David Flatt was working as a student minister in the early 1990s when his senior pastor brought him a World Changers brochure, which he promptly discarded.

“The brochure had a picture of youth up on a roof. It looked hot. It looked like hard work. So, I tossed it aside,” said Flatt, associate pastor for adult education at First Baptist Church in Panama City. The following year, the pastor came back to Flatt and insisted he take his students. That year he took nine teenagers.

Despite his initial hesitancy, Flatt said, “Every one of those students was impacted by that trip.” Having tried other retreats and conferences, “I saw more consistent life change from World Changers than any other thing we did. I fell in love with it and took the kids every year.”

Now, nearly 30 years later, Flatt has taken on the role of manager of World Changers, which has officially moved its headquarters to Panama City from Nashville. Formerly a ministry of LifeWay Christian Resources, World Changers is now an independently owned non-profit organization.

Flatt, who will continue in his role at First Baptist, hopes he will be able to help stabilize and grow the organization.

Since 1990, more than 400,000 teenagers have participated in the weeklong World Changers experience. Students have been challenged with tough physical work as well as encouraged to focus on Christ and share the hope of Christ with the world.

During the week, students serve on crews with students and adults from other churches — completing assignments ranging from painting homes to roofing to building handicap ramps — all to improve the quality of life for local residents.

This summer’s World Changers mission sites are scattered all over the Southeast, with a few reaching as far as New Jersey and New Mexico. Church groups are welcome to bring middle and high school students or college groups. A family mission project is scheduled in July at the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

The pandemic might put a damper on many summer retreats, but Flatt said the organization is adapting to meet safety guidelines. “The CDC came up with a protocol for camps.

We made it fit with what World Changers does,” he said. “We are going to do everything we can to keep students safe.”

For Flatt, it’s important to continue with World Changers even during the pandemic. He has seen changed lives and knows its true value.

“I’ve taken multiple students who are now student ministers, pastors and missionaries. I think World Changers had a huge impact on each one of them,” he said.

Churches interested in participating in World Changers this summer can visit www.world-changers.net.

— Ashley Russell is communications director at Hiland Park Baptist Church in Panama City, Fla.