Ministry Spotlight: March 2026
SPRING IN FULL SWING
Spring brings so many opportunities full of energy, learning, and meaningful experiences for young people.
We kicked things off with Elementary Camp, where 146 youth spent time building friendships, exploring their faith, and creating joyful memories. This annual weekend camp retreat didn't only bring fun (like a zipline!), but it also brought many decisions toward finding a full life in Christ.
“Elementary camp is always such a special time, not only for the children who attend, but also our staff and volunteers who care deeply about ensuring the weekend is meaningful,” said Kent Stanger, Director of Area Ministries – North Area. “We are so grateful to everyone who makes our camp retreat possible. The Christ-centered focus of the weekend provides young people with the opportunity to deepen their faith in Him or experience His love for them for the first time.”
Meanwhile, older youth stepped into opportunities to serve and learn, partnering with organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank and H.T. Hackney to give back and gain real-world insight.
Through the Play Ball Kid initiative with Tennessee Baseball, young athletes from Emerald Youth Sports are chosen to step onto the field and shout “Play ball!” to kick off the Vols games. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Lindsey Nelson Stadium (and a pretty cool story to tell).
EMERALD YOUTH PRAYER BREAKFAST
The annual Emerald Youth Prayer Breakfast is just around the corner, and we would love for you to join us.
This special morning brings our community together to reflect, worship, and celebrate the impact happening in the lives of our city’s children and youth.
Be sure to RSVP or consider hosting a table to invite others into our mission.
We are especially grateful for our sponsors, whose generosity helps make the Pray Breakfast possible, including:
GOING OUT OF THIS WORLD
Since his days leading the Tennessee Vols on the football field, Josh Dobbs has been invested in giving back to the Knoxville community, including with young people from Emerald Youth Foundation.
Thanks to Josh and his ASTROrdinary Dobbs Foundation, youth got to have an experience out of this world! We had the incredible opportunity to attend an exclusive pre-screening on March 17 of the movie Project Hail Mary at Regal Pinnacle, and it definitely sparked some big dreams.
For many of youth, it was more than just a movie. It was a chance to imagine what’s possible, explore new ideas, and see themselves in stories of innovation and discovery. And the unlimited movie theater popcorn was pretty exciting, too!
After watching, one thing was clear … we might just have a few future astronauts on our hands!
THE POWER OF GIVING
Charitable giving, including through Charitable Gift Annuities, is one of the most meaningful ways that donors and their families express their values, support the causes they care about, and create a lasting impact.
While generosity often begins with personal motivation, turning philanthropic intent into effective giving requires guidance from the donor’s professional advisors.
An important role of professional advisors is helping donors articulate their charitable objectives clearly so that the best charitable strategies are pursued. Identifying and clarifying a donor’s goals starts with asking targeted questions.
READY, SET, PLAY
Spring sports are officially underway!
Young athletes are already in action with baseball, soccer, golf and more. Swim lessons continue for city youth at our indoor pool at E.V. Davidson Community Center in East Knoxville, and we look forward to hosting a Performance Training Combine for 8th - 12th graders in April.
We’re excited to see what the spring season holds both on and off the field.
SERVE WITH US
Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. From mentoring relationships to moments on the court, the impact of showing up is powerful.
A perfect example of this is Clark Reyes. From a young person participating in Emerald Youth, to serving as an AmeriCorps member, and now as a longtime Emerald employee and volunteer, Clark’s story through volleyball reflects the life-changing influence of investing in young people.
He recently was honored for his 20 years of volunteering with our volleyball program. Watch this video our volleyball teams surprised Clark with at practice recently.
During National AmeriCorps Week, we also celebrated the individuals who serve daily to support our young people and programs (including Ashley, Tirrell, and Jerrika).
As summer approaches, check out these paid, part-time opportunities and apply now.
There are so many ways to get involved, and we’d love to help you find the right fit. Here are some upcoming volunteer opportunities we need to fill:
Summer tutors
Wednesday night meal teams
Small group leaders
Worship leaders
Swim coaches
Tennis coach
Middle school volleyball coaches
Track coaches