Irwin to work with local youth

By Sam Waller

Dakota Irwin began his duties as youth minister at Friendship Baptist Church with the church’s Back to School Bash and now moves into his role with the youth group.

Junior high and high school youth meet at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday nights.

Irwin, who grew up at Ranger and is a senior at Tarleton State University, said he hopes to advocate discipleship with the youth group.

“I don’t want to just stand there and preach about the Bible,” he said. “I want to give them the tools they can use to go live out what we’re talking about.”

Irwin spent a year and a half in the U.S. Navy, serving at Submarine Base New London at Groton, Connecticut. He is working toward a psychology degree at Tarleton.

In addition to his duties with Friendship Baptist, Irwin will continue his ministry at Eastland’s Solid Rock Camp, where he has been since 2017. He said the two positions will compliment each other.

“We do a lot of small-group stuff at Solid Rock,” he said. “That’s the kind of thing I want to bring to Friendship.”

Irwin said he wants to show youth group members that Christian life extends beyond church attendance.

“It’s not a once-a-week thing where you hear the Gospel, and then you’re done,” he said. “I want the kids to seek out and grow daily – in their walk and in their faith. I’m hoping to bring to them that it doesn’t stop when we’re done on Wednesday or done on Sunday.”