Of the three E's of ministry — equip, evangelize, and encourage — Pastor Jacob Carr admits the third one is the most overlooked, and the easiest to mistake for empty cheerleading. It's not. Working through 1 Thessalonians, Jacob shows why encouragement means reminding each other of the truth we already know: that our hope is secure even when life isn't easy. He's honest that following Jesus doesn't make pain disappear — but it does mean we're never without hope. From there, he turns to Ephesians 4 and a hard look at how we actually talk to and about each other, challenging students to trade tearing down for building up. Recorded live at Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church's Wednesday Night Student Ministry.

Jordan shares his testimony and talks about how he spent years as a "good kid" who knew all the right answers — but quietly believed he had to earn Jesus through sheer effort: try harder, fight smarter, do better tomorrow. It never worked. It just left him exhausted and stuck in the same cycle of failure and guilt. Jordan shares what changed when he stopped asking "how do I beat this?" and started asking "how do I depend on Christ through this?" — and why, eleven years into marriage and three kids in, he's still relearning that same lesson every day.

In the conclusion of our vision-casting series, Part 3 of Belong & Go brings the entire picture into focus as Student Pastor Jacob Carr explains how student ministry fits into the broader life of the church. Returning to Ephesians 2:10, Jacob reminds us that as God's workmanship, we don't get to define our own identity or purpose—we simply reflect the One who created us. Far from being a separate, isolated student program, Belong & Go serves as a intentional bridge ministry to help students transition into full, active church life, aligning directly with Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church's overall vision to be Grounded, Growing, and Going. Through rootedness in Scripture and real-world discipleship modeled by small group leaders, students are challenged to move beyond just inviting friends to church. Ultimately, we are called to be disciples who actively make disciples right where we are, stepping out in the strength of the One to whom we belong.

In Part 2 of Belong & Go, Student Pastor Jacob Carr concludes our vision-casting series by unpacking the second half of our calling: what it means to Go. Building on the truth that our identity must first be rooted in Christ, Jacob confronts the reality of our fallenness, reminding us that salvation begins when we recognize we cannot save ourselves and instead lean fully into Jesus as our only hope. From there, the message pivots to an unmistakable truth: for anyone who belongs to Christ, going is not optional. Unpacking the Great Commission, Jacob challenges students to reject delayed obedience and step past the safety net of simply inviting friends to church. Instead, as intentional characters in a story God is actively writing, we are equipped and sent directly into our schools, homes, and communities with the absolute promise that He walks with us every step of the way.

In the premier episode of Belong & Go, Student Pastor Jacob Carr casts a fresh vision for the Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church Student Ministry, diving into Part 1 of our mission: what it truly means to Belong. It’s easy to drift through life trying to construct our own identity, but true purpose begins when we realize we aren't our own—we were created by God, and we rightfully belong to Him. Unpacking the heart behind student ministry, Jacob walks through three foundational truths: first, that everyone belongs to God as their Creator and rightful owner; second, that everyone has rebelled, turning away from the fountain of living water to rely on broken cisterns that leave us empty; and third, that everyone can be restored because Christ paid the ultimate price to ransom His creation and redeem our purpose. Challenging students to look past religious routine and face the question of true surrender, this message asks us to reflect honestly: If everything else was taken away, would Jesus still be enough?