PFBC Student Ministry exists to partner with parents to raise their teens to be worshipping, evangelizing, learning, and loving disciples of Jesus Christ.

What We Believe

The Pickens First Baptist Church Student Ministry is working to change the culture of our community. We want to see students come to Jesus, serve in the church and enter into adulthood equipped to be Christian leaders.

Sunday School

Sunday school for youth is at 9:15am located in the Xchange. We meet as a large group for prayer and announcements. We then divide up into the following small groups:

Co-Ed Middle School: Taught by Chip Dunn, Pamela Clarkson, and Jennifer Payne
Co-Ed High School: Taught by Bruce Anders, Renee Anders, and Lynn Williams

Sunday Night Worship

Our Sunday Night Worship begins at 5:00 PM and lasts until 6:30 PM. This is a time of worship, led by our student praise band, and focused Biblical teaching. During the 2022-2023 school year, we will be looking at the life of Christ and how we should emulate him.

Wednesday Nights

We have discipleship groups that meet every Wednesday night from 6:30pm-7:30pm in the Xchange. Each session has
a video that is watched together and is followed by smaller discipleship groups.

Co-Ed Middle School D-Group: Taught by Jeremy and Emily Simmons
Co-Ed High School D-Group: Taught by Colton and Lauren Ashley

The Xchange

The PFBC Youth Center is called the “Xchange”. This great facility is located at 114 South Lewis Street Pickens, SC 29671. This space has gaming consoles, a kitchen, classrooms, a large meeting room, a movie room, and a game room.

Colton Ashley, Interim Youth Pastor

Email: colton@fbcpickens.org

Phone: 864-878-6564

Thoughts and Announcements

Dec '22

PFBC Youth 2023 Winter Retreat

Posted on Dec 22, 2022 in Youth Announcements |

Dec '22

I just wanted to provide some information about the 2023 Youth Retreat at PFBC! The retreat will be held in Sevierville. We will leave after PFBC’s morning Worship Hour on 2/12. We will return in the afternoon on 2/14. The retreat will include intentional Bible Study time, a Super Bowl Watch Party, a trip to Ober Mountain Ski Resort and wonderful fellowship with friends.

We will be staying at Wildbriar Lodge. You can see photos of the lodge by clicking here: https://www.largecabinrentals.com/cabins/wildbriar-lodge/. The lodge features a swimming pool, a hot tub, movie theatre, 16 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms and enough space in commons areas to house all of us!

The cost of the retreat is $220. The early-bird rate is $200. (You can get this price if you register by the end of the day on December 31!)

Early Bird Payment Schedule:
- At registration: $75 deposit is due at the time of sign-up
- January 15: A second payment of $75 is due January 15.
- February 10: The third, and final, payment of $50 is due on February 10.
Regular Payment Schedule:
- At registration: $75 deposit is due at the time of sign-upJanuary 15: A second payment of $75 is due January 15.February 10: The third, and final, payment of $70 is due on February 10.

Payments can be made online, via cash or through check. Checks should be written to “PFBC.”

Do not let financial difficulties stop your youth from coming. I have people who are willing to anonymously help cover the cost of those who need financial assistance.

The cost of the retreat covers:

Transportation
Lodging
Dinner on 2/12
Breakfast on 2/13
Dinner on 2/13
Breakfast on 2/14
Ski/Snowboard/Tubing Rental, Lift/Arial Tram Ticket and Boots

The cost of the retreat does not cover:

Lunch at the Ski Resort on 2/13
Lunch at Cracker Barrel on 2/14
Ski Pants (optional) – $17 with a $50 refundable deposit (We cannot pay Ober Mountain for this in advance.)
Ski Jacket (optional) – $17 with a $50 refundable deposit (We cannot pay Ober Mountain for this in advance.)
Ski Helmet (STRONGLY RECOMMENDED) – $12 with a $50 refundable deposit (We cannot pay Ober Mountain for this in advance.)

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Colton! You can register at https://www.fbcpickens.org/winter_retreat

Dec '22

Operation Christmas Kickoff – Final Information

Posted on Dec 15, 2022 in Youth Announcements |

Dec '22

Preparing for Carowinds

Carowinds is going to be a blast! I think the students are going to have a lot of fun. I just wanted to cover a couple pieces of information:

First and Foremost: Dress warmly! It will be in the low 40s tomorrow night in Charlotte. Wear multiple layers. It’s better to shed a layer because you’re too warm than to freeze!
Pack lightly! Please only bring what you absolutely need. There is limited space for luggage on the bus.
You need cash for Carowinds.
There are pre-assigned rooms. These assignments have already been communicated with the hotel.
No students need to bring air mattresses. I’ve added enough hotel rooms for everyone to be in a bed!
The hotel will have other guests! When we get to the hotel, we have to settle in for the night.
Students should not leave their assigned rooms at any point in the night. If there is an emergency, notify Colton by calling him or Lauren.
No boys in girls’ rooms and no girls in boys’ rooms!
Breakfast will be in the hotel lobby. Breakfast is served starting at 6 AM. Please be considerate of other guests.
Students need to be on the bus, with their luggage, by 8:45 AM Saturday morning.

