At AXIS Youth Center, afternoons are often filled with life. Youth gather all around the center playing games, sharing snacks, and talking to friends and leaders. But beyond the activities, AXIS is a place to encounter God.
On one of these ordinary afternoons, we spent time at AXIS and spoke with several young people, asking them what this place means to them. Here are some of their responses.
Alice, 14
A year and a half ago, I came to AXIS out of curiosity, and I quickly met a lot of people here. And I have been coming ever since.
The YFC summer camps kept me coming. I didn’t come for the games (as fun as they can be). I came for the worship. When I listen to worship songs, I feel so good inside. I didn’t care about spiritual things before, but at AXIS, I understood how important they are. Now I am talking to God more, and this year, He is helping me become calmer. I used to get angry quickly and say bad words, but now something stops me. If I say a bad word by mistake, I go to God and confess.
I also used to be afraid of the dark, but after memorizing a Bible verse that says “Do not be afraid, for I am with you,” I am no longer afraid. If there was no AXIS, I wouldn’t have friends like this. My favorite memories are conversations with leaders and playing foosball with them.
Jana, 13
I have been coming to AXIS regularly for a year. My brother first introduced me to AXIS, and then my friends started coming, too. I am part of the sports club, Bible club, and cooking club.
If AXIS wasn’t here, I would probably stay at home. I wouldn’t be part of the Bible club. My favorite memory was my birthday at AXIS. My parents told me they couldn’t afford to have a birthday party, but after the sports club, my friends came dressed up with a gift, and then my parents and the AXIS team surprised me with a celebration. It meant a lot to me.
Carl, 15
I have been coming to AXIS for almost four years. I first got to know the center through my sister, and later, I met a group of friends at YFC camp, and AXIS became our meeting place. Now, I come here almost daily.
If there was no AXIS, my life would be so boring. Before AXIS, I was far from God and didn’t care about Him. But here, they kept reminding us about what Jesus did for us on the cross. I had heard it before, but at AXIS it hit different.
Here, I learned how to draw closer to God. I used to be Christian by name, but now I actually pray and take my faith seriously. The Lord has been changing my personality. I used to be aggressive, but now I don’t react too quickly.
Emile, 16 & Jad, 14
Emile and Jad started coming to AXIS two years ago after a friend invited them, and they quickly connected with the space and the people. Over time, AXIS became a regular part of their routine.
Jad shared: “I feel my day is empty if I don’t come to AXIS,” he said. “We made a lot of friends here.”
Both Emile and Jad spoke about how AXIS is a place for spiritual growth. “AXIS is fun, and we can also talk about God in the core group,” Jude explained.
Emile also spoke about the role of discipleship groups in their journey. “We have also been going to the discipleship groups,” he said. “And it feels comforting when we pray to one another.”
After hearing these young voices, a simple reality stands out: many teenagers rarely find a space like this. Here, they are known by name and are given room to ask questions and find answers. May the Lord continue His work in these young people, and may the light of the Gospel shine in their hearts.