‘God’s calling is progressive’: Retired Kindergarten teacher steps up to lead FBC Cameron youth

The COVID pandemic lockdown caused First Baptist Church Cameron to “lose [their] pastors.” Recognizing the need for a youth Bible study leader on Sunday mornings, then Kindergarten teacher, Kathryn Barrett, decided to step forward. 

“I felt that God was leading me to step into that, even though I was cautious,” said Barrett. “I even told my students, I said, ‘You guys intimidate me because I'm used to little kids.’ But I feel that it was God opening a door for me.” 

In 2021, Barrett retired from teaching to lead the youth ministry, as she felt her mission was changing. 

“We were needing someone to lead youth, and I'm not the typical youth leader by any means because of my age, but I have a genuine love for students. I love leading, and so I feel like God prepared me to be ready for a new step, a new direction,” said Barrett. “For many years, teaching elementary school, that was my mission field. But God has taken me to the next level.” 

To rebuild the youth ministry after returning to church after COVID, Barrett said she encouraged students to participate in the church’s first Sunday fellowship and spend time together. 

Eventually, the students asked to start meeting regularly again on Wednesday nights. She said growth in number has been gradual, but the spiritual growth in students is evident. 

“We grew from two, which were kids that live right across the street… They've been very faithful and loyal to attend throughout. But we've grown, not in huge numbers, but I feel like the students have gotten involved and wanted to be part of what we're doing, and have also grown spiritually,” said Barrett. 

In the midst of the church searching for a new pastor, Texas Baptists Area 6 Representative Tim Marrow was serving as FBC Cameron’s interim pastor from 2022 to June 2023. He encouraged Barrett to get in touch with Cory Liebrum, director of Discipleship & NextGen, in early 2023 about Texas Baptists’ Discipleship Certification Program, which was to begin in August. 

The Discipleship Certification Program is designed to equip ministerial staff and lay church leaders, new and experienced, serving in Preschool/Children’s and Youth Discipleship ministry with practical ministry skills. Each participant is placed in an age-related cohort that will meet once per month from August to May. 

Investing in youth “for the long haul” 

Barrett participated in the Discipleship Certification Program in 2023-2024. 

“God's calling is progressive, and I am living proof of that. I took baby steps and then he keeps leading me to do a little more and a little more,” said Barrett. “[Youth ministry has] definitely taken me out of my comfort zone in many cases because I was a very shy person even into adulthood, and so… when I get up in front of the church or when I do things with adults, it's not as comfortable as when I was with my little kindergarten students, and so he's given me such confidence because I know he is my strength and he is the one that's leading.” 

As she has continued to follow God’s lead, Barrett said she is learning “what it means to trust him.” 

“God has helped me to see how to live that trust out… I don't claim to be a person who is completely trusting God [all the time], but he's taught me what it's like not to have to be so anxious or what the freedom can be like to trust him and to recognize his hand in my life, in the lives of students and others,” said Barrett. “God is so good.” 

Barrett said she also learned that “students need someone for the long haul” and she is focusing on being who God has called her to be for her students. 

“One of the books that we went through was called ‘The Longer Haul’ and my students know that I'm here for them. I may have gotten a late start with this, but they know that I'm here for them, and I plan to stay as long as God will use me,” said Barrett. 

For being a part of a Discipleship Certification cohort, participants are given paid registration for Conclave NextGen, a 2-day event providing encouragement, worship, networking, training and resources for NextGen and Family ministers. 

Barrett attended Conclave during her cohort in fall 2023 and again in fall 2024. She said the camaraderie among youth leaders at the conference each year has been particularly encouraging. 

“Each year has been amazing. I love getting together with other youth leaders, even though I feel like the oldest person in the room. It's just amazing to have all of the commonalities that we have for what we share as youth leaders,” said Barrett. 

Liebrum said he was encouraged, watching God clarify Barrett’s calling to lead her church’s youth ministry. 

“When Kathryn started certification, she didn’t know exactly what God had in store. But as the weeks went by, it was amazing to watch Him clarify her calling. She went from saying, ‘I’m just a youth worker,’ to confidently stepping into her role as the leader of her church’s youth ministry,” said Liebrum. “Even after completing the certification, Kathryn continues to pursue growth with eagerness and a genuine heart to serve.”

Barrett said she would recommend the Discipleship Certification Program to anyone serving in youth ministry. 

“I would strongly recommend this for anybody that's considering youth ministry if they haven't gone through training, through college, [or] through the regular course of study,” said Barrett. “I think that [the Discipleship Certification Program] was just very, very helpful. I wouldn't be [the leader] I am today without Cory's encouragement and the amazing learning experiences and the resources that we received.”

Depending on the Lord in all seasons of ministry 

Since completing her Discipleship Certification, Barrett said she has been “very blessed to have a number of [volunteers]” who are serving in FBC Cameron’s youth ministry consistently. 

“It takes a village and it's all of us working together, and so that's been very helpful and encouraging,” said Barrett. 

Barrett reflected on this summer’s youth camp. She said she can see that her students are “really growing closer in their walk with Jesus” and trusting her more as a leader. 

“They are [more] confident [in Jesus] themselves, and then they're also trusting me with their confidence [in Jesus], and so the relationship building has been amazing,” said Barrett. “That's something that I learned not only as a teacher, but also in the cohort to help me to build those relationships and to try to be there for them,” said Barrett. 

Barrett also serves with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at the local junior high. As the new school year begins, she said the goal for herself and the team of youth ministers that are involved with FCA is to help the students “find a place that they can come together to learn more about Jesus… [and] hear the gospel.” 

She said throughout the last year, she has learned how to depend on the Lord in all seasons of ministry.  

“I believe that the cohort has helped prepare me for, not just the highs, but also the lows [of ministry] because spiritual warfare is real,” said Barrett. “[To] just [have] dependence and the trust in God that he's going to get us through those has been amazing because I know he's there for us every step of the way.” 

To learn more about Texas Baptists’ Discipleship Certification Program, visit txb.org/certification.