was one of the times that I actually wanted , when Patrick , coyle Patrick , prayed over anyone that wanted prayer , and on a Wednesday .
Was this on a Wednesday ? It was a Wednesday , yeah .
It was just during small groups and he was our person that got selected to do our group and I raised my hand and he just basically put his hand on your shoulder and everything .
You wait in small group . You voluntarily raised your hand to have somebody pray over you . Yeah , that never happened . That's not like you either . Well , that doesn't happen at all anymore . Oh yeah , that would freak kids out if that would happen today .
And I just remember him saying that God put on his heart that I was going to make big decisions coming up in the next year or so . Yeah , and within that next year I met Kenzie Whoa and then Incomes the girl . Yeah , and then I think , like I don't know , because I started coming here in February 2021 .
And I think that was in like April , I think , when he did that .
You started coming in February of 2021 .
Yeah , ok , and then I met her June 5th it was like June 5th or something like that .
So you guys didn't meet before then ? Oh no , Because you were coming .
Yeah , I never noticed them . You were the same grade too , right ? No , no , she's one year older .
Ok , so you were out of high school then , yeah , and I was just in the youth . Wow , that's so weird .
I was in because it was when that senior night was . I went up on stage and she still didn't know who I was Dang .
She was like I don't even know .
I was a little chubbster , though .
so I mean , she was probably doing the right thing because you were still a student , she was a leader and at that point it's going to be none of that stuff that happened . It was when I first got this tattoo .
Because I remember you came up to me and was like , oh , is that fresh ? And you go oh , that's sick . I remember that vividly for some reason no-transcript . Wait , because you had to call me and my friend group out to go up there because you're like oh , I know some people .
Oh , yes , I remember that y'all didn't want to get out . Yeah , I remember all of you were seeing .
You're really all of you , yeah .
Need prayer or somebody .
Yeah and then basically I still wasn't like taking it to to serious , like I was , still I Didn't have a drinking problem , but I drank , yeah , almost every weekend just with with friends and stuff and and like what's crazy is remember when I wore that Tito shirt here . Yes because it was like an official tape .
Yeah , yeah , and I was playing bags and she was actually in the background of the picture and I was like , oh , that's crazy because , like we found that out probably like three months into day .
I gotta see this picture now . I probably have it on my phone somewhere , it's probably still on the on the youth Instagram , I think . Keep talking and .
I just remember you . You like shaking your head at me because I was wearing that shirt .
I don't even know why I didn't even realize we posted it , yeah , but I was like blur .
I was a little blurry and I was mainly like focused on her .
So this part would have been the Block party .
Yeah , it was the block party . Yeah , I just need that .
I need a date for this as I look and I got to scroll way back because I remember her sister Chelsea liked my friend Harper a lot .
Yeah and was like obsessed with him . Okay , and I just remember , because I thought she was cute and I asked Harper who she was , and she goes oh yeah , I just send her random pictures of chicken all the time .
He sent to you yeah just randomly send random pictures of chicken , I don't know .
Harper's weird . So and like I think , after I met her I started taking a lot more serious , not just cuz she forced me to yeah . She didn't force me to , but like you know she's like , but you you want me ?
Yeah , I want to be with this girl . Yeah , I think this church thinks seriously .
Yeah , because she's the one that invited me to sundays . Okay , so yeah , and I didn't even have my license for like what . Like the two first . Like two , two , three months . We were dating two months , I Don't know .
I can't remember . Yeah , I'm not sure this picture right here .
Yeah , that's , this is you . Yep that's me .
There's the little chunker right there . I don't know if it's gonna there it is , I don't know if that's blurry or not , but you can see it .
It's so funny and then you're in the background .
Oh yeah , that was . Look at you . You're basically eyeing him . You're looking right at him . There's Brian Harper .
Yep , You're definitely eyeing him in that video with Kenzie .
I thought that I couldn't notice her staring at me and I literally always saw her at you the entire time .
Yes , and then I turned around because we had Kona ice that time or that that year , and I turned around she was right behind me . I was like oh , and turned right back around .
One of those awkward talk . You see your crushing yeah .
And then basically I , uh , I was still like starting with cussing and everything like even when we were dating I was still cussing Like a lot like she was like she never said anything . But then she's like , can you please ?
And then , like I , got better at it .
It's slipped out a few times like cuss words I've slipped out a few times . But other than that , it's not like . It's not like . Hard for me like not to cuss anymore .
