Joining the HOPE Youth Corps in India during the Christmas of 2013 changed my life. It made me see that being a Christian isn’t just a lonely walk. It is a decision to grow together with Christians from around the globe who have the same mindset and destination to bring glory to God’s name. The HYC placed me with Christians from different countries around the world for more than 10 days. It impacted me to hear what they shared about their life, their walk with God, and the excitement they have for doing things for God.
One night during our discussion group, Sarah from the UK shared how her mindset changed on the decision to become a disciple. Someone had told her that her choice of whether she wanted or not to study the Bible and become a disciple was her choice. That choice would ultimately affect her and not other people. No matter how much she decided to commit or not would, her own salvation was in her hands; other disciples wouldn’t be affected.
That struck something within me, and truly made me think of it over and over again, day after day. If I didn’t commit and truly seek God with my whole heart, instead just postponing and avoiding it altogether, it would lead me nowhere. My life was in my hands, the decisions I took to know more about God and be more like Him affect no one but myself.
Being in India led me to come back with more passion to know God, to take a look at myself seriously and to reflect upon my life. The people I met there, the activities we did, and the community of Christians, made me see that I needed more than just life centered around myself. I needed change, I needed God being the center of my life, I needed to take a step and fully trust the Lord with all my heart and all my strength. I saw my decision to become a disciple as opening a door with a million possibilities. It takes a leap of faith to fully commit to opening the door for God to enter into in my life. I needed to step away from my comfort zone of a cramped little space and let God take me into his arms, opening my life to the plans God had for me.
The HYC made me see that there are Christians around the globe who could impact and change the world for God. Those in the HYC had so much to give and the potential to change lives even though we were all still young. I love that from the morning devotionals to sunrise quiet times together to d-groups to conversations to having the same goals during the HYC, we were brought closer to each other. I felt that throughout the HYC, there was always the love between all the brothers and sisters growing and changing everyone. I saw the vast difference from the start to the end of the HYC in everyone's demeanor, from strangers to close friends within 10 days… It was amazing.
I honestly came to the HYC with the intention of just wanting to grow in my passion to give to people, to help others around the globe, but instead the HYC changed me from within. From it, I received more than I could imagine or give, and it changed my life forever. It was the final push for me to fervently want to be baptized and become a disciple of Christ.
The HYC in India was one of greatest things that changed me to commit my life for God. I returned home with a mission to change, to really be serious in my willingness to be a disciple, to see that the Lord was waiting for me with open arms if I took the leap of faith to accept Him as my Lord and Savior.