Youth Ministries
Welcome from the PET Youth Committee
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” – Matthew 18:5 NRSV
The Presbytery of East Tennessee is dedicated to supporting youth ministry in our individual churches, as well as collaboratively. The Youth Committee strives to provide opportunities for presbytery youth to grow in their faith, build relationships with one another, and explore ways in which they can live out their faith in a meaningful way.
Small & Mighty
One way the Youth Committee hopes to provide opportunities for faith formation and fellowship for youth in the presbytery is through our collaborative youth group program called Small & Mighty. This ministry initiative is targeted toward smaller youth groups but is open to all youth within the presbytery. Small & Mighty meets once a month for a variety of programming at different locations. Please check the 2025 calendar below for this year’s events and details.
Annual Events – Youth Summit & Middle School Retreat
Each year we offer an event for high school youth (9th-12th grade) in the early spring called Youth Summit. We also offer an annual Middle School Retreat for 6th-8th graders in the fall. Both of these events offer time for youth to meet new friends, grow in their faith, and build relationships with their home church group.
Youth Leadership
The Youth Committee realizes that in order to support youth ministry in our presbytery we need to actively help our youth grow in leadership skills and provide opportunities for our youth leaders to find encouragement and connection. High school youth are invited to apply to serve on PET Youth Council. This group of youth work with the Youth Leadership Team of the Youth Committee to learn leadership skills through training opportunities. They also help plan and lead the annual youth retreats. Youth ministry leader cohorts and continuing education events are in the works to better support the youth leaders of our presbytery.
If you need more information or would like to join the Youth Committee’s efforts to minister to the youth of our presbytery, please email us at youthcommittee@presbyteryeasttn.org
Peace & Light,
Rev. Paul Earheart-Brown
Moderator
Youth Committee
PET Youth Committee
Youth Committee Leadership
Rev. Paul Earheart-Brown, Moderator
Associate Chaplain and MAST Director
Maryville College, Maryville
Rev. Meredith Loftis, Vice Moderator
Associate Pastor
First Presbyterian, Knoxville
Youth Committee Teams
Small and Mighty Team
Rev. Paul Earheart-Brown
Associate Chaplain and MAST Director
Maryville College, Maryville
Dr. Rebecca Pierce
Elder
Bethel Presbyterian, Kingston
Mason Warren
Director of Family Ministry
Farragut Presbyterian, Knoxville
Youth Leadership Team
Holly Child
Christian Educator
Lake Hills Presbyterian, Knoxville
Sam Goins
Elder
New Providence Presbyterian, Maryville
Ryan Hughes
John Knox Staff
Carrie Pittenger
Member
New Providence Presbyterian, Maryville
Annual Events Team
Melissa Brown
Youth Director
Powell Presbyterian, Powell
Rev. Meredith Loftis
Associate Pastor
First Presbyterian, Knoxville
Rev. Louden Young
Associate Pastor
New Providence Presbyterian, Maryville
Youth Retreats
Youth Summit
February 26-28, 2027
John Knox Center
Ten Mile, TN
Middle School Retreat
September 18-20, 2026
John Knox Center – Ten Mile, TN
Go and do likewise.
Keynote Speaker: Katelyn Finch
We are so excited to welcome Katelyn back to East Tennessee. Prior to moving to Richmond, VA to finish her Master of Divinity degree at Union Theological Seminary, Katelyn served as the Youth director at First Presbyterian Knoxville. She is orginally from Alabama, where she attended Auburn University. When she’s not studying, Katelyn enjoys riding horses, listening to Dave Matthews Band, walking with her precious dog Layla, and Netta!
Questions? Email paul.earheartbrown@maryvillecollege.edu
Small & Mighty
Small and Mighty is an initiative in collaborative youth ministry among churches in the Presbytery. The goal is to connect churches that would benefit from shared ministry, opening up new possibilities through pooling resources. Though aimed specifically at smaller congregations, these events are opened to any youth in the presbytery. If you are interested in learning more, or being put on the contact list for Small and Mighty events, please email Rev. Paul Earheart-Brown (youthcommittee@presbyteryeasttn.org).
Youth Council
Dear prospective Youth Council,
We are so excited to kick off a new year of learning and leading together! We look forward to all this year has in store.
For those who may not know, Youth Council is a group of upper level high school students who meet throughout the year to help plan both the creative and worshipful processes of our presbytery youth retreats. Throughout this process youth make friendships, network with other churches, and learn more about who we are as a faith community and discover more deeply about what it means to be Presbyterian.
We would love as many churches to participate as possible. If you know a youth in your church who would be a good fit for this group we highly encourage you to pass along our application: https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/youth-council-application/
Here are some important dates to mark on your calendar:
Youth Council retreat: August 29-30, 2026 @ John Knox Center
Middle School Retreat: September 18-20, 2026 @ John Knox Center
Mission Project and Christmas Party: December 6, 2026
Youth Council Retreat: February 12-13, 2027 @ John Knox Center
Youth Summit: February 26-28, 2027 @ John Knox Center
Warmly,
Youth Committee