Please select your preferred chaperone group by noon on 12/17! https://form.jotform.com/223486232450048

Here’s the itinerary for our trip:

Dec 16^th
- 1:40 PM – Xchange opens
- 2:00 PM – Depart from the Xchange (114 South Lewis Steet Pickens, SC 29671) – Here are the directions we will be following. https://goo.gl/maps/8DgUpgGa18qPB2Sj6
- 4:30 PM – Arrive at Carowinds and have dinner (Chick-Fil-A)
- 5:00 PM – Enter Carowinds
- 9:45 PM – Report to the bus
- 10:00 PM – Depart from Carowinds
- 10:15 PM – Arrive at Hotel https://goo.gl/maps/FqPJDVUBHKGRaBVD6
Dec 17^th
- 6:00 AM to 8:20 AM – Hotel Breakfast is Served
- 8:45 AM – Load Bus
- 9:00 AM – Depart from Hotel https://goo.gl/maps/p4nhkMN4KUtGeG3QA
- 11:30 AM – Arrive at the Xchange

Jul '22

Youth Fall Retreat – 2022

Posted on Jul 30, 2022 in Youth Announcements, Youth Ministry |

Jul '22

2022 Fall Youth Retreat

The Pickens First Baptist Church youth ministry will have a combined fall retreat with East Pickens Baptist Church at Awanita Valley on November 11-13, 2022. This will be a time for fellowship and spiritual growth.

The cost of the retreat is $130. This will cover the cost of lodging and meals. A deposit of $50 is due at the time of signup. A payment of $50 is due on September 30. A final payment of $30 is due on November 10.

These payments can be made online or via cash or check (written to PFBC).

If you have any questions, please reach out to Colton Ashley at 864-420-6454.

New Sunday School Series – “Basecamp”

Posted on Jun 25, 2022 in Youth Announcements, Youth Ministry |

Our study on John 1-3 has come to an end. It was a good series, but I am really looking forward to the next several weeks. Over the course of the next few weeks (until promotion Sunday) we will be going through a study that I am calling “Basecamp.” The purpose of this study is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to be active students of the Bible. We will define core theological ideas (i.e. sanctification, justification, etc.). Additionally, we will review the Baptist Faith and Message. We will also discuss some effective strategies students can implement to make their personal study of scripture more focused.

May '22

Youth Summer Calendar

Posted on May 28, 2022 in Youth Announcements |

May '22

I wanted to share some dates for our Youth Ministry for Summer 2022!

Wednesday, June 1: No Youth
Wednesday, June 8: Youth at 6 PM
Sunday, June 12: Youth Fellowship
Wednesday, June 15: No Youth
Wednesday, June 22: No Youth
Friday, June 24: Carowinds
Wednesday, June 29: Youth at 6 PM
Wednesday, July 6: No Youth
Sunday, July 10: Youth Fellowship
Wednesday, July 13th: No Youth
Friday, July 15: Event at Kolats (dinner, bon fine, etc.)
Wednesday, July 20th: Youth at 6 PM
Wednesday, July 27: Youth at 6 PM

This is going to be a great summer!

-Colton

May '22

The Youth Are Headed to Carowinds!

Posted on May 28, 2022 in General, Youth Announcements |

May '22

General Information

Youth can go to Carowinds on Friday, June 24, 2022 with PFBC. We will be riding the church bus. We will leave PFBC at 7AM and leave Carowinds at 7PM. We will be back at PFBC around 9:45 PM.

Please pay PFBC $50 in the form of cash or check for the cost of admission and lunch!

Students should bring enough money for breakfast, snacks and dinner. Lunch is covered in the cost of the trip.

Student should bring sunscreen and a change of clothing (you never know what might happen!)

Please text Colton Ashley with any questions. His number is 864-420-6454.

May '22

Otter Creek – June 2

Posted on May 7, 2022 in Youth Announcements |

May '22

Both children and youth will be going to Otter Creek Water Park on June 2. Please note that the following information only applies to the youth.

The youth can ride the PFBC bus to Chick-Fil-A and Otter Creek. The bus will be leaving the Xchange at 4PM on June 2, 2022. We will be back around 8:30 PM. Please send money with your youth for Chick-Fil-A. There is no cost for Otter Creek. Students should dress appropriately for both Chick-Fil-A and Otter Creek. Students should bring a change of clothes for the ride back from Otter Creek. They should also bring sunscreen and towels. Please sign up at fbcpickens.org/ottercreek

Apr '22

Serving You!

Posted on Apr 30, 2022 in Youth Announcements, Youth Ministry |

Apr '22

Do you or a loved one need something taken care of around your house? Let me (Colton) know and I will work on getting some youth over to your house! I don’t think you want us wiring a house (HA!) but we can handle picking up sticks and planting flowers! You can reach me at 864-420-6454.

Apr '22

Graduate Recognition Sunday

Posted on Apr 30, 2022 in Youth Announcements, Youth Ministry |

Apr '22

Our graduate recognition service will be Sunday, May 15, 2022.
This is for high school, post-secondary, graduate, and post-graduate degrees! Please send Colton Ashley five photos of the graduate, the graduate’s full name, the degree/diploma earned, and the name of
the school from which the student is graduating. We will have a luncheon in honor of the graduates in the Xchange following the service. Parents, siblings and grandparents are invited to the luncheon!
Deadline to send this information to Colton is May 1, 2022.

Mar '22

Youth Summer Camp – 2022

Posted on Mar 23, 2022 in Youth Announcements |

Mar '22

The youth will be going to Look Up Lodge in Travelers Rest July 10, 2022 through July 15, 2022. The cost is $175 per youth. This cost can be paid up-front or on the following payment schedule:

A $50 deposit must be made by April 24, 2022.
A $100 payment must be made by May 22, 2022.
A $25 payment must be made by June 26, 2022.

These costs are non-refundable.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Colton Ashley at colton@fbcpickens.org or 864-420-6454. If you need financial assistance, please let Colton know.