Sandy is thirteen years old, a Grade 8 student with a passion for singing. But beyond her love for music, Sandy’s life has been deeply shaped by her faith which has grown stronger over the years.
A Personal Encounter with God
Growing up in a Christian home surrounded by a faith-filled community, Sandy attended Sunday school and Christian events from a young age. God was always present in her life, but at nine years old, something changed. That year marked a turning point when faith became personal.
“I told God to enter my heart, and suddenly, I started crying. I didn’t know why I was crying, but I was happy. I felt peace, a deep peace as if I could finally breathe. It was the closest I had ever felt to God.”
From that moment, Sandy’s faith took root. Two years ago, she began reading the Bible consistently and discovered how God speaks through His Word. She recalls a powerful moment when she was struggling with anger toward someone. That day, she read a passage about forgiveness. Later, at her church’s teen meeting, the topic was—once again—about forgiveness. “I knew then that God was truly speaking to me,” she says.
Growing in Faith at YFC
Sandy first heard about YFC through school and friends, drawn in by stories of their incredible camps. “My first camp was amazing! I felt like I had found my people. I could truly express myself there. The activities challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, and the messages kept me engaged.”
One particular moment at camp stands out to her. During a worship session, the leaders invited the teens to step forward for prayer. At first, no one moved. Sandy felt hesitant, but something nudged her forward. “When the leader prayed for me, I felt something inside me rest.”
Beyond the camps, Sandy became involved in a YFC discipleship group, which helped her grow in her faith and confidence. “I don’t even remember how I joined, but I know it has helped me so much. I’ve learned how to communicate with God and grow closer to Him. I’ve also discovered that I’m capable of leading. They even gave me the opportunity to lead games!”
Yet, faith isn’t always easy. At one point, Sandy felt herself drifting away from God. Many of her friends didn’t share her faith, and it became harder to stay strong. She confided in a YFC leader, who guided her through it, offering practical steps to nurture her relationship with God. “That helped me a little,” she admits, “but it’s still a struggle.”
Boldness to Share Her Faith
One lesson from discipleship meetings gave Sandy a confidence boost: knowing that God created her uniquely and loves her deeply. “Instead of feeling unattractive or not enough, I started seeing myself as made by God’s own hands—cared for and loved.”
YFC encouraged Sandy not just in her faith but also in her boldness. Seeing others read the Bible inspired her to do the same, even when she wasn’t initially excited about it. Slowly, she found herself wanting to get closer to God. And in a remarkable act of courage, she stood before her entire class at school and shared her testimony. “My hands were trembling. I don’t know if everyone listened, but I pray that those who did were encouraged.”
Looking ahead, Sandy hopes to stay strong in her faith despite the challenges. “It’s hard, especially with all the bad things in the world. I want to stay close to God so I don’t drift away. I’ve seen people who were once close to Him but aren’t anymore—or they think they are, but they aren’t. I don’t want to be like that.”
Sandy is an example of what we pray and hope for: a young girl who isn’t keeping her faith to herself but sharing it with those around her. Teens are often the most effective witnesses to their peers, so we pray that Sand’s life and testimony will inspire her friends to come to Jesus.
Pray for Sandy as her journey with the Lord unfolds like a song of trust and devotion. And as she sings, reads, and grows, we trust that God is composing something beautiful in her life.
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