YOKE’s Future Folk Program is an exciting opportunity for high school students to stay connected to their YOKE community while deepening their faith and developing leadership skills. For the first time ever, Future Folk has a thriving presence in every county YOKE serves—creating not just a way for former YOKE Kids to stay involved but also a vital training ground for the next generation of YOKE Folk.
“Future Folk is one of my favorite parts of YOKE’s ministry,” shared Stephanie Enger. “It played a significant role in my own spiritual growth in high school, and now I love seeing YOKE Kids become the leaders who will invest in the next generation.” In fact, Stephanie noted that half of her Anderson County YOKE Folk were once YOKE Kids themselves. “They make great leaders because they strive to recreate the same impactful experiences they had for a new group of students.”
This month, YOKE hosted its first Future Folk Retreat in nearly a decade. Twenty-five high school students gathered for a weekend filled with community, worship, and spiritual growth. Josh Rose, an experienced YOKE Folk from Jefferson County, led worship, while executive director Jonathan Haskell and area director Josh Adams shared three powerful stories about Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Of course, no YOKE retreat would be complete without some fun—students even battled it out in several rounds of laser tag!
“My favorite part of the weekend was bonding with my closest friends and getting to know more people and leaders,” shared Jesus Flores, a sophomore at Fulton High School who serves at Vine Middle. “I also learned so much from the stories that Jonathan and Josh shared.”
As these young leaders continue to grow, we ask for your prayers. Pray that God will use their retreat experience to shape their lives, strengthen their faith, and prepare them to become the next wave of YOKE Folk who will impact the lives of middle school students for years to come.