Yeah it's just become like a thing that I don't like to do , really , and um , and then , uh , like Just some crazy stuff has just happened in my life , basically , um , like I've been placed in handcuffs twice , I never got a roasted like somebody over here Ouch .
Wow , that's like a mic drop sit .
Gone he'll talk .
I have to excuse myself . He'll talk . He'll talk about that later . We love .
Derek though Um uh , but like basically , um , I've ran from the cops a couple times and like I've just done stupid stuff in my life that . I probably should have . You know Probably not have done .
Yeah , I think we're all there yeah .
I just have some regrets .
Yeah .
But who doesn't ?
yeah , exactly , if you didn't have regrets , I'd be like you're not living your life .
Yeah , you haven't done stuff , so your life is boring if you don't have regrets .
It's true , it's very true so what I don't really have regrets . Yeah , you do not really . I'm okay , yes , but I wouldn't change it . This is not trying to be the holy one over here .
I'm just like screw what I did in the past .
I wish I didn't do it .
Yeah , like I just started , like taking church so much more seriously , like After we started dating , and like getting here on Sundays and everything it's just like . Like I never like felt welcome in a church . Yeah and like the first Sunday I came , I like , instantly felt welcome .
Yeah , so it was .
It was definitely like it was a new experience , but at the same time , like I was , I like just felt like I already knew everybody and right was welcomed , so like openly . Yeah and like I just like felt like I belonged , which I never like really did anywhere , not even like at my mom's house .
Oh gosh yeah .
So yeah , it was just like , and then I got baptized , like it was September Eighth , maybe of 2021 or . I'm not sure . Or 22 because I think who baptized you ?
you did oh , shoot you , that was coming . I had a feeling that was coming . I was like yeah .
I tried to be on you like Michael September 14th , so it must have been . It was 21 . Yeah , it was 21 . Okay so , yeah , I was like , with that like five , six months span that I Basically switched my life . That was crazy . Yeah , so 2021 was a big year for you .
It's definitely the biggest year in my life Found your girl , yeah , I baptized , came to church more often .
Yep .
Got a question next year .
Got engaged a year later . Hey , josh junior , calm down . Hey , listen , if you know , you know right .
Yeah , you know . So okay , look at you Sometimes , not true ?
I mean , okay , all right , but Kedzie you want to Dive in a little bit to who you are ?
I grew up in a cushion household , okay , but at five some stuff happened so I had to move into my dad's house . Gotcha and they're not a Christian household . They are now , but they were not at the time . Okay , so I basically wasn't allowed to go to church for a couple years wasn't allowed .
Yeah , because I couldn't go see my mom like gotcha to their house so I couldn't go to church and they wouldn't take me right .
Were you coming to Riverside ? I'm not trying to interrupt , but I was right , so you were coming here back then . And then you stop . Okay , just want to make sure .
So whenever I was allowed to see my mom again , I started coming back to church and Then it was basically just like that . But I didn't have my own relationship . It was basically just off of my grandma's relationship . Yeah so then I Think it was eighth grade year my mom moved away to North Carolina and I got super depressed .
It was really bad and I think that was when I started to form my own relationship with them . But it was still really hard because , like , I didn't have Any support at that time . So I think I just relied on God for it a lot of it Then , yeah .
Yeah .
It's like . It's just like that , like that was when I actually started to like form my own at that time . It's only gotten better since then only gotten better since
¶ Life Stories and Church Experiences
then .
Yeah , you've been at Riverside since eighth grade . Yeah , you came to youth . Yeah , what was it called ? It was a called underground when you started coming or was it called something else ? Was it underground because it , yeah , dream center back in the day ?
I remember , because I found me and Miranda were cleaning out some stuff and I found a wristband from when . You probably don't even remember this . But Corey Blair , do you remember Corey Blair , joe ? No , but they did it and it was called youth United back then . So I don't know if you're a part of the youth United gang . It was really fun .
They did wristbands . I was like like sweat bands , not wristbands , sweat bands . It was really awkward and weird , but anyway , cool . So , just through high school , you just yeah , I think it's good .
It was my first mission pure , yet too Really .
Yeah , okay , then you just did . You just wanted everything . Yeah , you were just then at everything . After that Weren't you in every mission , pure , every abandoned spring retreat , whatever they called it back then . Shoes is not everything . Typical church girl Just always showed up on Wednesdays , always showed up on Sundays , did you okay ?
Let me ask you this Corey got baptized . When did you , did you ever get baptized ?
Eighth grade . It was Easter of my eighth grade year .
