Texas Youth Summit

SAVE THE DATE 🇺🇸
Texas Youth Summit is back.

🗓 October 9–10, 2026
📍 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott

Last year, 3,500+ students showed up — and we’re going even bigger.

✅ Students attend FREE
🎟 Adults can purchase tickets

Early registration is now OPEN.

👇
texasyouthsummit.com/events

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
by TXYS Chaplain Chet Collins

On Sunday, April 5, 2026, we, along with Christians all over the world, will celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ—the greatest event in human history.

The Bible tells us that by one man, Adam, sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned (Romans 5:12). Because of that sin, we owed a debt that we could not pay. Yet Jesus was willing to pay a debt He did not owe.
That sin which entered the world through Adam and Eve brought not only physical death—where the body grows old, becomes sick, and dies—but also spiritual death, separating man from God not only in this life, but for all eternity (Isaiah 59: 1,2).

The Bible says that God looked for someone to stand in the gap, but there was no man—no perfect sacrifice, no one without sin who could pay the debt we owed
Because God’s justice and holiness could not allow sin to enter that beautiful place called heaven, the Bible says His own arm brought salvation (Isaiah 59:16).

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, and we are now justified by His blood (Romans 5:8–9). As it is written, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

We must realize that there is nothing we can do to deserve or earn heaven. We cannot become good enough. Only Jesus can save us.

As the Bible says, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). There is nothing we can do to earn or deserve salvation—Jesus Christ paid the price.

That is why the resurrection is so beautiful, it authenticates what the cross did for us.
In I Corinthians 15: 16-21, Paul said if Christ was not raised, then we are all dead in our sins and perished and life would be miserable without the truth of eternal life with Christ. But then he goes on to say Christ did rise from the dead and made resurrection available to us.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples that the Son of Man would be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes; that He would be killed; and that after three days He would rise again. Though they did not fully understand His words at the time, they would later come to see them fulfilled in power and truth (Matthew 16:21).

After Jesus died on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man and a disciple, boldly requested Jesus' body from Pilate. Receiving permission, he took the body of Jesus, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb—a tomb hewn from rock. A large stone was rolled across the entrance, sealing it in place. Stones of this kind were heavy, making them extremely difficult to move (Matthew 27:57–62).

Concerned by Jesus’ earlier statements about rising after three days, the chief priests and Pharisees approached Pilate and requested that he secure the tomb. Pilate granted their request, and the tomb was made secure with Roman authority. A seal was placed upon the stone, marking it as officially guarded, and soldiers were stationed there to watch over it. Breaking the seal or failing in their duty would result in harsh consequences and possible ex*****on. Humanly speaking, the tomb was secured as tightly as possible—guarded, sealed, and protected against any attempt to tamper with it or steal the body (Matthew 27:62–66).

But on the third day, something supernatural took place. The stone was not rolled away by men, but by the power of God. When Mary Magdalene and the other women came to the tomb with spices, hoping to find someone to move the stone, they discovered it already rolled away. Angels appeared and declared that Jesus was not there, for He had risen just as He had said (Matthew 28:1–6).
The women were filled with both fear and great joy as they hurriedly ran to tell the disciples (Matthew 28:6–10). Although their testimony was initially met with disbelief, the risen Christ would appear on and off for 40 days until His ascension
(Acts 1:3,9). He appeared to Peter, affirming him; then to James; and to the other apostles, correcting their unbelief (Mark 16:9–15).

In these appearances, Jesus revealed Himself in a fully physical body, yet a body not bound by the limitations of ordinary human existence. He could appear and disappear, even in closed places, yet He could also be seen, touched, and recognized (Luke 24:30–40).

About 20–25 years after the resurrection, the Apostle Paul wrote that when Jesus rose from the grave, He appeared over many days and to more than five hundred brethren at once, many of whom were still alive at the time these words were written, serving as living witnesses to His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1–6).

Paul himself testified that he had seen the risen Christ, and his testimony, along with that of so many others, affirms that this event was not hidden but publicly attested by many eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:8).

Matthew also wrote a phenomenal event that after Jesus' resurrection, even the graves of many of the saints who had died were opened, and they arose and were seen alive in the city, further confirming the extraordinary nature of what had taken place (Matthew 27:52–53). Another proof that we can know Jesus will resurrect all believers to eternal life.

The resurrection of Jesus stands as the divine validation of His death on the cross. It declares that His sacrifice for sin was accepted and that death itself has been conquered. Because He lives, we have assurance that those who trust in Him will also live.

As Scripture teaches, “if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you (Romans 8:11).

The Crucifixion by Chet Collins

Matthew 27: 22-66
Friday morning around 9 AM, while thousands filled Jerusalem preparing for the Sabbath and festivities, the lamb of God was being crucified for the sins of the world on the outside of the city, on a lonely hill called Golgotha.
Some of his disciples were hiding for fear, women that had followed Jesus stood afar off, and Roman soldiers mocked him and gambled for his robe at his feet.

For the next several hours, Jesus endured the agonizing suffering of the cross, a death that ultimately leads to asphyxiation.

Prior to the crucifixion, He had already been brutally beaten—receiving the lashes of a scourging whip that tore His flesh open. His beard had been plucked, and a crown of thorns had been pressed into His head. As He was mocked and humiliated, Isaiah had prophesied that His appearance would be so marred that He would be unrecognizable ( Isa 52:14).

For many hours Jesus suffered; Suddenly an eerie darkness covered all the the land for three hours. An earthquake shook the ground and split rocks in two. In the midst of that darkness and suffering, Jesus cried out in Aramaic, words recorded in Matthew: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” In that moment, He bore not only physical agony, but also the weight of humanity’s sin.
As the sinless Son of God, He experienced the depth of human suffering and the separation that sin brings.
Then, after declaring, “It is finished,” Jesus cried out again and gave up his spirit and died.

