This past week, Dallas taught some teenagers how to make videos. Today he’s sharing 3 things he learned from this experience and why he did it!
Check out the videos the students made! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JokhVQEI4FY&list=PL2oa5Sbcw43SCKD5HxDJMgBJdETgO58Ad
Blog
This past week, I spent three full days with a group of preteens and teenagers at my church for something we called “Film School.” It began as a way to teach students how to create videos, but it quickly evolved into much more. Today, I want to highlight three important things that stood out to me during this event, as well as the reasons behind it.
1. Teenagers Want to Create, They Just Need the Space
From the very first day, it was obvious: these students wanted to make things. They’re full of ideas and energy, but often, they don’t have the tools or someone to simply say, “Hey, let’s make something together.”
We didn’t give them long lectures or strict rules. We handed them a camera, gave them a challenge, and watched what happened. The stories they told were funny, sincere, and sometimes unexpectedly deep.
I was reminded of the time someone gave me that kind of chance as a teenager. That moment lit a creative spark in me that’s still burning today. Will every student from this week go into filmmaking? Maybe not. However, giving them the space to create gave them a chance to explore who they are and what they’re capable of.
2. Creativity Needs Mentors, Not Managers
Most of these students had ideas, but they weren’t sure how to turn those ideas into something tangible. That’s where the teaching came in, but it wasn’t about control. It was about collaboration.
Instead of telling them what to do, I tried to walk alongside them. If they were stuck, I’d ask questions or suggest a new way to look at the scene. But they stayed in charge. It was their project, their vision.
What I saw is that students thrive when someone believes in them enough to guide them without taking over.
3. Creating Together Builds Real Connection
Perhaps the best part of the whole week was watching students come together as a team.
In a world where so many teens create content alone, filming various social media posts in their bedrooms or quietly in a corner at school, it was powerful to see them working together. They had to rely on each other, listen to one another, and work together to solve problems as a group.
Some students formed new friendships. Others stepped out of their shell for the first time. And more than one told me how working together like this was something more enjoyable than they expected.
It wasn’t just a film project. It was community.
Why This Matters
When I think back on the week, Psalm 145:4 keeps coming to mind: “One generation will declare Your works to the next and will proclaim Your mighty acts.”
That’s what this was about. Not just filmmaking. Not just a church event. But passing something meaningful down to the next generation, faith, creativity, confidence, and purpose.
I don’t want these students to copy what I’ve done. I want them to discover who God made them to be. If this week gave them even a glimpse of that, then it was more than worth it.
So whatever’s in your hands, whether it’s video skills, music, writing, or just time, find someone younger and pass it on. That’s how legacy starts.