Every Wednesday, Howell High School students from different grades, groups, and sports convene in the auditorium lobby during all lunches for a discussion about the Bible and Christian principles. Already replenished physically by the pizza that is brought in weekly by the leader of the group, Pastor Nathan Carpenter, students are simultaneously given a space to discuss spirituality through the thought-provoking conversations that frequent their meetings. Better known as P-Nate, Pastor Carpenter is the Student Ministry’s Pastor at Bible Baptist Church at Pine Summit and leads Bible Club at Howell High School. 

 “I had gone to college to be a teacher with the idea of hopefully investing in some teenagers the way that people had invested in me. I had some teachers and coaches and people who had just really made a big impact on my life as a teenager. And I thought it’d be cool to do the same thing for somebody else,” Pastor Carpenter said. 

Investing in teens being a key theme in his pursuits, Pastor Carpenter restarted Bible Club after it had been disbanded during COVID-19. 

“We started with probably five or six students in the very beginning. We only had a few at the first lunch, and then maybe three at the next lunch, and then five at the next lunch. Then slowly they invited their friends, and people heard about it and showed up, and now we’re averaging 40 to 50 people. This being the biggest year so far,” Pastor Carpenter said. 

The vast exponential growth of this group can likely be attributed to many factors, including the hospitality of Pastor Carpenter, the inspiring conversations surrounding the BIble, and, of course, the pizza. 

“I really like getting the Word throughout the week and carrying it with me, because Sunday isn’t enough. Bible Club becomes a bright spot in my week and provides a community that can pray for me. This club also reinforces what my church teaches, and helps me stay accountable throughout the week,” junior Gabrielle Fischhaber said. 

“I love the people at Bible Club; we make a lot of fun jokes, and it’s simply a very fun environment. It’s a really nice place to learn more about Jesus. Bible Club encourages me to be a better person, and it gives me something to look forward to in the middle of the week,” senior Emma Binns said. 

Fischhaber, as well as Binns, both highlight a key point that most agree upon, even in light of members’ diverse religious affiliations: Bible Club becomes a bright spot of the week. 

“I don’t think every teenager needs to be a member of my church or my youth group. But, if I can meet them where they are here at the school and help encourage them in the middle of the week, that could be stressful or hard, I think that’s a really good thing. That’s the heartbeat behind my involvement in Bible Club,” Pastor Carpenter said. 

In an effort to encourage students throughout the week, Pastor Carpenter often presents students with questions or situations from the Bible to spark conversation. 

“We get together, and for the first several minutes, it’s just catching up on what’s happened during the week, laughing a little bit, getting to know if they’ve brought some new friends, and interacting. Then, we move into a lesson that has generally followed a kind of cohesive theme. This year, we’re starting at the very beginning of the Bible and looking at major stories and getting principles we can apply to our lives today from those,” Pastor Carpenter said. 

So far, some of the major events in the Bible that this club has covered include Creation, Original Sin, God’s promise to Abraham, and Jacob and Esau’s inheritance. Last year, Pastor Carpenter took students through the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Another factor that influences members to enjoy Bible Club, besides the community, is the amazing pizza!

“I think that P-nate bringing pizza makes it feel like we’re getting together with your friends at lunch or at a restaurant, and it brings people together because who doesn’t like pizza?” Binns said. 

All of these aspects combined, as Fischhaber and Binns note, make Bible Club a space devoted to fellowship, conversation, and moral growth. When asked what he wanted to leave students with, Pastor Carpenter gave students some life-altering advice. 

“Don’t ever be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. We don’t know what’s gonna happen tomorrow. I pray that these teenagers have a huge, long, and joy-filled life in front of them. But God knows what’s gonna happen, so just trust him to guide you and the twists and turns that you’re gonna make on the way,” Pastor Carpenter said.