HYC 2013: Teens Share, Learn and Grow in Faith

This summer Great Britain hosted one of the HOPE Youth Corps teams. Our young volunteers traveled to London from Russia, Siberia, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Canada, the U.S., China, and Ukraine as well as from places in the U.K. The number of countries represented was AMAZING! Many of these students came from cities where they were the only teen or campus disciple. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to maintain your spiritual convictions? Would you be able to stay faithful year after year as the only person in your school who has faith? What if your parents weren't supportive and they persecuted you for being a teenage Christian? I know it would be extremely challenging for me.

It was so encouraging to see the HYC team form bonds with each other the very first day the program. It was as if they had longed to meet and talk to other disciples their age.  They shared about their lives, their struggles, their families, their cities, and their churches. I was so inspired to see God's family interact during my time in Birmingham and to hear how they served the poor and reached out to the lost together. We have such an amazing hope, don't we?

A Note of Thanks

A big thank you to Andy and Tammy Fleming for hosting the program and everything they did to make it such a success. They reminded me of the scripture in John 12:23-25 that says: “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life." I was blown away by the exciting stories and the faith of the Flemings. I’ll never forget Andy’s story of rafting in Papua New Guinea after getting lost in the jungle during an evangelism trip. I hope my generation takes note and has similar stories to share in years to come.

Thank you to Walter and Kim Evans for their steadfast leadership and support of HOPE Youth Corps. Their faith and love for others truly inspires me. Thank you to Antonio Boyd and his visionary leadership which makes it possible for the HOPE Youth Corps to grow and have a greater impact for the poor each year.  

Find out more about HOPE worldwide here.