May 26th, 2026
by Bailey Schmitz
by Bailey Schmitz
In March at our Monday night youth program (321), I had the honor of hosting four of our key high school leadership students in a conversation in front of their peers about how they are following the Lord in their teen years. It was a beautiful and impactful evening for staff, volunteers, and students to glimpse the fruit God is growing in the soil where we have been planting seeds!
I asked them to answer five simple questions, and we had a blast chatting from a couch on our stage about how good God is. They absolutely blew me away with their spiritual maturity and compassion for their generation. Here are some of their responses:
What is your favorite “go-to” way to spend time with Jesus and why?
“My favorite “go-to” way to spend time with Jesus is sitting on my floor in my room with the lights off and with my Bible … Or sometimes when I’m in the car, I talk to Him out loud and sometimes I end up in tears or just laughing with Him and I talk to Him like He is in the passenger seat and it really, like calms me down and calm[s] my thoughts, because my thoughts can be a lot.”
- Shyann, 11th Grade
Where do you look for strength in your walk with the Lord?
“I find strength in those around me that help encourage my walk such as my family. Whenever I’m feeling unmotivated or have a low spirit, they always try to find a way to open up the Bible or read scripture. In day to day things they use every opportunity they can to pray and glorify the Lord (even just putting on worship music in the background while cleaning.) …”
-Paulina, 11th Grade
What is one thing about Jesus you wish everyone else your age knew?
“He is always going to be there for you no matter what happens, and He is your Father. God is always there with you … He will help you every single step of the way. He is always right next to you.”
-Ben, 9th Grade
What is one struggle Jesus has helped, or is helping, you with?
“That our past doesn’t define us; that who I was, is not who I am anymore. In Christ we are a new creation. We don’t have to hide our sins from God because He knows them and He forgave them by dying on the cross and taking the punishment we deserved.”
- Julia, 9th Grade
Isn’t it amazing to see the Lord’s hand in the lives of these students? We believe generations will be transformed as our children, youth, and families continue to put God’s Word into practice in their daily lives!
I asked them to answer five simple questions, and we had a blast chatting from a couch on our stage about how good God is. They absolutely blew me away with their spiritual maturity and compassion for their generation. Here are some of their responses:
What is your favorite “go-to” way to spend time with Jesus and why?
“My favorite “go-to” way to spend time with Jesus is sitting on my floor in my room with the lights off and with my Bible … Or sometimes when I’m in the car, I talk to Him out loud and sometimes I end up in tears or just laughing with Him and I talk to Him like He is in the passenger seat and it really, like calms me down and calm[s] my thoughts, because my thoughts can be a lot.”
- Shyann, 11th Grade
Where do you look for strength in your walk with the Lord?
“I find strength in those around me that help encourage my walk such as my family. Whenever I’m feeling unmotivated or have a low spirit, they always try to find a way to open up the Bible or read scripture. In day to day things they use every opportunity they can to pray and glorify the Lord (even just putting on worship music in the background while cleaning.) …”
-Paulina, 11th Grade
What is one thing about Jesus you wish everyone else your age knew?
“He is always going to be there for you no matter what happens, and He is your Father. God is always there with you … He will help you every single step of the way. He is always right next to you.”
-Ben, 9th Grade
What is one struggle Jesus has helped, or is helping, you with?
“That our past doesn’t define us; that who I was, is not who I am anymore. In Christ we are a new creation. We don’t have to hide our sins from God because He knows them and He forgave them by dying on the cross and taking the punishment we deserved.”
- Julia, 9th Grade
Isn’t it amazing to see the Lord’s hand in the lives of these students? We believe generations will be transformed as our children, youth, and families continue to put God’s Word into practice in their daily lives!
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