It blows me away when I hear about the courage of some our youth as they put their faith out there in their schools.

Jessica Olumide is an 18 year old in WildLife (high school youth ministry) and her final year of school.

Frances, her connect leader, first met her when she was at her friend’s house busy baking cakes to sell at church so she could help raise money for her friends in Y&F to come to Colour Conference. She’s a youth who inspires her leaders!!

When she heard at a Sisterhood United Night about us partnering with Angel Tree to give gifts to vulnerable children in the UK at Christmas, she decided to take a bold step. She mentioned the initiative to a few of her friends and her teacher and was able to arrange a meeting with her head teacher. She told her head teacher a bit about our church and what she wanted to do to support Angel Tree and was given the go-ahead to get each class in the school involved in raising money and buying gifts.

At first she only got a few presents. She went home and prayed “God, even if it’s a few, that is better than none.” Then suddenly in the final week deadline, presents started flooding in. She got so many she had a new problem… “I don’t know how I am going to transport all these to church on Sunday!” In the end Jessica was able to donate through her school around 90 gifts for Angel Tree.

Jessica not only inspired her school and brought attention to this need, but she also inspired our youth girls, by showing them with a willing heart you can be the change. You can be brave, take what God has put in your hand, push a door, ask some questions and see the opportunities that open before you.

Cathy