The Reset Student Movement brought over 600 students and 100 volunteers from 25 churches together on September 15th to kick off the new school year. Students from 6th – 12th grade were encouraged to reset their lives by taking the next step in their relationships with Jesus in the context of  community.

This was a special year for the Reset Student Movement because the back to school party expanded to two locations for the first time. Reset North was launched by Berean Bible Church in Greene, NY while Reset South took place at FBJC in Johnson City, NY for the fifth year running. Students enjoyed pizza, snacks, laser tag, gym games and yard games before gathering in the auditoriums for worship music and a sermon titled “WE > ME.”

Jackson Garrell, Creative Director of Leaders Following Christ and Event Coordinator of the Reset Student Movement, spoke at Reset North. 12 students made the decision to give their lives to Christ and 30 more committed to opening up about personal struggles with their youth leaders.

“God is doing unimaginable things through Leaders Following Christ. I was privileged to oversee and preach at the newest Reset location. During the message, I opened up about my own struggles with mental health and identity as a teenager. Dozens of students got saved that night! Then, after the event, six students tearfully told me that they were going to speak up and seek help concerning their own emotional & mental struggles. These events aren’t just changing people and cities — they’re changing the population of heaven.” — Jackson Garrell

Reset’s back to school party is a free event for all churches and students who attend. In support of Reset’s mission, churches of varying denominations, local camps, restaurants, book stores, musicians and vocalists, photographers, safety officers and volunteers offered their gifts and resources to make this event possible. Leaders Following Christ was honored to fund the expansion of Reset in 2019 and is on track to launch 4 new Reset Movements in communities across the country in 2020.

Reset strives to turn these powerful moments into a movement. Students were connected to leaders from their home church after the sermon and encouraged to get plugged into their youth group. All youth pastors were provided access to the free For Ministry Resources library and CIRCLES discipleship curriculum created for teens. Long after students leave Reset’s one-day event, their pastors will be equipped and empowered to continue fostering community and leading their spiritual development.