Rev. Henry H. Batson, III
Youth and Collegiate Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church

Rev. Henry H. Batson III serves as the youth and collegiate pastor of the Friendship-West Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. His vision, energy, commitment and passion to reach the un-churched and untouched youths of today, closely parallels that of his senior pastor, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III.

As the youth/collegiate pastor of a mega-church, the responsibility and commitment level is tremendous. Rev. Batson’s personal commitment to Christ first, and then his youth, along with thirteen years of ministry experience, has provided him the ability to effectively manage the challenges he faces daily as the overseer of this ministry. His ministry goal is excellence because his God is excellent. His ministry is multi-faceted, and provides hands-on, life-changing service coupled with uncompromising, anointed teaching and preaching. He is responsible for the holistic development and discipleship of youth, equipping and shepherding ministry staff, and empowering parents to fulfill their biblical roles and responsibilities.

In his current position, he has been responsible for a significant increase in youth church attendance and youth participation in Wednesday night bible study. Additionally, in his first two years as youth pastor, attendance at all ministry-development activities, doubled. Now in his ninth year at Friendship-West, he continues to see steady increases in attendance, participation and spiritual growth in both the youth and collegiate ministries. Under his leadership, this youth ministry became committed to reaching lost souls for Christ. As he has implemented regular opportunities to share Christ with others, over 2000 souls received the good news of the saving power of Jesus Christ. He established a ministry newsletter and brochure; formed a mime/dance and drama team; restructured and developed the youth music ministry; and his most notable achievement to date, was the creation and development of C.A.M.P.U.S LIFE, the church’s collegiate ministry, for young adults aged 18-24.

Rev. Batson was born in San Antonio, Texas and raised in Houston, Texas. He holds a B.A. degree in Business Administration from Howard Payne University and is recently a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Ft. Worth, Texas with a Masters of Divinity Degree. He is actively involved in local community programs, lectures, teaches and preaches at high schools, colleges, youth retreats, conferences, and worship services throughout the United States. As God continues to expand his borders, Rev. Batson’s ministry took him to Hong Kong, China for the World Baptist Youth Conference in 2004 where he taught youth leaders from all over the world.