United Weekend, a powerful event that brings together youth from churches across Robertson and Sumner counties, is returning this year from February 28 through March 1.

Now in its fourth year, United Weekend continues to grow in participation and impact, with 19 churches participating and 285 students from 6th to 12th grade set to attend. The weekend is dedicated to worship, discipleship, and building community, with this year's theme focused on Firm Foundation.

The event is sponsored in part by the Harvest Baptist Association and, this year, will take place at Temple Baptist and The Church at Grace Park. United Weekend is a collaborative effort by a team of youth pastors from various churches in the area. The aim of the event is to unite students from different churches, providing them with the opportunity to learn and grow together in their faith.

“The idea is to bring together our students, disciple them, and let them experience ministry alongside their peers from other churches,” says Grant Heckel, youth pastor at White House First Baptist Church. “It’s a great way for churches of all sizes to come together and worship the Lord as one. For smaller churches with fewer students, it’s especially valuable because they get to be part of something larger.”

United Weekend offers students a chance to explore their faith in a variety of ways. In addition to larger worship sessions, this year there are 10 breakout groups covering important and relevant topics, such as, "Anxiety: Finding Peace in Christ," "Dating: Biblical Principles for Christ-Centered Relationships," and "Faith in the Locker Room." There are also sessions aimed at older students, addressing topics impacting the college years. These breakout groups allow students to dig deeper into their faith and discuss issues they may face in everyday life.

K.C. Rader, Family Pastor at Bethel Baptist Church in Greenbrier, highlights the impact the event has on the students: “The biggest win for me is seeing students lead other students. Last year, students opened the floor for prayer, and it was beautiful to see middle schoolers and high schoolers praying for each other. It’s so powerful to witness students supporting and lifting each other up in prayer, something that is often led by adults in a traditional church setting.”

The event has grown steadily over the years. What began with just five churches and 100 students has now blossomed into an annual event drawing a larger crowd each year. This organic growth speaks to the value and importance of United Weekend in fostering connections among students from different churches and creating a sense of community that transcends denominational lines.

In addition to spiritual growth and discipleship, United Weekend is also about creating fun and memorable experiences. This year’s event will feature a “silent disco,” a unique and lighthearted activity where students dance in sync to music only heard through earbuds or wireless headphones. It’s a fun way to bring everyone together in celebration at the end of a powerful weekend.

For many youth pastors, the event is a reminder of the power of collaboration and unity.

“United Weekend is a great opportunity to do ministry together as one body of believers,” says Heckel. “It’s a chance to learn, grow, and worship together, and it’s amazing to see how much it has grown and how many more students and churches are involved.”