I think at Riverside , like so Easter Sunday . Yeah , it was at the Civic Center . I remember they used to do baptism at the Civic Center for Easter when Pastor John did it .
I don't know if we were at Civic Center then or not .
I feel like you showed me a picture where it was here . Was it here ?
Okay .
Yeah , easter Sunday was here , and then we officially moved to the service center . Them back here .
I know Pastor John always went back and forth , so I just didn't know which year you had it in okay . And Pastor John baptized you . Yeah , okay , what a story , what a great story we heard boy . Yeah , we .
Yeah , I was gonna say we already heard that part , but she doesn't want to talk about it apparently wow , she doesn't want to hit her side of it with three guys . She's like there's no girls here so I can't girl talk about it . It's okay , we heard your story . I might come back to you , depending on time . All right , derek , tell us how you got arrested .
I'm just kidding . Don't start with that . You don't need to start with that .
But um hey , tell us , I grew up in a Christian home .
I showed up when I was bald , that didn't have hair . I looked like Sid from Toy Story and we're gonna fight after this .
It's okay , we love you off this so the students don't see it . Okay , Um no , so I . My childhood wasn't the best . I first lived with my dad , who was a severe alcoholic and gambler , very abusive mentally and physically .
My mom never was really in the picture , so all I was seeing as a young child was what my dad was doing , and At a very young age you just typically pick up on the things that you see around you . So I thought that was the way of life .
And then we were passed back and forth me myself , links between my grandparents and my parents because they were fighting for custody when my grandparents figured out my dad was not fit to raise four kids on his own . Finally , my grandparents got custody and life was going smooth .
But then I hit 13 , and I decided to start going out , drinking , partying , doing things I shouldn't have . Man , you did that more earlier than Corey did .
Corey was at 18 when he started getting it , yeah .
I'm from the country , so it's very common at that age . Country the country .
And no matter how many times we're Decatur . Ok .
¶ From Rebellion to Redemption
I'm from Decatur , but no matter how many times my grandma tried to give me to go to church , try to get me on the right path , I just rebelled . She grew up Catholic before she was a Christian , so her ways were a lot more stern than the average Christian you would meet today .
But I just rebelled , started partying , drinking , got in trouble with the law several times . The first time it was just kind of like a slap on the wrist . A cop was like you're young , you're stupid , you're going to make stupid choices . I'm going to take you home and go from there .
I was like , oh , this cop , just let me get off with a warning so they're not going to do anything . I sense I'm a minor and just kept drinking , kept partying , started getting more hardcore drugs and I thought life was going good .
And then , when I was 17 , it was finally when everything caught up to me , got locked up and was looking at some heavy charges , had three felonies long story short . I had a presence of a criminal guys , long story short , I was looking at a minimum of 50 years , I had a class X and I pretty much thought there was no hope .
I was given up , but that's probably when I first started actually trying to pray to God , and , as someone who grew up at a Christian home but rebelled , I really didn't know what I was doing , and so I would just sit there in my room and be like God , I'll start going to church . I'll start doing this if you just help me out .
And , to be honest , I didn't expect him to hear me , because at that time I was the type of person who thought , ok , if God's real why , would he ? help me and look at all the things I've done . Look what I did , especially with me doing drugs , gang banging and stuff like that .
And then I was in for 104 days but two weeks before I got out we had this . I don't know what the female Catholic female priest is , what she's called , no idea .
She wasn't a nun , but she decided to stop by and she was going around just praying for people all of a sudden , and I was just still in my room but I was looking out , kind of looking out my little people , and she comes over and knocks on my door and I was like yo , what's up , Mike , who are you ?
It's great when you talk to her A nun , yeah , seriously , back then .
I thought I was cool .
What's up , girl ? Exactly .
Even though she was like 60 years old .
But she had the guard let me out , which I was technically at that time , was on lockdown Because of a fight I was in , so he's some reason let me out , which I wasn't supposed to .
We sat down in that little room next to me and she just started talking to me and basically it was basically a thing as somebody who's not a Christian and said Christian , talk to you . It's like , ok , I don't really care , but she's like started saying things that I didn't want to hear , but I felt this weird feeling that I needed to hear .
And then by the end of it she was like I have a feeling you're going to be beaten your case and you're going to be back and pure you in two weeks and I was like this lady's psychotic . I'm like she apparently did not look at my case file , there was no way I was beating my case . I mean , it would have taken up my miracle for me to walk out .
