In this powerful interview, we sat down with a youth minister whose life story testifies to the relentless grace of God. From rebellion to redemption, from rap dreams to the pulpit, his journey reveals what it means to be pursued—and transformed—by Jesus. Changing youth lives at Mosaic Church in OKC.
Testimony of Grace: A Journey from the World to the Word
Q: Can you share your personal testimony and how you came to faith in Christ?
A: I grew up in church like many others—Sunday services, VBS, Wednesday nights. But as I got older, church started to feel more like a routine than a relationship. Eventually, I stopped going altogether.
At 17, my mom invited me to a screening of Left Behind at Victory Church. I remember watching the pastor drive away in a lifted suburban and thinking, “Yeah, this isn’t for me.” Funny thing it was gifted to him… He also told God that he didn’t feel like he should drive it all those years back and god told him you care more about what people think than what i think. That judgment—flawed as it was—became my exit point. I turned away from church and dove headfirst into a life driven by hip hop, nightlife, and sin.
I dropped out of college just one class short of my associate’s degree to pursue a promotion at work. Soon after, I was diagnosed with HSV. It devastated me, and in my brokenness, I blamed God.
But even then, God was working.
I started making secular music—it became my therapy. Eventually, I entered the car business, paid off all my debt, and quit to make an album called God & Women. I wasn’t walking with God, but He was walking with me. When the money ran out, I went back to work and started saving again—this time for my second album. I invested in myself, in my dreams, and was gaining real traction: radio interviews, music festivals, and media coverage.
But strangely, in the height of my success, I lost the love for the stage. I began dreading performances. Around this time, I discovered The Chosen. It changed everything. It made the Gospel personal.
Then came full circle—my old pastor, the one I judged years ago, had fallen publicly. But he returned to ministry at a church near me. His brokenness made him human. So I walked into his church one Sunday… and never left.
Now, I serve as the church janitor and youth minister. God never gave up on me. Even when I ran, He chased me. Even when I sinned, He stayed. That’s true grace.
Daily Discipline: Walking with God in the Everyday
Q: What does your daily walk with God look like?
A: It starts the moment I wake up—with the Lord’s Prayer.
Throughout my workday, I fill my ears with truth: sermons from Mark Crow, Keith Battle, John Bevere, Phillip Anthony Mitchell, and even motivational speakers like Eric Thomas. I believe God is equipping me in the grind—letting me earn a living while feeding my spirit.
I’m big on fitness too. I box for cardio, and even during that, I listen to sermons. I’m building physical and spiritual strength at the same time. God has shown me how to worship Him not just in church—but in movement, in hustle, in rhythm.
At night, when my work is done, I spend at least an hour in the Word. I’ve gone from Genesis to Matthew in just four months. And it’s not out of obligation—it’s hunger.
Teaching Teens: Making Scripture Stick
Q: How do you approach teaching Scripture to youth in a way that is both faithful and relevant?
A: I remember being a teen and not understanding the Bible. Nobody broke it down for me in a way that connected to my life. I want to be the kind of teacher I never had.
So I keep it real. First, we define terms. If the kids don’t understand a word, we stop right there until we all do. Then we take that Scripture and apply it to what they’re living through—relationships, peer pressure, family dynamics, fear, identity.
I’m not there to lecture. I’m there to connect. If I’m doing all the talking, I’m failing. I ask questions. I listen. I want engagement, not just obedience. The Word of God has to mean something—not just theologically, but practically. If they leave knowing how to apply one verse to one hard thing in their life, that’s a win.
God didn’t just give me a testimony—He gave me tools to relate, to break things down, and to walk with these kids as they learn who they are in Him.
Called to the Crossroads: Why Middle and High School Matter Most
Q: What’s your experience with middle school and high school students? Which age group are you most comfortable with and why?
A: Most of the teens I work with are finishing middle school, with a few in high school. And to be honest, this is my first real time working with this age group since I’m not a parent myself. But I specifically pursued this group because I know how crucial these years are.
At this stage, students are starting to see life beyond their home. They’re no longer limited by what their parents allow—they’re exposed to different worldviews, financial realities, religions, temptations. This is when they start asking: Who am I really?
This was the exact age when I walked away from church. And I paid the price for that decision. I want to be the person I wish I had—someone who helps them understand why staying connected to God now will make this incredibly tough season easier.
