I started my freshman year of high school without really knowing what to expect. I had friends who were older than me and had told me what it was like, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. There were pressures in high school that were nonexistent in middle school. The expectation was to look pretty all the time, to have a boyfriend who was a football player. I was expected to make friends, make great grades, and have my life together -- all while I was just 15 years old.
During high school, my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, my dad had problems with his heart, both of my brothers received extremely severe concussions, I had to give up running, I felt heartbreak for the first time, I lost some of my closest friends, and I failed a couple of tests (probably more than a couple). For the first time, I needed Jesus.
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I had grown up going to church. Through my involvement in the church, I had the opportunity to go on mission trips and choir trips, volunteer at soup kitchens, and work in my community. I did all these things that made me be a Christian. I believed in Jesus. I loved Jesus. But until then, I hadn't really needed Jesus.
That's where YoungLife came in.
If you're not familiar with the organization, YoungLife is a non-denominational Christian ministry that reaches out to adolescents through volunteers, staff, club meetings, and camps by building meaningful relationships with each other and Christ.
I started going to YoungLife Club because one of my good friends invited me. She told me that her older brother had always gone, that he said we would have so much fun. So I took her on her word and I went to club.
We sang songs, we played games, and we watched our leaders do silly skits. And we learned about Jesus.
I then joined a small group and my leaders began pouring into me. They both gave me some amazing advice and they led me closer to Jesus. They would come to our lunches at school and spend their free time talking to us about our days and plans for the weekends, and genuinely cared. When I needed a shoulder to cry on, or if I needed someone to talk to, they were there in no time. They supported me, loved me, and showed me what a true friend is. No matter what.
Every single one of my leaders taught me that I am worthy, loved, special, important and beautiful. They taught me how to love Jesus. They taught me that I did need Jesus. They changed my life.
Maybe one day, I'll get to change a girl's heart like they changed mine.