At that very moment, the veil in the temple—the thick curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple—was torn from top to bottom. This signified that through His death, Jesus became the once-for-all sacrifice, opening the way for all people to have access to God through Him (Heb. 10:19, 20).
Those who witnessed these events were deeply shaken. The Roman centurion, who was overseeing the crucifixion along with the soldiers under his command, observed the darkness, the earthquake, and all that had taken place. In response, they feared greatly and said, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).

And then, in a remarkable and often overlooked detail, Matthew records that after Jesus’ resurrection, the tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints—likely Old Testament believers—arose and went into the holy city of Jerusalem appearing to many (Matt 27:52, 53).

All of these events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection point to the central truth: the resurrection confirms the validity of everything Jesus accomplished on the cross. His death was not the end, but the fulfillment of His mission—to bear our sins, to provide righteousness, and to open the way for eternal life with God.

We are excited to launch the second year of the Texas Youth Summit Internship Program for 2026!

This program offers young leaders a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in our state and nation while gaining real-world experience, strengthening their résumé, and building lasting professional connections.

If you are interested in joining our 2026 internship team, please visit texasyouthsummit.com/careers-and-internships to apply.

For questions or additional information, contact us at [email protected].

Devotional from Texas Youth Summit Chaplain Chet Collins:

Passing the Baton: Why Generations Need Each Other

In Psalm 71:18, David, the great Warrior King who defeated Goliath and established the most powerful kingdom of that day, makes a powerful prayer near the end of his life:
“Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.”

David understood that his life was not complete until what God had done in him was passed through him to the next generation. He didn’t want to simply finish well—he wanted to leave a spiritual deposit in those coming after him.
This is not just David’s personal desire; it is a biblical principle.

The Value of the Older Generation
The older generation offers more than theory—they offer experience. Experience includes lessons learned through hardship, faith tested in real-life storms, and wisdom forged over time. Scripture affirms this repeatedly, even instructing that older women should teach younger women (Titus 2), and Paul training Timothy. God designed maturity to pour into youth.
David’s goal was not to be admired for his past, but to impart strength to the future.

A Message for Millennials and Gen Z
Today’s younger generations are growing up in a world filled with uncertainty, fear about the future, and constant instability. Jesus told us the world would be troubled—but He also promised to be our peace.
That is why it is so important to seek mentors, learn from spiritually grounded people, and allow those with experience to speak into your life. There is great wisdom in learning from people who have already walked through seasons you are just beginning.

At our son Christian’s wedding (CEO and founder of TXYS), a young man he grew up with shared something meaningful. He said, "though my lifestyle was different than Christian's, he has always been a stability in my life.”
That statement reveals a powerful truth: godly influence brings stability, even in uncertain environments.
Jesus Christ is our anchor in a turbulent world.

Building a Personal Relationship with Jesus
I want to encourage you to take time each day—even five minutes—to open your Bible, read and pray quietly in your heart. Choose a translation you can understand, such as the NIV, and begin reading. The book of John is a good place to start if you've never read the bible. A personal relationship with Jesus is developed through time, sincerity, and consistency.
Church is good, worship is powerful, and community with others matters—but building a personal relationship with Jesus comes first.

Grounded in Biblical Values
Through Texas Youth Summit, we’ve seen that true leadership and influence are strongest when grounded in Judeo-Christian principles. Many who have excelled politically and professionally are also deeply spiritual. Our foundation matters.

A Final Encouragement
Like David, may we not finish our lives without first showing God’s strength to this generation and His power to the next. And to the younger generation: seek wisdom, value experience, build your relationship with Jesus, and surround yourself with people who strengthen your faith.
God works through generations.

A sobering and hopeful reminder as we enter 2026 from Chaplain Chet Collins of Texas Youth Summit:

The Charlie Kirk Effect

Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

As we enter 2026, let us remember what followed Charlie Kirk’s assassination on September 10, 2025. In the aftermath, a wave of spiritual revival swept across the United States and into other parts of the world.

At Charlie’s memorial, more than 100K people gathered. The gospel was preached by J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, and others, all giving glory to God for Charlie’s life. In a moment that moved the nation, Erica Kirk, with tears in her eyes, publicly forgave her husband’s killer.

That fall, church attendance increased by 15 percent. Bible sales rose by more than 1 million copies. Stadiums filled with Gen Z and Millennials seeking God, many for the very first time. The Texas Youth Summit saw an overflow crowd of 3,500 packing the event, with young adults and even politicians lifting their hands and worshiping God like never before.

So remember, no matter what you have gone through or what you are going through right now, God has a way of bringing you out on top if you turn to Jesus in faith. Stay strong. Stay in the fight. God has good plans for you.

Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Good news!

Texas Youth Summit is honored that at our last conference, 80 new Turning Point USA chapters were launched.

This is more than just a number.

It’s a testament to a growing movement of young leaders dedicated to carrying Charlie Kirk’s mission forward.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/religion/article/texas-faith-fest-kirk-21065194.php

We were honored to have you with us. Thank you for your support, Patriot Mobile!

Patriot Mobile Sponsors Texas Youth Summit 2025 - Patriot Mobile | Mobilizing Freedom The Texas Youth Summit inspires and equips the next generation of conservative leaders in the Lone Star State.

Thank you, Patriot Mobile!

Wesley Hunt is 🔥🔥

It was an honor to address the Texas Youth Summit and celebrate the memory of Charlie Kirk. This is our moment to rise, to defend our values, to lead with courage, and to carry forward the torch of freedom. The First Amendment is our sacred duty. We MUST protect it, and we WILL exercise it! My FULL remarks 🎥