Fusion: Student-led ministry creates community beyond school and church walls

Apr 18

Leyla Marton, a student at Madison, Tenn., Academy, desired to have a place where high school students, regardless of which school or church they attended, could come together to worship and make connections. She was inspired by her summers at Indian Creek Camp (ICC) where teens of all backgrounds bonded over shared experiences.

“I was talking to my friends, and I realized that they also shared that desire to meet more people who shared their faith,” Leyla said. “I go to a small school, so we tend to stick to our small group – but we wanted something where we could explore our talents and make new connections.”

So, Leyla brought this idea to her father, Edward Marton, who serves as the youth director for the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference (KYTN). He was thrilled to support the initiative and on February 2, 2024, Fusion welcomed over 50 high school students to their first meeting.

“We had some students from the nearby academies, but there were also many who traveled from afar, attend public high schools or are homeschooled,” Edward said. “It was incredible. Highschoolers don't want to stay in their little bubbles. They just want to be together and meet other teens who love Jesus.”

According to Leyla, a group of students came up with the name Fusion because their goal is to “infuse people of different backgrounds together.” Fusion’s second meeting took place on April 5, and this time more than 150 students showed up. Jacob Benoit, who also attends Madison Academy, says that he appreciates the meaningful spiritual connections he has discovered through Fusion.

“I love that fact that this is now a big community, and it’s our community,” Benoit said. “[I love that] we can come worship together and not be apart like we normally are.”

While Fusion is supported by the KYTN Youth department, it is completely student-led. The student leaders decide on the topics, invite the speakers, plan the program, run the social media accounts, and even design the merch.

“I think we have to listen [our youth],” Edward said. ‘What I've learned is that in youth ministry, we're not doing ministry for the youth, but we're doing ministry with the youth.”