Christian students participate in youth group activities
Left: Akins students and Young Life leaders at Young Life camp last summer. The camp is called Sharptop Cove and it is in Jasper, Georgia. Right: Junior Marina Godinez at Young Life camp last summer climbing the rock wall.
April 20, 2015
While teenagers often enjoy spending time with people that share their interests, it can be even more powerful when that passion is God.
Some young Christians seek the chance to talk about their daily struggles and their belief in God, but are afraid of speaking openly about their faith. However, there are student led organizations that provide a safe place for these students to open up.
Akins Young Life is a group of teenagers who gather together at different locations Monday evenings and do just that. The students also participate in outings around Austin and attend a summer camp in Georgia.
Haley Brown, who
works for Young Life, helps organize meetings with the Akins students. She shared how the group started and how she thought it helped the students who attend.
“There are Young Life clubs all over Austin, even the world, for different high schools,” Brown said. “High school can be really hard, and we want to be able to walk alongside our high school friends and let them know that they’re not alone.”
Senior Ellie Barnes, a Young Life student leader, was asked how she came across it.
“I was on a mission trip with my youth group and I saw a bunch of the Young Life apparel,” Barnes said.
Barnes shared with us why she wanted to bring it to school and how she felt about the group.
“The Young Life leaders create an inseparable bond with the students and show them that there is more to life than the troubles we face everyday,” Barnes said. “I believe this program is the best thing to ever come to Akins. It truly saves lives.”
Akins Young Life isn’t the only Christian fellowship group on campus based out of Akins. There is also the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Basketball Coach Jane Martin, who sponsors FCA at Akins shared some of the things that they do in the group and how students can join. “We just hang out and talk. The main thing is that someone brings a message – usually about a Bible verse, how or what it means to the person. (We) pray for each other and check in with everyone,” Martin said.
Meetings are at 8 a.m. every Wednesday morning in room 162.
