Next Generational Director Keith Hurt Brings Passion, Experience to SCBO Role

By Stephanie Heading

“I am both delighted and excited to announce that Keith Hurt is joining our SCBO family as the Director of Next Generational Ministry,” said Dr. Jeremy Westbrook, SCBO executive director.  “He will serve Ohio Baptists in a part-time capacity, while remaining the full-time student pastor at Violet Baptist, Pickerington. He will work directly with our regional catalysts to help encourage and equip our student pastors from around the state to help reach the next generation. He will also oversee Super Summer and take it to the next level.”

Hurt brings twenty-seven years of ministry experience to his new role, working with collegiate and youth ministries. He has a passion for how Next Generational ministries can impact students, because he has seen firsthand the impact in his own life.

Raised in a dysfunctional family filled with chaos and abuse, Hurt describes his family as “very lost.”

As an avid high school basketball player, he transferred from public school to Christian school for his senior year with no interest in Christianity, just a desire to play basketball.

“The Lord used godly peers and three godly men who came alongside me,” said Hurt. “They had a relationship with Christ, and I took a second look at Jesus Christ.” He accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and began his life anew.

Following high school, Hurt enrolled at Cedarville University and found more godly peers and mentors who helped him grow in his faith and shaped his philosophy of ministry. He believes in four supports for students: a relationship with God, a relationship with godly peers, a relationship with godly mentors, and a relationship with a local church.

Throughout his ministry he has also developed mentoring groups for student pastors, connecting seasoned pastors with newer student pastors.

He has been involved with Super Summer for the past seventeen years, serving in multiple areas for the student leadership event held at Cedarville University during the last week of June. “Super Summer is not a summer camp,” said Hurt. “It is a leadership training program. Kids must qualify to attend.” As director, he is excited to work with the Super Summer team building on the momentum and excitement from last year’s record attendance.

One of Hurt’s goals for Super Summer is to see more SCBO churches involve students in leadership training. He says that only thirty-four churches out of over 700 SCBO churches throughout the state are currently bringing students to Super Summer, so he sees room for growth in the program.

Super Summer 2023 is June 26-30 and will feature speaker Kirk Kirkland of Revive City Church in Cincinnati as part of the powerful, week-long experience for students. Registration begins in February.

In addition to Super Summer, Hurt will be a featured speaker at the upcoming “Next Gen Leadership Conference: Helping the Next Generation Know Jesus Now” on Thursday, February 23 in Franklin, Ohio.

“I believe in the power of events to bring life-changing moments. The Next Gen Conference is going to be a good first step,” said Hurt. “It is a strategic connection to the Cincinnati area.” The one-day intensive designed to equip leaders who have a passion for reaching the next generation will also feature speakers Reagan Wagoner, pastor, Grace Point, and Stephanie Noel, kids’ director, First Baptist Kettering.

For more information about the conference and to register for the event, visit https://swohioleaders.com/next-gen-training.

For more information about Super Summer, contact Keith Hurt at khurt@scbo.org.