A Campus Life North-Side Story…

I met Jack* as a 7th grader. He quietly sat at art club working with clay, hardly saying a word.   It wasn’t until the end of the year as we talked about his final piece of art that I began to get a glimpse into what his world was like. He is surrounded by people on a daily basis. A family who loves him, a mom who works long hours to provide for their family, and a consistent group of friends at school.  And yet he finds loneliness as a predominate theme in his heart and mind. He was able to describe to me how he is around people, and yet is incredibly lonely, a reality that many of us can relate to.

This year, he is now in 8th grade, and has started coming to one of our programs at YFC, however most of my overlap with him continues to happen at North Junior High. Recently, as we walked through the halls of school, he expressed his desire for depth in his relationships, wanting more than just the memes, and Tik Tok videos to be what people talk about. I was able to affirm to him that he is longing for the right things. We are created for so much more than the superficial level of relationship many of his peers (and often adults!) settle for. I knew that he would be spending his evening hearing the life stories of people who know and walk closely with Jesus. In that moment with Jack, I didn’t need to unpack all of who Jesus is and what life journeying with Him and His people is like. I could wait for him to experience it.

As the weeks go on, I am eagerly waiting and watching for continued opportunities to engage with Jack about what life in Jesus’ Kingdom is like. I am filled with hope, for this lonely young man, not because of my own abilities or efforts but because of our King.

Angelina Holte
Campus Life North-Side Coordinator
*names are changed for privacy reasons and pictures are not directly related to story