I know God called me to this group, and the more I walk with them, the more I see why.
From All Walks of Life: Creating a Safe and Welcoming Space
Q: How do you create a welcoming environment for students from diverse backgrounds?
A: I’m mixed—Black and white—and honestly, I think that helps. It gives me a natural connection to students from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. But even beyond that, I think kids are looking for someone who gets it—not just what they believe, but where they come from.
Our church does a great job making the environment feel fun and comfortable. We’ve got games, music, and snacks—it’s a vibe. They walk in and feel like this isn’t just a classroom; it’s a place they can laugh, chill, and connect.
I’m also the youngest of our ministers. I’ve played sports, done music, grown up with sisters—I know what it’s like to wrestle with identity, pressure, and dreams. That helps me engage in a way that feels real, not religiously rigid.
The more these students talk and open up, the more trust builds. And once there’s trust, they’ll let you speak into their lives. That’s the key. We also encourage them to hear each other—different races, genders, and experiences—but recognize they’re often going through the same things underneath.
That’s how relationship is built—with us, with each other, and most importantly, with God.
Church and Home: Strengthening the Discipleship Link
Q: How would you partner with parents to encourage discipleship at home?
A: I’ve started something simple but really impactful—I use Facebook to keep parents in the loop. Each week, I post what we’ll be covering in class, and I also ask parents what they think their kids need to hear.
It’s not just about letting them know—it’s about listening to them. I ask: What topics do you think we should talk about? Where do you see your kids struggling? Their answers become part of my lesson prep, alongside my own study and notes.
And the best part? I’ve been blessed with parents who actually follow up. After class, some will message me and share what their kids said about the lesson—what stuck, what made them think. That feedback is gold. It tells me the message is landing not just in the classroom, but in the home.
When I teach what parents say is needed, and kids come home talking about it, we know something real is happening. That’s how discipleship becomes a family journey—not just a church program.
Building the Team: How Volunteers Grow the Mission
Q: How do you recruit, train, and support youth ministry volunteers?
A: To be honest, I haven’t officially “recruited” yet. But I have been showing up—and I think that’s step one.
I clean the church after second service every week. I used to go home after first service or hit the gym nearby, but now I stay and help out in the classroom. Just being there, week in and week out, matters.
I share a lot of my journey and ministry updates on Facebook, and lately, people have started to engage. I haven’t had to force recruitment—God is moving through visibility and consistency. I’m leaning into that and letting Him do the rest.
Inside the classroom, it’s about teamwork. I make it a point to support my fellow ministers—not just with words, but with presence. When others see that we’re in this together, it strengthens the whole room. Teens notice too. The more they see me around, the more they trust me. That trust turns into consistency. And that consistency turns into connection.
Ministry grows through showing up, being real, and staying ready to serve—no spotlight needed.
Struggles of This Generation: Self-Worth, Sexuality, and the Search for Identity
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges youth face today, and how do you address them biblically?
A: Honestly, self-acceptance, sexuality, popularity, and image—those are the big ones. These aren’t just occasional issues; they hit our teens every single day.
When I prepare lessons, I don’t just pick verses—I find Scripture that speaks directly to the week’s topic. Then I dive deep into it. Not just the verse, but the context—what was happening at that time, who was speaking, and why. Context is everything. Quoting a verse sounds nice, but if you don’t understand the full story behind it, it loses power.
When I teach, I break it down:
- Scripture – What does God say?
- Context – What was going on then?
- Connection – How does that apply to what you’re going through today?
Then I invite them to share. “Have you seen this in your life? What does that look like at school, online, in your relationships?” When teens see their own stories in God’s Word, everything changes. The Bible becomes real. It becomes theirs.
Lifting Every Voice: Making Sure Girls Are Heard and Honored
Q: How do you ensure that girls in the youth group are heard, respected, and included under male leadership?
A: As an older brother, this one hits home for me. I’ve seen firsthand how important it is for young women to be respected, heard, and protected.
In our group, we go teen by teen when asking questions. Everyone gets a turn—not just the loudest voices. I want each student to expect they’ll be called on, so they start thinking about their answers as they listen to others. It builds attentiveness and shows that every voice matters.
