Faith, Friendship, and Purpose: The Mission of Jenks Jesus Club
By: Aubrey Hovenga
Imagine a place where faith comes alive, friendships are built on shared beliefs, and every conversation is filled with purpose. Welcome to Jenks Jesus Club, where students gather not just to grow spiritually but to make a real difference in each other’s lives.
At Jenks High School, a group of students are finding a unique way to start their Fridays with faith and fellowship. Every Friday morning at 8:10 a.m., the student-led Christian worship club, “Jesus Club,” gathers for a time of prayer, games, and reflection.
Club members competing in a rock, paper, scissors tournament before worship.
While the club is not directly affiliated with Jenks High School, the club meets in the Jenks Student Union. It is completely free to join and everyone interested is encouraged to attend. Each meeting features a different student speaker who delivers an inspiring message, followed by live worship music that brings the group together. The club, entirely organized and run by Jenks high school students, is creating a space for faith and friendship within the school community.
Unlike the school-sponsored Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), which draws in an athletics based crowd, this club is open to all students regardless of their extracurricular activities or athletic involvement. The student leaders wanted to create a space where anyone could come together to share their faith, not just those involved in sports.
“It's just a spot for you to go to learn about Jesus,” said Senior Representative, Brooklyn Tiblow
Jesus Club Inc. is a nationwide movement dedicated to empowering students to lead Christian clubs in their schools. By providing resources and support, Jesus Club Inc. helps students organize meetings, plan activities, and share their faith with peers in a meaningful way.
The organization emphasizes student leadership, encouraging young people to take ownership of their faith and create spaces where others can experience the message of Jesus. At Jenks High School, the club draws inspiration from Jesus Club Inc., using its structure to guide their own meetings.
“Really, it's not our group at all, it’s God's so we're just the mouth that God is using to spread his word,” said Bennett Bryant, Senior club representative.
Since its launch, Jenks Jesus Club has held four meetings, quickly gaining momentum among students. At their very first meeting on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024, the club amassed 48 attendees, exceeding the students’ expectations. This strong turnout set a positive tone for the group, paving the way to future progression as they step towards their goals.
Club members listening to live worship music.
"With this club the vision I had, I would say God set forth into my brain, from the very beginning I just had this feeling that within my year of being able to be part of Jesus Club we would reach 1,000 students,” said Bryant.
Bryant has a significant influence on the club and its outreach. He is a Jenks High School Senior and devoted member of Life Church Jenks, and spends Wednesdays and Sundays with his faith community. He offers a sermon on occasion at a small church in Winfield, Kansas where he is able to act on his passion for sharing the word of God.
Club representatives preforming during a meeting.
As the weeks have progressed, the club has continued to welcome both returning members and new faces, building a sense of community that extends beyond their Friday morning gatherings.
Jesus Club Junior Representative Maddie Higgins delivered her testimony at the first ever club meeting. Higgins stood in front of all 48 attendees and spoke about her faith journey as a Christian teen at Jenks High School.
“I found moments in my life that I felt could be inspiring to other people who are also going through the same thing,” said Higgins while reflecting on her speech.
Tiblow is also a loyal member of Life Church Jenks. She is a Varsity Cross Country, Track, and Vertical Beach Volleyball athlete. Tiblow offered a message at the third ever club meeting on October 11th. She provided the audience with an inside perspective on what it’s like to balance faith and athletics.
“Sports can take a toll on you spiritually," said Tiblow during the message.
The club is intentionally designed to be a welcoming space for students of all backgrounds, regardless of their involvement in sports or their level of faith and religious experience. While the club is open to all students, a large percentage of members are in some form of athletics. The club makes a great effort to have speakers that adequately represent the student body.
“When I presented, I honestly was like, what am I struggling with in my life right now,” said Senior Representative, Addison Porter.
Porter concluded that her biggest struggle at the time of her presentation was college. The highschool experience equates to a sometimes stressful Senior year. She was able to communicate this in her message during the club meeting on October 1st, 2024. Porter touched on how she felt about college as well as how to continue to love your neighbors through stressful times. Porter concluded her message with the following quote by C.S Lewis: “There are no ordinary people.”
Club members during worship.
As we look ahead, Jesus Club continues to be a beacon of hope and community, reminding us that faith isn’t just something we practice on Sundays, it's a part of who we are every day. Whether through prayer, fellowship, or service, Jesus Club is creating a lasting impact on our campus and in each other’s hearts. They invite everyone to join them on this journey of faith, connection, and purpose.
Visit https://thejesusclubinc.com/ to learn more about the Jesus Club organization as a whole and https://www.instagram.com/jesusclub.jnk/profilecard/?igsh=NDh0OXpwa3RxYXRj to see the Jenks Jesus Club instagram page.