Well , a week and a half to two weeks later I actually went to my court date and that was supposed to be my sentencing , and the judge dropped the charges , said what I was arrested for was self-defense for someone who couldn't defend themselves .
But I was put on probation and he told me if I would have gotten arrested while on probation , not only would I get and go to jail for what I was arrested for , then my charges would be brought back and there would be no hope they would throw the book at me with the max sentence and at 17 , 18 years old , I was trying to do math .
I was like , OK , if I go for a minimum of what I was charged with was 50 years . I'd be 70 years old by the time I got out of prison . And so I went home .
I sat down with my grandparents and my siblings , I was talking to them and I was like , ok , I got to leave , because if I stay here I'm going to wind up getting in trouble , because my friends or what I thought were my friends wouldn't understand . They tried to tempt me and back then I was very easily persuaded to go do something .
I'd like to say it's because they persuaded me , but at the same time it was something I enjoyed . So I started looking around and here in Peoria there's a mission center downtown . I forget what the name of it is , but Peoria Rescue , yeah , peoria . Rescue Ministry .
So I got in touch with them and was like , hey , I'm about to be turning 18 in July , just got out of jail trying to find a new home , trying to restart my life . And for some reason I just had this feeling I wanted to get involved with a place that would help me with my faith and not just moving .
So I went there and , to be honest , I moved to Peoria and stopped trying to get back into my faith believe . But then somebody invited me to Riverside when I was doing yard work for cash and I forget what it was . Oh , it was the Sunday right before Mission Peoria started . So I came and did nothing but do so .
I came here , came to church and I don't know , like Cory said earlier , as soon as you walked in you just instantly felt welcomed . I mean , no one knew me , and Clay King walked instantly up to me , introduced himself and was like what's your name ? And no offense . I don't know why , but it would talk to me . I was bald . That was my closer baggy .
Don't forget about the cowboy boots .
That wasn't until I started helping out .
Did your bald head shine ? Did it shine Like a diamond ?
No , so I still had hair , but it was mostly gone . That's why you don't get in fights , kids , but no , and so I sat down in the back service , like every new person who doesn't know what they're doing at church does . I sat under the balcony and I'm trying to think it wasn't Pastor King who was talking that Sunday .
I think it was actually Andy , because I think it was talking about Mission Peoria and just like getting everything going . Or maybe Pastor King did talk and then he got up there and I was like okay , maybe if I'm doing this , I want to get involved .
So , I started , I talked to Andy about getting involved with Mission Peoria that year just to volunteer , see what it's about . And I did , and the rest is pretty much history .
I started getting involved in church more just like backstage hand , and then I found a calling with youth , probably because my past was so different than most , and then I came to be a better person . So my goal was to , like , help children who doesn't have that mentor or that have that past as afraid that God's not going to accept him because what they did .
So yeah , basically my story . I was not a very good influence . And now I'm here Trying to teach kids that , no matter what you've done or what you're going to do , that God's going to love you . Do you think the cowboy boots will ever make a comeback ?
Cowboy boots . No , it's funny though , because you asked me like when you were living at my parents house . You asked me one time if I should buy new cowboy boots . You wanted to bring them back , so can I get a sign ?
pair of cowboy boots Autographs Well , no , so like for work , I'm not a cowboy boots .
I'm a autographs Well , no , so like for work with the winner and everything . I've been thinking about buying a nice pair of boots , but cowboy boots . Probably not because my job . They would be super uncomfortable . I don't know . I used to like the way they were .
I grew up on a farm , so no , I know , I was like giving you a hard time .
¶ Cowboy Boots, Allergies, and Life Lessons
Boots were like a very common thing , because us three would never be caught in cowboy boots .
I actually used to wear them when I was little , yeah , so shut up I don't know , alright partner , probably when you were five .
The last time he won was when he was 18 , which was like four years ago . So five years ago I'm 23 . Five years ago he just wore them recently .
He graduated , not me , so you should not account properly .
I did and I corrected myself .
I don't think I've ever wore cowboy boots ?
I don't think .
I've ever been there . Actually , I think the last time I did wear a pair of cowboy boots , remember when we used to for youth , we took the kids out to the country for that barn dancing .
We wore cowboy boots for that .
You wore it for something that you needed to wear it for .
You're not wearing it for fashion , I'm not sure why I legit went out and bought it just a brand new pair of cowboy boots , just for that event .
Yeah , and then you wore them after that , didn't you I ?
did not . Where did they go ?
then I donated them , so I bought the wrong size , and so they were like tight Cowboy boots are expensive , they were , and then you just donated them .
