Abi first heard about the Spokane Youth for Christ’s TenTen Center when she was on the dance team at Shaw Junior High School. She learned that YFC also has a dance team, and excitedly joined with several of the other students at the TenTen Center who share her passion for dance, many of whom were friends of hers that she already knew from school.
When Abi first joined our dance team, a staff member asked if she was interested in learning about God or going to church. At the time, Abi was not interested in either of these things, but excited to be a part of YFC because of the dance team and connecting with her friends.
Over time, Abi began to sit in on our small group Bible studies and asking questions about God and the Bible. When Abi first participated in the Bible study time, she was not up for reading out loud from the Bible, and mostly listened as others read aloud and shared.
About 2 months ago, Abi asked if she could read aloud in Bible study; this was a step of bravery to be vulnerable in doing something she had never done before, but once she realized that she could do it, she was immensely proud of herself for doing something challenging. Even more than that, Abi was beginning to read and soak in the Word of God for the very first time.
Shortly after this experience of stepping into Bible-reading, Abi went through a difficult season which included breaking up with her boyfriend. These circumstances put Abi in an emotionally low place. Staff saw that she was struggling and reached out to be a support. Through this connection with staff, Abi shared that she had been struggling with some mental health issues. In response, staff was able to step in with the truth of God’s love for her and the value she has as a Child of God, created in His image.
One week after Abi shared the challenges she was currently walking through, staff received a request from Abi asking if she could have a Bible of her own. She specifically requested a Bible with a pink cover, if possible. We prioritize getting Bibles for our students, so we were able to give her one, with a pink cover, right away.
After receiving her Bible, Abi shared with staff that she had experienced some restless nights with little sleep, and instead of turning to her phone, she opened up her brand new Bible with the pink cover to read it on her own for the first time. She began reading in the book of John, about how Jesus is the light of the world. Abi expressed feeling peace and confidence in Christ’s love for her. She was able to pray to God, as she had seen staff lead students in prayer and seen other students pray to God. She asked Him for the peace that she felt to continue into the next day, and it did!
The bright pink covered Bible serves as a reminder to Abi of the bright light of Jesus’ truth in the midst of the darkness which we can all face at various times and in various ways. Abi has moved from a place of not knowing God’s light to now professing to love God. Additionally, she knows that she is infinitely loved by Jesus, who is the light of the world.