Julio is an inquisitive 15-year-old, so when he began attending our Youth Center almost four years ago he was curious to learn more about God and the salvation message.

In those four years Julio has heard the Gospel presented by dozens of speakers at many Bible studies. When an invitation to accept Christ was given, he would often raise his hand in response. But when a counselor took him aside to lead him to the Lord, Julio was unsure and wouldn’t follow through.

Fast forward to the October 2024 Spiritual Challenge Week, a five-day youth rally-type event during fall break that combines Bible teaching and discipleship with games, off-site fun, food and snacks. On the second night, following the message, Julio’s hand again went up. This time there was no hesitation and he asked Jesus to save him!

“I thought believing the Bible was silly but when I kept on coming here [my mother] tried to convince me more and more about the Bible,” Julio said. He added that hearing the speaker and a Good News counselor talk about their difficult pasts and how God saved them, convinced him to finally give his life to Christ. “I wanted to be part of that because I’d been through a lot of messed up stuff similar to that.

Each day of the Challenge, 25-37 youths like Julio were encouraged to live out Ephesians 4:3, “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” That passage was the theme verse for a series of Bible messages on “Dwelling in Peace and Unity,” by guest speaker James Johnson, pastor of NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. James served as our Youth Center Director from 2000 to 2008.

Other highlights of the week included roller skating, baseball and soccer at a local park and a cookout. Kids also took part in “God & I Time” Bible studies and a host of other activities.

By week’s end four youth made first-time decisions for Christ, including Brayden, Jamier and Jazariyah. Julio’s long-awaited step of faith was particularly special, in that his cousin Juan, a faithful Youth Center attendee for many years, was instrumental in introducing him to the Youth Center when he recommended Julio’s family for our Thanksgiving food giveaway in 2020. Juan too was saved at the Youth Center several years ago, and is now a high school junior at a local Christian school due to being accepted into the Cindy Evans Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Please keep these new believers, and all the kids we minister to, in prayer!