I did Well . They did fit . So I bought the wrong size and I'm one who , when I buy things , I tend not to get the receipt .
You're the typical kid and it doesn't know how any better .
Yeah , probably threw the receipt away .
They always ask you if you want to receipt with this .
And I'm like no , I'm good , my mindset is , I bought it . It's supposed to fit . And if you think I'm stolen , stealing it when I'm standing right here , I'll just return it . Oh my gosh , now I'm at the age where I buy something and I'm like yeah can I get that receipt please ?
Maybe we'll bring the barn dances back so you all can rock the cowboy boots again . I kind of wish we would Me and Corey were still at the bar we were at the bar , we would probably still be wearing dunks or Jordans , but you guys do your thing . You want to see something funny . Watch Josh be on a farm . Yo , I was on a farm once .
I mean , if you all watched the original .
I'm allergic to hay , so .
You can be allergic to hay . Yeah , straight up . You can be allergic to anything .
The only reason I knew .
This is because my senior not my senior prank when I was a freshman . In my senior class , one of the things that they did we lived at we went to a farm school , remember this ?
Okay , they took a whole bunch of hay and put it in my teacher's classroom all over the floor and when I went in there I literally my eyes just got so puffy and so red and my nose just started to like so I had to sit outside for the class . It probably wasn't the fact that you were allergic to it .
It's probably just like the allergies and the stuff that's on it Was it all in the air .
But it was when I was touching the hay Like I touched it and then touched my face , is that ?
why every ?
time we have a Halloween party , you always have me move the hay bells .
Yes , because I can't touch hay , I'm not sure . I'm not sure . I'm not sure I can't touch hay .
I know it , though , so I'm not going to lie .
Okay , real quick , before we end this , I want you to think Derek kind of already said it at the end of his little spiel Just something you can say to encourage students about your story .
So I don't know what that would be , but just something that can inspire them , something that's maybe happened to you that you're like man , I've learned so much from this , I don't know . Just think for a second and if you got it , you want to go , derek .
This is something Michael used to tell me back when I still struggled severely in our midnight parking lot . Arguments in the parking lot .
Beautiful times .
God doesn't call the qualified . He always calls the people that think they're not going to be worth it . So , one thing I've always learned is , no matter how bad life got for me or what I did wrong , god is a forgiving God and he's always going to use what you've done or what's happened to you to help somebody else .
With me being a youth leader back before I was sixth grade , I actually did the high schoolers and the amount of kids that would come to me and be like , hey , I did this and this . I don't think I can be a Christian , I don't think God loves me . I was like .
And now , looking back , I've just sat down watching them and seeing the things God's doing in their life and what he's using for . So just remember , no matter what happens , what you do , god doesn't care . He's a forgiving God and he loves you , no matter what beautiful .
What do you got ? You got anything .
I would just say make sure you rely on God to like all the hard seasons of your life .
Great . Short , simple and easy . That's what it's all about , though .
Um , probably for me is if you do drink , don't do it Just don't do it , it's a little yeah it's illegal for one thing , and the side effects , if you get actually addicted to it , are terrible .
Because I'm experiencing that , I'm not experiencing it , but I guess my dad is , because he is in the hospital right now for Problems that he's had , because he's had a liver transplant and a pancreas transplant that all derived from Drinking yeah 90% of his life , ever since he was probably younger than 15 .
Wow .
I think , and he has three different kinds of infections right now . Oh gosh , they don't know what , what they are . So , yeah , he's just chilling in a hospital bed right now . So , yeah , so don't drink . Yeah , don't drink for Corey's dad .
Don't drink and pray for Corey's dad .
Yes .
Awesome . Well , thank you all for coming . Derek , I'm glad you finally did it . Thanks for allowing me hanging you could have been behind the scenes . I prefer it sometimes . I'll be your in front of the camera this time . Thank you , corey we can't see , no matter how many words you said I just get it like you live more than you talked . It's fine .
You always . You always just have to have that one person that just listens . You know , yeah , just watch this .
Exactly so . That's why you're here . She's like the CIA .
See I .
On everybody on everybody .
She'll see , she'll .
She'll say what she needs to say , but she the day she opens up , she's gonna have so much gossip and tea on everybody .
It's true , did you know ?
I heard this from 30 feet away . Anyway . Well , thank you for joining me . This was I don't even know what episode Ronnie more , but it doesn't matter . So six , but yeah , thank you ?
Yeah , no problem , we'll see you later Say bye , everyone Bye .