Charles (Poker) Boyd is both an academician and practitioner in Student Ministry. As an adjunct professor for The Baptist College of Florida, he has excelled in both facets of the work. I recommend him to you for biblical, Godly, and practical leadership of students and student leaders.
Robin Jumper Ph.D.
Chairman of Theology Division
Dean of Faculty
The Baptist College of Florida
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We especially want to thank Charles Boyd for helping us through his Student Ministry Essentials consulting organization. What a blessing Poker has been to us during this season! He is a true, experienced professional who loves God and this church. We are grateful for his visioin in creating this unique ministry and for being such a strategic help in preparing us for a greater future in student ministry. Student Ministry Essential truely was a consulting, empowering, encouraging, and equipping ministry for our students and student leadership.
Dr. Jay Dennis, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church @ the Mall , Lakeland FL.
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At a critical time of transition in our Student Ministry, we found help that was truly a “God thing!” Poker Boyd came and brought ALL of his resources with him: a servant’s heart, love for our students, encouragement for our parents, personal integrity, unbridled enthusiasm, and a contagious love for Jesus!
Poker’s phenomenal talents, gifts, and abilities were evident in ways too numerous to count! We were able to entrust our Student Ministry into his capable hands, knowing that not only would the program be excellent in content and quality, but the relational aspect of his ministry would be exemplary!
Poker brought love and healing to our students! He inspired renewed commitment and excitement about our future for our students, youth leaders, and parents! He was even instrumental in helping us find our new Student Minister - and the transition there has been seamless!
I commend Poker Boyd and Student Ministry Essentials to you and your church without hesitation! He is a great Student Ministry leader and now a valued and trusted new friend!
Dr. Phillip E. Hanes, Senior Associate Pastor, Idlewild Baptist Church Tampa FL
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Dear Student Ministry Essentials
Thank you for the ministry you provide to the churches of our state. I can never begin to explain the impact Poker Boyd made in our student ministry and in our church during the past year. Our student ministry was suffering due to some circumstances that we couldn’t seem to get our hands around. After our student pastor resigned, I called Poker based on his reputation in the state. We were not disappointed!
His time and efforts here at First Baptist Church allowed us to move forward during an interim period which is usually a time of stagnation or loss. He followed the biblical model of equipping the saints to do the work of the church by helping our adults take ownership of the of the ministry through the use of gifts and talents untapped and dormant. Poker’s experience and energy made all the difference in the world.
One of the things I appreciate about Poker the most was the way he worked with me tomake sure that we had a youth ministry that fits into the overall structure and strategy of our church. The students responded well to his leadership, as did the adults.
One of the greatest testimonies to Poker’s influence in our ministry is the way our kids and parents are responding to our new Associate Pastor for Students. Through Poker’s
leadership we were able to see the need to find a young man who was called to do ministry in a context for an extended time. Once God led us to that man Poker worked with us to make the transition. The students and adults have embraced our new student pastor and are carrying on many of the practices and strategies that Poker taught us.
Thank you again for the tremendous Kingdom influence you are having through thisministry. If I can help you get the word out to other pastors who could benefit from this amazing ministry please let me know.
Alan Permenter,
Pastor, First Baptist Church of Wauchula,FL
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Dear Ministry Leaders:
I have the privilege of sharing with you how Dr. Poker Boyd and Student Ministry Essentials can empower your youth ministry. A church member introduced Poker to us at a time when we needed an assessment of how to build a youth program that faced a number of challenges.
Poker outlined a plan that assessed our situation, addressed several issues within our youth ministry, and offered a structured and measurable plan for growth. Poker gave us several options based on our budget. These options allowed us to determine Poker's level of involvement with our youth ministry. For almost a year, Poker brought in a team of associates, young men he was training for youth ministry, to build our Wednesday night outreach worship and Sunday small groups. Our parents and volunteer leaders received personalized training. Poker not only provided hands on leadership, he worked closely with our Personnel Committee to help us find the man who currently serves as our Minister of Students. This whole process was God's way of using an experienced team, Student Ministry Essentials, to help us revitalize our youth ministry. It is exciting to see our youth ministry growing with a Minister of Students, competent leaders committed to student ministry, and more students attending weekly.
Dr. Ron Burks, Senior pastor, First Baptist Church of Bartow, FL
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D-Now was awesome! It took so much pressure off of me to let Student Ministry Essentials organize my D-Now. It was much more cost effective. My t-shirts were 10 times cooler that the previous years and the speaker Rocked! He did a phenomenal job speaking to my students as well as the whole church. My students and I really enjoyed the Praise band. I really saved a great deal of time and money using SME to program my D-Now. I recommend SME to every Youth Ministry.
William King
Students Pastor, TX
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After spending many dollars and hours on booking speakers, worship leaders, t-shirt companies, material, and such for youth events; I have found the best one-stop resource for all my youth ministry needs is Student Ministry Essentials. The staff of SME is not only qualified in youth ministry but they also tailor there messages, music, and material for my specific theme and event. I know when I book an event with SME, I am going to get a professional product/leader but without the high price. SME makes my job as a youth pastor easier, and I highly recommend them for any youth event or youth leadership training event.
O’Brien Satcher
Youth Pastor, FBC Henderson, TX
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Poker Boyd’s love for teens came through loud and clear with our students. His life and ministry reflect his passion for youth ministry and we were the beneficiaries of his experience and expertise while he was with us. Poker is a man of deep conviction and focus; yet his message was clear and also easy for our students to grasp. Poker is the kind of youth ministry leader we want our students to meet.”
Roger Glidewell
Founder, Executive Director
Global Youth Ministry
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We had the pleasure of using SME for our Disciple Now Weekend. It was wonderful to let SME do much of the work us, which freed up our volunteers to focus on building relationships with the children during the weekend. We had Poker speaking to our students and what an excellent job he did with the theme based powerful messages. He has a great way of using humor and personal examples to help teens discover spiritual truths. I definitely recommend using SME for your student events!
Cindy Wilson
Student Minister Search Committee Chair
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SME rocks!!! For our last student ministry retreat, I neglected to order the t-shirts until it was too late (or so I thought). Panic set in and SME came to my rescue! They went above and beyond to process my order. I received exceptionally-printed, high-quality shirts and BEFORE the retreat! The order was perfectly filled and shipped to my door. The students were thrilled with the shirts and so was I. I highly recommend SME for all your t-shirt needs. I will certainly be using their services in the future. I just won't be waiting until the last minute!
Kim Davis, The RockCommunityChurch, Lakeland
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We were looking for a speaker and a Praise and Worship leader for a DiscipleNow weekend three months away. All out personal resources dried up and we decided to give Student Ministry Essentials a try. When we contacted SME not only did they provide what we said we needed but they went above and beyond our expectations. We were able to have a top-notch, experienced speaker a very energetic and talented Praise and Worship band as well as some great T-shirts for about half of what we figured to pay separately. We even used the same band the very next week. SME was a great asset to our ministry and will continue to be in the Future.
Jon Egan, Minister to Students
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SME has never failed to be an awesome experience for my students and chaperones! I am always amazed at the staff's eagerness to accomodate us. The students make lasting frindships because of the small group dynamic. SME really makes an impact on their walk with Christ. We can't wait to use you again! Thank you SME for everything you do!
Kelly Allen, Director of Youth Ministries, Epiphany Lutheran Church
