Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Shicks.
Jeff, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Jeff Shicks – Pastor/Executive Director – Nashville Youth For Christ
Jeff first started serving as the youth pastor of Sunbury Christian Church in 1983 where he served at for 12 years. One of the most challenging times in ministry came while serving there when one of the students in the youth group was accidently shot by a gun. This incident strengthened the groups faith in God and actually grew the youth group and parents closer together as they prayed and fasted while this student and his family were going through the process of healing and physical rehab for several years. While serving there at Sunbury Christian Church, Jeff was also a FT police officer and started the bicycle patrol unit for the department he served on, this gave him the opportunity to connect more frequently with people, businesses and schools.
Jeff, Suzie and his kids then decided to move to SW Florida, while his two kids were in elementary school. After a short period of building houses in Florida, Jeff served on staff at First Christian Church of Fort Myers, Florida and was the founder and Executive Director of The Bridge Youth Center. The Bridge youth center would open its doors in 2003 and by 2009 had connected with over 6,400 different students thanks to an amazing team of staff and volunteers from FCC. Jeff was also a coordinator for a youth pastor network that met monthly in an effort in connecting churches, ministries, businesses and services for students. He served on the Board of Coronado High School and he was also a Detention Center Chaplain for 14 years prior to moving to TN in 2009 when he joined the Youth For Christ (YFC) team as the Campus Life Director.
During his time serving as the Campus Life Director and also serving in the local detention center in Nashville, Jeff started a Character Development class for boys at a high school called, MOVERS. MOVERS is an acronym for Men, Of, Valor, Encouraging, Respect, & Service. This class was specifically for boys who were on the verge of being expelled from school, and it gave the boys an opportunity to change that. He went on to start the MOVERS in several other high schools in the Nashville area.
Jeff was elected as the Executive Director of the Nashville YFC Chapter in April 2017. This YFC Chapter has four core ministry areas they work with students in: Campus Life – a school club that meets weekly in the school or a local church. City Life – working in communities with families and at local community centers. Parent Life – working with students who find themselves as a teen mom or dad and need help navigating through this while being in school, they meet weekly to talk about life together and come up with solutions for all. Juvenile Justice Ministry (JJM) which works specifically with incerated students and helps to bring hope and resources, along with psot care options to help theser students succeed.
Jeff is still married to his high school sweetheart, Suzie, whom he met at a roller skating rink over the summer of his sophomore year of high school, they have been married since 1983.
The past 5-6 years have been alot more challenging for Jeff and his wife, Suzie to be involved in ministry, since she has been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. She has had a rough time navigating brain surgery, breaking her hip & ribs from falling, losing the ability to work and drive, and the many emotional challenges associated with dementia.
Jeff and his wife Suzie have served in youth ministry 42+ years. Jeff also serves the Nashville community as a PT Security officer, working at the Nissan Stadium and NSC stadium for events when able. They have two adult children and three grand kids, as well as several adopted adult children from previous ministry outreach.
Their daughter Melissa Sheridan, also works for Nashville Youth For Christ, serving as their Communications Director and grant writer.
Jeff enjoys hanging out with students and leading a life group of 2o+ somethings, but most of all he loves hanging with his grandkids. Jeff loves reading his Bible daily & fishing early in the morning as often as able which he says is, ‘renewing to the mind.’
You can find out more informations about Nashville Youth FOr Christ and Jeff at: nashvilleyfc.org
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the struggles include:
Working as a police officer, working nights/weekends, being shot at. The stress of being an officer and the anxiety it causes to family. This also created some marriage issues that resulted in family counseling.
When the housing market crashed in 2008 Jeff and his family lost their home in Florida and had to start over.
Raising support for ministry also created challenges for the first 3-5 years with YFC, Jeff had to work several PT jobs in order to make things wortk for his family.
The past 5-6 years have been alot more challenging for Jeff and his wife, Suzie to be involved in ministry, since she has been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. She has had a rough time navigating brain surgery, breaking her hip & ribs from falling, losing the ability to work and drive, and the many emotional challenges associated with dementia.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
One of the things that sets Jeff apart from others his his heart to serve others well and work hard. Growing up on a farm, Jeff learned from an early age that milking cows, bailing hay and taking care of other animals creates great work ethics for later in life. He has also strives to respect and love others and cheer them on, even if they just met – he says this comes from the saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression on someone.”
He says everyone needs ‘a hug’ in life
Which is an acronym for:
Helping
Understand
God
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Make the most of every relationship to listen well first, ask lots of questions and give advice as a last resort.
Journal and pray through the difficult times in life, ask for and welcome help from others.
Be generous with your time and resources for others daily.
Include your kids and the kids of others in as much of lifes daily duties and struggles as often as able to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nashvilleyfc.org
- Instagram: yfc_nashville
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/yfcnashville
- Youtube: @nashvilleyfc
