Three-time BOUNCE participant says “yes” to full-time ministry

When walking through a season of doubts and questions in her middle school years, Morgan Breeden, high school senior from FBC Cuero, recognized that God was on the move in her life. 

“I was [thinking], ‘I'm going through a really hard time in my faith right now [but] I feel like the Lord is going to use this for something big in the future,’” said Breeden. 

Her sixth grade year, she attended a youth event that her homeschool convention hosted and heard from representatives from Teen Missions International, a missions organization that helps launch youth into lifetime missions involvement by training, discipling and mobilizing them to share the gospel around the world, and was “enamored by the thought of missions and that there's people who have never heard the gospel in other countries.” 

“I was never able to get over that, and so [missions] was just always on my mind; to go on mission trips and do ministry and be missional where I am,” said Breeden. 

Later, as a high school sophomore in 2023, Breeden thought she needed to look to the future and consider “actual career opportunities,” but that summer at youth camp, she felt the Lord calling her to something different. 

“The whole week was focused on Isaiah chapter six, which is ’Here I am, send me,’” explained Breeden. “It was either the last night or the second last night or something, they did a call to ministry and I was like, ‘I'm not going to stand up and go because I'm not sure but I think God is calling me to this. But I need some time to pray about this.’”

Into the next year, the Lord continued knocking on the door of her heart. In early 2024, God gave Breeden the desire to start a Bible study with her friends for girls in her age group. 

“[It] was something that I saw as a need and the Lord had put on my heart to do so… [and] I had been doing that for a few months and I remember I was washing dishes in our kitchen and I was thinking about everything that's been going on and all these desires [the Lord] had put on my heart and all these things that I felt he was leading me to and I was just like, ‘I think I'm called to ministry,’” said Breeden. 

Then, a fire was ignited in her heart, and she began sharing her call to ministry with people who reciprocated her excitement by affirming her call. 

“I don't remember telling some people because it was just so natural,” said Breeden. “[People] were like, ‘Yeah, I totally see that for you!’ So, I had those like inward confirmations from the Holy Spirit, and then I had outward confirmations from people around me.” 

BOUNCE influencing a call to ministry

Her freshman year of high school, Breeden was introduced to BOUNCE, a Texas Baptists ministry that mobilizes students by engaging them in challenging mission service and inspiring times of worship.

BOUNCE would end up playing “a big role” in her call to ministry. 

“[BOUNCE] was my first mission trip I'd ever gone on, and so it definitely instilled in me a love for missions,” said Breeden. “I loved this, and I love serving at church, and I feel most fulfilled when I'm serving. [So] all these things were coming up and it just took a couple years for me to put the pieces together.”

On her second BOUNCE trip in 2024, her junior year of high school, she recognized the call that God put on her life. This spring break, she was able to return and “share the news” in an interview with CW39 Houston. 

“Going back this year was a no-brainer,” said Breeden. “I just love it.” 

Breedon said over her three years of BOUNCE, the Lord has taught her that service “doesn't have to be this huge grand gesture” to “make a difference in someone's life.” 

“After BOUNCE, I just come back renewed,” said Breeden. “[BOUNCE] puts it in perspective again for me every year, to just look for those opportunities [to serve] no matter how big or how small it is… to honor the Lord and worship him.” 

Breeden said “serving and pouring out during the day” and then coming back in the evening to worship with her co-laborers and be “poured into at night” is what makes BOUNCE so special.

She said her favorite part of BOUNCE is seeing “the change that happens” in other students’ lives as they serve the community.

“I've seen students accept Christ at BOUNCE and go home entirely changed. So I would say just getting to serve there and then seeing how the Lord transforms the students that I go with and myself… would be my favorite part,” said Breeden. 

She said she has since said “yes” to her call to ministry, and her peers seem to view her as a leader. She experienced this over spring break as a fellow FBC Cuero student confided in her about her relationship with the Lord and “some challenges she’s facing.” 

“We probably got to talk for like 20 minutes, and it meant a lot to me to be that person that she came to and to get to share with her things that I've learned or that I know and get to encourage her and help her in that way,” said Breeden. “That was really impactful for me.” 

Growing in dependence on the Lord 

Breeden said since embracing her call to ministry, she’s gained further confirmation and has been “growing in my relationship with the Lord and dependence on him.” 

“I think that's only going to continue because the more responsibility I have, like in a ministry role, the more I'm going to have to be dependent on him and just rely on him for strength because it is not coming from me,” said Breeden. 

Breeden encouraged those discerning a call to full-time ministry to look for “inward and outward confirmations.” 

“Look for internal confirmations from the Holy Spirit and be prayerful and be mindful of the desires that the Lord put on your heart,” said Breeden. “Then secondly, look for outward confirmations from trusted people around you, whether that's your parents or your youth pastor or some friends who are rooted in their relationships with the Lord.” 

Over spring break, 12 Texas Baptist churches served at BOUNCE, bringing 235 students. BOUNCERS served for a combined 3,600 hours, equal to 150 consecutive days or 21 consecutive weeks of volunteer time for 4B Disaster Response. BOUNCERS conducted 8 spiritual conversations and 6 gospel presentations, 4 decisions were made for Christ, and 24 BOUNCERS made decisions and re-commitments. The BOUNCE Mission Offering received $826.97 for Finishing The Task Scripture Translation. 

For more information about BOUNCE or to register for a 2025 BOUNCE Summer Mission, visit txb.org/bounce.