In the fall of 2023, YOKE was able to relaunch our club at Maury Middle in Jefferson County for the first time since before the pandemic. Josh Ogle, youth pastor from First Baptist Dandridge, signed on to be a team leader, but since the team was entirely new, YOKE area director Kelly Chilcote stayed very engaged.

The club started with only about 10 students. YOKE coaches our volunteers to love every kid that comes, but to always be working to connect with more, and that’s exactly what our new Maury team did. They continued connecting with kids at club, at the school, and at community events. Excitement grew as kids began inviting their friends and by the spring, nearly 40 kids had gotten involved in club. At spring camp last semester, Maury, with 20 campers, had the biggest group at camp.

Summer Hanson, an 8th grader at Maury, was one of those kids that was there from the beginning. She says it was the people who attracted her to club and the relationships she built kept her coming back. Summer’s family did not attend church, so all the talk about faith was new to her. YOKE Camp had an especially significant impact on her life. “Camp helped me get to know my friends from Maury better,” she explained. “And I loved the experience of worshiping Jesus with people my own age.”

Soon afterward she began attending True Life Church with Kelly. It was there that she decided to follow Jesus. “I was a little unsure at first; I just felt stuck,” she explained. “I know I’m just a teenager, but I felt like my life had no promise. Kelly helped me see how much life has to offer with Jesus.”

Summer is learning how to follow Jesus now in a small group that Kelly leads for some of the girls from Maury and some of the girls from church. And, though she’s moved on to High School, she is still involved with YOKE’s leadership development program and hopes to serve at camp this year. “Just like church, YOKE helps remind of who I am and helps me follow Jesus better,” said Summer.

YOKE’s fall camp is just around the corner. Like many of our students, Summer would never have enjoyed that camp experience without the generous support of partners like you. Would you consider investing in YOKE so that we can continue to reach middle school students like Summer?

It costs approximately $125 to send a kid to camp, so your gift could help in the following ways:
  • $125 Sponsor 1 YOKE Kid
  • $250 Sponsor 1 YOKE Kid and their YOKE Folk
  • $500 Sponsor a Cabin
  • $1,000 Sponsor a Club
Make checks payable to YOKE and mail to P.O. Box 3492, Knoxville, TN 37927. Or visit our giving page to make a secure gift online anytime.

Grateful for your partnership,