Nate and Lori Babers:

Can you tell us the names of your wife and child?
Wife: Lori; Sons: Jono & Andrew

How long have you been at Woodside? 
Nate: From High School; Lori: Six Months

How did you come to be in this ministry?
 Well, we had been looking to leave the Wilds, and come out to Colorado. And until we get a camp going here in Colorado, we wanted to be in some sort of ministry. That's kind of what led  us out here. We talked to Pastor Scott. We looked into some other ministries here at Woodside, and Pastor mentioned the need with the Youth Staff, someone to help Pastor Andrew.
 

How long have you been in this particular ministry?
Well, we pretty much started as soon as we got out here, so 6 months.

Nate, what is your favorite part of working with the YG?
That's kind of a hard one. My favorite part is really seeing the change in a lot of the  young people, from the week-in, week-out. Seeing them bring their friends, being able  to witness to their friends, and seeing the change in the time that they're in the Youth Group.

Lori, what is your favorite part of working with the YG?
My favorite part is probably just working with the girls in the YG. I remember back when I was a teenager; how that is just a pivotal part of your life, and how many big decisions you have. Just being a part of that–giving them advice, talking to them each Sunday, and seeing how their lives are going– is probably my favorite part.

What is your desire for your ministry at Woodside?
Well, I think my biggest desire is to be able to see the young people come to a better knowledge of the Lord through our impact on their lives. As a whole at Woodside my desire is to see the ministry grow, to see people making right decisions, and to see it grow, not just in spiritual depth, but also in size–to see more people coming and getting to hear the Word, and change.
     

If you had to emphasize one thing to every guy or girl in the Youth Group, what would it be?
 The biggest thing is a daily walk with the Lord . Not allowing the busyness of high school or  extra-curricular things to crowd out the importance of growing spiritually.
 

Did you have anything you wanted to add to that Lori?
One thing I guess. How we always put it when I worked at The Wilds counseling was just  desiring for the teens to each take their next spiritual step; just constantly desiring to grow, instead of becoming content in their Christian life, but always desiring more.

Nate, what is your job outside of the ministry?
I work for a homebuilder here in Denver. I work in the warranty aspect of it. When the new homes are built, any problems the new homeowners have they call me and I have to get people out there to fix their problem.
 

Lori, how about you?
I work here at home as a housewife, raising our son. I also help out with secretarial work for Pine Ridge Ministries, on a volunteer basis.
 

What are your plans for the future, as far as ministry?
 As far as our plans for the future? I guess our biggest desire is to be part of a full-time camp ministry, and to work with the young people and family in that aspect.
 

Is there any particular verse in Scripture that you guys look to as a guide for your ministry?
 Not a particular verse but I guess a couple different ones. One that I shared with the JH that I  also would like to encourage the whole Youth Group with is 1 Timothy 4:12, and that is “ Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Just that they would all that to be their goal. That their desire be Godly young people that no one can look at and say, “Yeah, their just another youth group; just another bunch of teenagers. That's the way they are, and that's why they're in the church.” But to have young people that take to heart and don't allow the status quo to be all right, but that they want to be a Godly example.
 

Do you have anything extra you would like to share about the youth group with the people who read this interview online?
Not really. I just want to say that we really enjoy being a part of the ministry here at Woodside. It's very humbling, to realize what an opportunity we have; that there are so many good Godly young people in the youth group. It's neat to be able to work with young people that love the Lord and are actually concerned about spiritual things. Because being in a camp ministry you see so many youth groups and church group that could care less about God's Word. To have prayer night, and have people actually show up to it. That's a rare thing. Where people just get together to sing and hear a devotional. Maybe there's a little bit of food involved too (laughs). To have youth group of kids that actually love the Lord, and encourage people to do what right. It's a blessing to be in a youth group like that.

What is your e-mail address?
 Nate: nate.babers@gmail.com