Patrick and wife, Kendra, are pictured with sons, Marshall, age 3, and Troy, age 8 months. (Submitted photo)

LEWISTOWN – In an era when many young adults juggle competing identities, Patrick Young has managed to blend his into a single, steady calling.

As a youth pastor and emerging Christian singer with music available on Spotify, Young has become a familiar presence both in the sanctuary at Calvary Bible Church in Lewistown and through the speakers of local listeners. His work reflects a growing movement of faith leaders who reach their communities not only through sermons and service, but also through the universal language of music.

“Most people really can relate to music,” the 31-year-old Lewistown man said. “It has a way of catching your attention, leaving them with a few short words. One day, you hope the Holy Spirit will put that into their minds.”

Young’s path began in small, informal settings — acoustic guitar in hand, surrounded by teenagers seeking guidance, connection and a sense of belonging.

Over time, those moments evolved into something larger. His students encouraged him to share his music more widely, and he soon found himself writing songs that carried the same messages he delivered each week: hope, perseverance and the belief that every person has a place in the world. What started as a ministry tool gradually became a second vocation.

“First and foremost, I would consider myself a worship pastor,” Young said.

“There’s a fine line, there,” Young added. “I love the hymns as they are what I grew up on and was raised on. Contemporary Christian music has more of an upbeat flair, but I try to take focus away from me and put it back on God. I really try to keep the message the same.”

Whether Young is singing in church or posting it on a platform, he tries to remain consistent in his lyrics, or message. Sometimes, the words get overshadowed by the performance.

“You can’t focus on words when the show has all sorts of lights and smoke,” Young cautioned.

Listeners who discover Young on Spotify often remark on the clarity of his sound and the sincerity woven through his lyrics. His style leans toward contemporary Christian pop, with clean production and melodies that build gradually, mirroring the emotional arcs of the stories he tells.

Each track feels crafted with intention, shaped by the same pastoral care he brings to his work with teens. His songs are not designed for spectacle; they are built to uplift, steady and reassure.

Within his church community, Young’s dual role has become an asset. His music provides an entry point for young people who might feel hesitant about traditional worship settings. Many first encounter him through a playlist before ever stepping into a youth group meeting.

That familiarity helps break down barriers, allowing him to connect with students who might otherwise remain on the margins. His presence online extends the reach of his ministry far beyond the walls of the church, offering encouragement to listeners who may never meet him in person.

Young approaches his responsibilities with a grounded sense of purpose. He prepares weekly lessons, organizes service projects and mentors students navigating the complexities of adolescence. Music fits naturally into that work. He often writes while prepping for his sermons, drawing inspiration from conversations with teens, personal reflections and the challenges facing his community.

“For me, when I find the time to sit and write a song, the songs I’ve written have come too easy,” Young said. “I might be sitting there and prepping for a sermon, in those moments it might hit me with words in my head, I’ll start to jot them down – a chorus or a verse or something. Or I might get a tune I stuck in my head, and I’ll try to fit with the words.”

The result is a catalog of songs that feel lived-in, shaped by real experiences rather than abstract ideas.

As his audience grows, Young remains committed to keeping his priorities aligned. He views his musical platform not as a separate career, but as an extension of his pastoral mission. The visibility that comes with streaming success has opened new opportunities –invites to perform at regional events, collaborations with other Christian artists and a steadily expanding listener base.

Yet he continues to emphasize the importance of local relationships, investing time in the students who first encouraged him to share his voice.

“The sharing part is scary for me,” Young said. “My church family has given me a lot of confidence when I was starting to write.”

He’ll have his music playing in the youth room when his students come in. To Young, it’s background music. To his students, it can become a source of amusement.

“They’ll be like, ‘Who’s that singing? And give me a hard time,” he quipped. “We have some awesome students that come out for youth group.”

And they absolutely love Young. In six years, Calvary’s youth group numbers have burst from eight students to 65 to 70. “That’s coming out on a Wednesday night,” Young added. This year, Calvary has plans to start a student-led worship team.

Community members describe him as steady, approachable and deeply invested in the well-being of the young people he serves. His music reinforces that impression, offering a soundtrack to the everyday struggles and triumphs of adolescence.

Whether he is leading a small-group discussion or recording a new track, Young brings the same sense of authenticity to his work.

As he looks ahead, Young hopes to continue balancing both sides of his calling. He plans to release additional music in the coming year while strengthening the programs he leads at church.

For him, the two paths are not in competition. They are intertwined, each enriching the other and allowing him to reach people in ways he never expected when he first picked up a guitar.

Young grew up in a Baptist church in New Hampshire with a family where he was one of four children, and oddly enough one of three triplets.

In a bustling household, music struck a chord with him at an early age. “I took piano lessons in second grade and I stuck with it until 10th grade when I quit because my teacher only wanted me to play classical music,” Young recalled. “After I quit, I played the piano more than I ever did before.”

In high school, Young got his first taste of the ministry. “I led worship service and performed solos in church,” he recalled.

After graduating from high school, he attended the Crown College in Powell, Tenn., in 2013, determined to earn a pastoral degree.

“It was very musical there,” Young said. “They had a conservatory there.” Being within three hours of Nashville – “Music City” – also brought its share of surprises as country artist Morgan Wallen was in a few of Young’s classes.

Young decided to transfer closer to home as enrolled at New England Baptist College in Southington, Conn.

“I still had a love of music and playing, but it had been quite a few years,” he recalled. “I never touched the piano.”

It was also in college where he taught himself how to play the acoustic guitar. “I’m also comfortable with playing the keyboard,” he shared. I only occasionally play the acoustic guitar; I’d give myself a B-. It’s fun to play, but it’s a different animal.”

Young graduated in 2016 and eventually found his way to Mifflin County, being hired as the youth pastor at Calvary Bible in 2020.

“At church, I didn’t know I could see and play music,” Young said. “I took over the youth group. Shortly after that, we lost both of our worship leaders, and they came to me and asked, ‘Have you ever played with the worship team before?’ I told them I was more than happy to give it a try.”

His wife, Kendra, plays violin on the worship team. “My love for music kind of returned when I started to sing again,” he added. Young also draws inspiration from his family, especially his late grandfather “Pepe” who passed away in November 2024.

“He was a big supporter of what I’m doing,” Young said. “There is a song I’m working on. It’s almost done.”

Young would also like to sing with Ruble.

In 2022, he wrote four or five songs in a short stretch which he posted on several music platforms. The first was called “Good to Me,” which Young said talks about how there are ups and downs in life as well as uncertainties and unknowns. “Life can be dark and times, but God is always there to bring you to the light,” Young said.

There was also “Celebrate Our King,” which was his first post to Spotify. It offered the shepherd’s perspective on the night Jesus was born.

Young has helped his music along by networking with some of Mifflin County’s finest, including well-known artist Chris Ruble and producer Jordan Krepps.

“I use them as kind of a sounding board to bounce ideas off of,” Young said. “It’s also fun to get to know local talent.”

He is thankful each and every day of his life, one that includes Kendra, and their two boys: Marshall, age three, and Troy, eight months.

Young’s story reflects a broader shift in how faith leaders engage with their communities. Through music, mentorship and a commitment to service, he has carved out a space where creativity and calling meet.

His voice — both spoken and sung — continues to resonate with those who seek guidance, encouragement and a reminder that hope can be found in unexpected places.