A Conversation with Jessy from Manara Youth Center
Q: Can you share a bit about how you came to know Jesus personally?
I grew up in a nominal Christian home. I believed in God, but I didn’t know Him personally. Then one day my cousin introduced me to the man who is now my husband. He shared his faith with me, but honestly, I didn’t understand much. Later I sat with Rana. She’s one of the leaders at his church and now a fellow youth worker at Manara. She answered so many of my questions. It was like God gently opened my eyes, showing me that the road I was on was not the one He wanted for me. That’s when I turned back and chose the Way.
Q: Was there a moment when you clearly felt God calling you into youth ministry?
Yes, back in 2018. I remember it so clearly. The Lord spoke to my heart and said, “You will be a mother to many, and you will love those who have nobody to love.” At the time, it felt strange and almost out of place. I didn’t know what it meant. But later, when I began serving at Manara and looked back through my old prayer journals, I realized God had been preparing me all along. His promise was being fulfilled right in front of me.
Q: What first drew you to serve youth at Manara Youth Center?
I started as a volunteer. As I spent more time with the youth, I began to see their struggles up close: their family situations, the pressure they live under, the pain many of them carry. It stirred something deep in me. Two years later, in 2021, I joined full-time. I had also taken the Leaders in Training (LIT) program, which equipped me to serve well. The more I stepped in, the more I felt, “This is where I belong.”
Q: When was the last time you walked out of the center thinking, “This is why I do what I do”?
Honestly, it happens often. Any time a youth opens up to me, any time I can be present for them in a moment of pain, any time I see even a small change in their mindset, it reminds me why I’m here. Their lives are tough. Many are misunderstood at home or carrying burdens they shouldn’t have to carry. When I can be a safe person for them, that’s when I know: this is exactly where God called me to be.
Q: What breaks your heart most about what students are going through today?
The abuse. The lack of understanding at home. Many parents don’t listen, or they react harshly. I was a teenager once, so I know what that feels like. Now I’m a mother too, so I can see both sides. It breaks my heart when I can’t fix everything. If a student is a believer, I always remind them to pray. If they’re not, I tell them, “I’ll pray for you.”
Q: What gives you hope when you think about this generation?
Change. Real change. These youth come from very conservative majority faith communities where early marriage is normal, especially for girls. But now? Most of the girls at the center don’t want that anymore. They want education. They want careers. They want to grow. I see the impact of the awareness sessions we do, and how their mindsets are shifting. Even in our SuperWoman club, when I share my own teenage mistakes and what I’ve learned as a mom, I can see their eyes light up. They’re listening. They’re changing.
Q: What do you wish every student could know about God and about how deeply they’re loved?
I want them to know Him personally, not just as an idea. I pray He reveals Himself to them, just like He appeared to Saul. Many of the youth aren’t from Christian backgrounds, so accepting the deity of Christ is hard for them. Understanding grace is even harder. They can’t imagine salvation being free. But I remind them: it’s free for us because Jesus paid a costly price.
Q: What keeps you showing up, even when you’re tired or discouraged?
God’s calling. That simple. He asked me to love the ones nobody loves. And every day, He gives me new strength to keep going. Even when I feel unseen, He sees. He knows. And the youth are worth it.
Q: When you pray for the students, what do you find yourself saying to God?
I pray that He gives them wisdom to deal with their friends, their parents, and their circumstances. I pray He softens their parents’ hearts. And most of all, I pray each student would feel how deeply God loves them, and that He would guide and protect them in ways we can’t.
Q: How do you see God using Manara Youth Center to bring hope to this generation?
Manara has become a safe place to many youth. Every year, we grow more and more committed to delivering a clear, bold Gospel message. Youth are asking deeper questions now. And the beautiful thing is that each youth worker reaches students differently. God uses our personalities, our stories, and our styles. We’re planting seeds. Some of those seeds will grow years from now. But we trust God with the harvest. He’s the one who brings growth.
