by Emma (18)

I’ve found that this world does have some shiny things to offer—partying, wealth, beauty, ‘perfect relationships’, popularity, travelling, and more. Not all bad things, but some of these things I became reluctant to drop, even when I began hearing Jesus’ gentle no.

by Rachel (16)

I read books daily. I love reading books. I love the adventure a book takes me on to help me escape the horrible day I might be having. But I never knew that reading a book in 2017 would not only change my faith life, it would also impact the lives of others in my community.

by Emma (15)

I was asleep when the earth underneath me started to roar. My heart began to quiver. I jolted up, and a wail leaped from my throat. I didn’t even know what was happening. It felt like a dream, a nightmare. And I was terrified.

by Grace (17)

No one really knew all the insecurities I had. I didn't really have a dad growing up and always thought I was never enough, not worth a lot. I believed being ‘good enough’ was for everyone else, but not really for me.

by Abbie (15)

‘You know that everyone actually hates you, right? No one likes you; they’re just nice to your face.’ A close friend said this to me, and for a long time words like these affected me.

by Sophie (19)

When I was 16, I was involved in two car accidents within six months… After the second accident, I was super confused, and I was frustrated with God. I thought how could you let this terrible thing happen to me again?

by Heidi (15)

As a young teenage girl, I always struggled with self-image… I questioned if I would ever be good enough or ever live up to society's expectations of women. The fear of not being enough started to get to me. I was letting society shape me.

by Evee (13)

Having grown up in the church, I’ve heard many stories about ‘big moments’ where God worked incredible miracles, and people's lives were turned around. These stories are amazing! But for several years, I was waiting for God to perform an incredible miracle in my life.

by Amelie (13)

It was a beautiful day on the water, and the Hector’s dolphins of Lyttleton followed us around the bay.

That was where God found me.

by Amelia (15)

From the beginning of 2017 until the end of 2019 I was just surviving. Having unhealthy friendships throughout school, being bullied, and having my mum sick for eight years all had a significant impact on me. But it wasn’t until Year 7 that my life took a difficult turn. 

by Becky (15)

After we moved, I tried to start each day with determination, a broad smile, and a positive attitude, all in an attempt to hide the heaviness of feeling like I didn’t belong. As hard as I tried to be happy, by the end of the day I was exhausted from trying to fit in.

by Sarah (15)

I always assumed that everyone was a Christian and had the same beliefs as me... until I started at a non-Christian school in Year 7. It was weird. I had friends who weren’t Christian for the first time. This new way of life had me floating slowly away from God as I tried to fit in.

by Lois (13)

I grew up always believing what my parents and my teachers told me. Well, everything except for what they said about this strange unconditional love of God; how God loved me a lot, how God thought I was the best me I could be, and how everyone was somehow equal in His eyes. I wondered how that could ever be possible.

By Rachel (14)

Lonely. Unsupported. Ignored. Nothingness. Worried. These five words best describe what I experienced most during 2019. If I had to string them all together and choose one word to sum up my year, it would be ‘brokenness.’

by Zoe (17)

I am a huge procrastinator. Pointlessly scrolling through social media, binge watching Netflix, and baking way too much used to take up most of my time. Yet, even as I continually chose these activities over spending time with people or God, there was an ache in my heart that longed for change.

by Emilie (13)

I have always been the tallest girl in my class and sometimes even the tallest kid in my class. When I was younger, it didn’t bother me. Back then nobody really noticed what each other wore or how they looked. But now, people look. They notice and say things like, ‘Wow, you’re tall! How old are you? I bet you are the tallest in your class!'