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Vernon King, Jr.
Vernon has served kids, teens, young adults and their families for the past 15 years as the Founder and Director of The Motivating Youth Company, Pastor of Youth & NexGen Ministries, and as a Child and Adolescent Family Counselor.
Vernon obtained his bachelor's from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Ks. Then pursed his Masters in Child and Adolescent Psychology and currently a doctorate of Educational Psychology and Technology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Dallas, Tx.
Recently Vernon wrote a book titled, The Intimacy and Sex Conversation, partnering with the international television ministry TBN, to equip and encourage parents towards having these vital conversations with their children from a biblical worldview.
Vernon is a Texas native from the U.S. and currently lives in Plano, TX with his viral sensation and talented daughter, Harlyn King!
HOMETOWN & BACKGROUND
Vernon was born and raised in Dallas, Tx. Graduating from Duncanville High school in 2009. Vernon attended, Sudie L Williams elementary, then transferred to Alexander elementary in 3rd grade in Duncanville school district. In 2009 Vernon graduated from Duncanville High School academically ranked in the top 20% of his class. During his Junior year, Vernon ran for Senior Class President and made a huge impact in the role. Vernon led the morning announcements, planned school dances, lunch celebrations, senior activities, and unified the student body in a special way that many still remember today! Currently, Vernon lives in Dallas, TX with his daughter Harlyn (a viral sensation that you can following on Instagram (@harlynpooh)) near his HUGE family of parents, aunts, cousins, uncles, and friends!
FATHERHOOD
Vernon is the proud father to Harlyn King (@Harlynpooh on Instagram). Today, Harlyn is a viral sensation and has thousands lots of followers on her social accounts. For fun, Vernon and Harlyn loves going to the movies, dancing, singing, and talking about Jesus (If you know, you know :) Vernon believes that one of the greatest gifts of life is to love and care for someone that God specifically designed for you! Many people would say that Vernon has many children throughout his time as a NexGen Pastor, but there is one that has him wrapped around his finger FOREVER! See more about Vernon and Harlyn by visiting their Instagram social media pages. (Vernon's Instagram is @vernonkingjr, Harlyn's Instagram page is @Harlynpooh).
(CLICK VIDEO TO WATCH VERNON AND HARLYN ON THE NEWS)
UNDERGRAD EDUCATION
Following high school graduation, Vernon decided to study for his undergrad at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Ks. Before graduating in 2013 with his bachelors in communications, public relations, Vernon started a successful business called Motivating Youth - www.motivatingyouth.net
One day following the morning announcements that Vernon lead at Duncanville high School a lady by the name of Lindsey Minor approached Vernon and asked if he knew where he could be attending college, after respinsding that he was not too sure, Lindsey gave Vernon an award winning presentation and which ultimatly lead to Vernon attending the university. For the 1st three years Vernon served as a admission tour guide and intern for the Natural History Sternberg Museum.
The Motivating Youth Company
The Motivating Youth Company began with the vision of Vernon King to start an organization that parents and school districts would trust to impact their children/students to become top leaders in their communities. Originally MYC offered to book top tier motivational speakers for school assemblies and conference. Now, MYC hires college interns, offers tutoring for secondary education students, provides therapy and counseling sessions for adolescent teens. MYC is also is one of the top organizations that offers a hands on approach in helping seniors in high school prepare for their higher education journey!
LICENSED MINISTER / PASTOR
Vernon has been preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ over the past 15 years. Starting off as a youth pastor at his uncles church, Vernon taught the youth on a weekly basis. Then when moving off to college, during his freshman and sophomore year, Vernon continued to make a kingdom impact on the Next Generation serving in the kids and youth departments at Westview Church of Hays. During Vernon’s Junior and Senior year Vernon served as an intern for the college ministry (encounter) at Celebration community church in Hays, KS. Following a trip from Dallas speaking at a youth conference (KAGE) at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship church (OCBF), Vernon was invited by Dr. Tony Evans of (OCBF) to become the next Youth Pastor/Director and after much prayer, Vernon accepted the position overseeing the youth department, college ministry, volunteers and staff. Vernon served at OCBF from 2015 - 2021. In 2021 Vernon then accepted a NexGen Pastor role at Sojourn Church in Carrolton, TX overseeing both the youth and young adults departments, their perspective volunteers and staff.
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M.A Psychology & Certified Child and Adolescent Psychology
During Vernon's undergrad at Fort Hays State university, Vernon learned how to reach and engage people groups through conversations, mass media and other methods to draw them towards a particular event or product, based on the their needs and interests. Vernon then met a Pastor in the community that understood the impact people with his educational background, personality, interests and faith could have on individuals who not only had a physical or spiritual need but a mental need as well.
Later on, Vernon served as a kids, youth and young adults pastor and that’s where he was introduced to the vast audience of those in equal need of spiritual, physical and mental health. Vernon often times referred families to LPC’s or professional psychotherapists in the community.
In 2015 Vernon met with a family that asked for biblical counseling and guidance on how to
forgive someone so that they wouldn't be so angry at the person all the time. Of course scripture
helps us understand that forgiveness and mediation through prayer is a positive and practical
spiritual method for that. But Vernon could tell that their issues were a little more deeply rooted than just a spiritual issue. Vernon could tell that this individual had gone through something traumatic which birthed some deeply rooted mental issues as well. Vernon could tell they hadn’t properly grieved or processed the loss thoroughly which led to illegitimate blame.
Vernon, began seeking more knowledge regarding the brain and how the body and brain functions following traumatic events and that is when he learned about The Chicago school of professional counseling. Vernon loves working with diverse families and individuals through ministry and aiding them beyond their spiritual needs, but also encouraging them to be in tune with their mental health as well.
"I believe that our human race has many differences including, cultural backgrounds,
philosophies and religious beliefs, and of course different life experiences. I also believe that
there are three things that we all as a human race hold in common as well. We all all have a mind, a body and a soul that needs consistent attention and maintenance to tackle the trauma and spiritual attacks we will face throughout life."
- Vernon King, 2016
(Child and Adolescent - Cognitive Development Seminar)
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Published Author
Over the past 15+ years of pastoring and counseling kids, teens, young adults, and their families Vernon and his team have created a guide for parents on the topics of intimacy and sex. After organizing multiple sexual behavior programs, purity events, surveys, and focus groups within the millennial, gen-z, and gen-alpha communities, Vernon and his team combined insightful data and strategies to help parents share these topics thoroughly and effectively with their children.
Vernon’s heart and passion for this book originate from over 20+ years of working within the Millennial, Generation-Z and now Generation-A groups. Vernon believes that the time is now for parents to begin talking to their children about intimacy and sex earlier and more strategically than ever before. A quote from Vernon that you will read a few times in this book says,
“If you haven’t begun discussing intimacy and sex with your children, keep in mind that the world already has.” - Vernon King (The intimacy and Sex Conversation, Pg. 18.)
Coca-Cola scholar Alumni (2009 inductee year)
In 2009, Vernon had an amazing high school counselor named Diane Gawedzinski who helped Vernon become 1 of only 12 students that were selected in Texas as a Coke Scholar. Over 50,000+ students across the country apply to be a Coke scholar each year and Vernon was 1 of 250 finalist that were selected from across the country. Vernon received $10,000 over the course of 4 years to support his higher education journey at Fort Hays State University. All scholars that were selected for this program were flown out to Atlanta for a weekend of fun activities, cool opportunities and new connections. Vernon made many friends that he still communicates with today and currently does interviews for future coke scholars every year.