For those of you who don't know what Young Life is, get ready for me to tell you this awesome story! Young Life is a non-denominational Christian ministry for middle school, high school, and college-aged students.
In high school, I always saw other students participating in Young Life. I had no clue what it was and I was never interested in finding out. As I entered my junior year, I started getting curious about Young Life, but still never went. It wasn't until my senior year of high school that I went to Young Life. A friend of mine invited me to campaigners, which is a bible study before Young Life started. At campaigners I had the privilege of meeting a woman by the name of Randi Wideman, and let me tell you, she is incredible!
After meeting Randi, I knew God had placed her in my life for a reason. In my heart, I knew Randi was going to be a light in my life.
When I first met Randi, she embraced me in a warm hug and told me how excited she was to meet me and for me to be here at Young Life. She was so excited and her eyes lit up whenever someone walked into the room. You can tell how God uses her just by looking at her. She has so much enthusiasm when teaching the word of our lovely savior.
I was so nervous when I attended Young Life because I knew the Lord but I never walked with the Lord. I couldn't tell you the last time I had opened a bible, and here I am surrounded by a group of girls in bible study. I was completely out of my element and didn't even know how to navigate the bible or even have one! Before Randi started, she asked anyone who needed a bible and gave me one to keep. In that moment, I was blown away because everything was pointing me to know Jesus. As Randi led bible study, I looked around the room realizing I was meant to be here. It was that day that I had come to really know Jesus.
After attending Young Life for the first time, I decided to go back every Tuesday for my entire senior year. It was because of Randi's warm heart and willingness to know my heart that helped me come to know the Lord.
For so long, I was afraid to go to church and I was afraid to attend Young Life. I thank the friend who invited me and led me to such a wonderful ministry. The leaders at Young Life selflessly open their homes, hearts, and time to the students in the ministry. They have the ability to impact so many people's lives, like they did with mine. I wish I went to Young Life for more than one year, but I wouldn't change how I came to know the Lord. After I left Young Life I always left with a smile on my face and a yearning to know more about the gospel.
Even after I graduated high school and left for college, Randi still stays in touch with all of her students in the ministry. She even held a college bible study the summer we ended our first year of college. Randi is such a wonderful woman, and I am blessed to know someone like her.
This is why I love Young Life, because without Young Life, I wouldn't know the Lord. I still would have this hole in my heart yearning for love only my savior could provide me. Young Life is where I met Jesus and I would never change how I met him.