But I also make it a point to engage with the girls even more intentionally. I want them to feel safe speaking not just as individuals—but as leaders. I want the guys to hear their stories, understand their perspectives, and see their strength.
I often remind the group of Proverbs 18:22:
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.”
This isn’t just about marriage. It’s about recognizing the God-given value of women. I want the girls to know they are the backbone of the family and the future. And I want the guys to understand that we don’t grow into our full calling without honoring and learning from the women in our lives.
At the end of the day, I want every girl in that room to feel empowered—to speak, to lead, to grow, and to trust that God sees them fully and loves them deeply. And I want to be someone they know is listening.
The Call: From Cleaning Floors to Shepherding Souls
Q: Why do you feel called to youth ministry specifically?
A: It started while I was cleaning the church.
I had just begun helping out with facilities, and I told my mom early on, “I think I’m supposed to be with the teens.” It took three years—but here I am.
I didn’t feel ready. I thought I wasn’t spiritual enough, didn’t know enough Scripture, had too much of a past, too much of the world still in me. But God didn’t ask for perfection. He asked for obedience.
What fuels me is this: I walked away from church as a teen. I know the price of following the world instead of God. If I can help even one student avoid that path—if I can be the person I wish I had—what could be more fulfilling?
I do this for them, but also with them. It keeps me rooted in the Word and reminds me daily that God’s grace covers all things. It’s a win-win. God is good.
What Success Really Looks Like: Engagement, Not Numbers
Q: How do you measure “success” in youth ministry?
A: Success, to me, isn’t about numbers. It’s about engagement.
Are they opening up? Are they showing their personalities? Are they responding to the message? Are they leaning in, nodding, laughing, asking questions? Do they feel like they belong?
It matters whether the lesson makes sense to them. Whether they go home talking about it. Whether their parents come back to me with feedback—even without me asking.
Are they coming back? Are they starting to talk as much as we do during class? That’s when I know it’s working. When their voice becomes part of the message, not just the response to it.
That’s success.
The Legacy: What I Hope They’ll Remember
Q: What do you hope students remember about their time under your leadership?
A: I want them to remember this above all: That I cared.
That I was there with them, not just teaching them. That they could come to me with things they maybe couldn’t talk about with anyone else. That they weren’t alone.
But even deeper than that—I want them to know that I needed them just as much as they needed me. Being in their lives is helping me grow too. As a man without kids, they’re teaching me how to relate, how to lead, and how to love like Jesus.
We’re growing in God together.
I want them to feel heard. To know their voice matters. To believe they’re the future of the church—and that with Jesus, we can change the world around us.
Final Reflection: Ministry That Listens, Loves, and Lasts
Throughout this interview, Justin’s journey has illuminated a truth we often overlook: God doesn’t call the polished—He calls the willing. Justin’s story is not just one of personal redemption but of radical obedience. It’s a testament to what happens when someone says “yes” to God, even when they feel unqualified, unsure, or unworthy.
What sets Justin apart isn’t just his past or his passion—it’s his posture. He leads not from a pedestal, but from the floor he once cleaned. His ministry is deeply relational, grounded in vulnerability, and shaped by lived experience. And that authenticity is what makes a difference. Because today’s teens don’t need someone perfect—they need someone present. Someone who sees them. Hears them. Understands what it’s like to doubt, to fall, to come back, and to find grace again.
Justin is doing more than teaching lessons—he’s helping rewrite stories. He’s giving teens a space where they can be honest, ask hard questions, and discover that Scripture still speaks to their struggles. He’s creating a culture where girls feel empowered, where every student is called by name, and where faith is something you live out, not just talk about. His intentionality—reaching out to parents, preparing with purpose, honoring each teen’s voice—is sowing seeds that will grow into lifelong faith.
We are deeply grateful to Justin for not only sharing his heart through this interview but for offering his life as a living testimony of God’s grace. His journey reminds us that when you faithfully show up for others, God shows up in you.
Justin, thank you for saying yes. Thank you for serving with humility, honesty, and holy ambition. The difference you’re making isn’t just felt on Sundays—it’s echoing in hearts, in homes, and in the next generation of believers. Keep walking. Keep leading. You’re not just impacting lives—you’re helping transform them, and that is the true measure of ministry.
If you would like visit Mosaic Church please reach out to Pastor Mark Crow on Facebook or visit their website!!
