First Baptist Church member Kenzie Horton has pushed the envelope in what she has been capable of doing.

Since her time at the church began, Horton has worked with the youth group leading small groups and speaking to the group. This is all under the direction of Johnathan “JP” Pitts.

“My youth pastor has really gotten me out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I’m part of an impact team speaking to the group. This is all under the direction of Johnathan “JP” Pitts.

“My youth pastor has really gotten me out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I’m part of an impact team at my Church. There is only four of us o the team. We lead things that the pastor puts together, and if anybody needs to talk about something we are there. We lead the small groups, and I will be leading the middle school students this year.”

Horton said that Pitts also has her speak at conferences as well.

“I’ve always been kind of shy, and if anyone would ask me to speak, I’ve always turned them down,” said Horton.

“JP Has definitely brought me out of that. He asked me about five time to speak, and there’s a conference coming up that he is trying to get me to speak at. So, he has definitely brought me out of that.”

Horton said when is speaking in public, she relies on God to get her through it.

“It was knowing that God is there for me that gets me through it,” she said.

“I know God is going to be there for me so why be scared? It is still kind of nerve racking, but it gets better each time I speak.”

Her advice to others getting out of there comfort zone is the power of prayer.

“No matter how difficult it is, God is there even if you don’t feel like he’s there,” she said. “He will give you strength and comfort no matter what it is.”

Horton is preparing to go to Judson College in Marion where she will play volleyball and softball. She also will be studying elementary education.

“My heart is for the children,” she said. “Everytime I’d go on mission trips, I’d find myself working with the kids. When I went to Africa, they were so loving. That’s all they want, and I want to do that for the rest of my life by showing the love of God to children.”

Horton also was instrumental in a back pack drive for the beginning of the school year.

Horton recently served at a mission camp in Selma that was hosted by Elkdale Baptist Church.

When it ended, she promised the group of kids she worked with that she and others would continue to serve the community at least once a month.

“We had one week afterward, we were in Sunday school, and in our studies, we saw that these kids held a backpack drive, and we thought we could do that as well,” she said. “It bloomed from there and we ended up having over 40 backpacks.”