BHS’ Taylor finds calling in ministry
Editor’s Note: Franklin’s Future is a regular feature spotlighting a high school senior in Franklin County and what they have planned for life after graduation.
Graduating from high school can be a scary time for seniors who aren’t quite sure what they want to do next, but Belgreen’s Jesse Taylor is sure of the fact that he wants to help lead others to Christ, and for him, that is a secure future.
Taylor is a 17-year-old senior at BHS where he was been involved in student council, 4-H, Future Business Leaders of America, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Beautification and he serves as a Faith Followers leader.
Taylor said he has enjoyed the time spent at BHS because of the close-knit atmosphere of the smaller school.
“When a school is smaller, you just really get to know everyone better,” he said. “I think it’s made us closer, especially as a senior class, and I’ll miss seeing everyone on a regular basis once we graduate.”
Even though Taylor enjoys the time he spends at BHS, it’s his community activities that he truly enjoys pouring his energy into.
At the age of 14, Taylor became a volunteer firefighter for the Belgreen Volunteer Fire Department, something he still does today.
“My dad joined the fire department and I started going with him,” he said. “I like knowing I can help people and that I could make a difference when someone’s in a bad situation.”
Taylor is also very involved in the youth group at Calvary Baptist Church in Russellville, which is an activity that helped solidify for him what he wanted to do later in life.
“I was called into the ministry on June 21 and I want to be a youth minister,” he said. “I just felt God calling me to use my ability to speak to young people in a way that would lead others to Christ.
“My desire is to be able to help lay a foundation for youth to develop or strengthen their relationship with the Lord.”
To prepare for his future in ministry, Taylor said he plans to attend Blue Mountain College in Mississippi and major in biblical studies.
“My youth pastor went to that college and I’ve talked to him about it several times and I think it will be a good place for me to go,” he said.
Once he graduates from college, Taylor said he would be fine going wherever he was needed, but he wouldn’t mind coming back to the county he’s called home his whole life.
“I’ve enjoyed growing up in Franklin County and I think the small community atmosphere has helped me develop the people skills I’ll need to use in youth ministry,” he said. “When you live somewhere where everybody knows everybody, it makes it easier to develop relationships with people. I definitely wouldn’t mind coming back to this area if I have the chance.”
An added bonus to coming back to the area would be to see his family that lives in the county, including his parents, Donald and Tina Taylor, and his younger brother, Logan, who is currently an eighth grader at BHS.
“Ultimately I just want to go where God leads me and make a difference in the lives of the youth I’ll minister to.”
