Ethan’s journey with Youth Encounter is a powerful testament to the impact of faith-based leadership development.
Ethan attended a camp at Youth Encounter in 2017, inspired by his older brother's positive experiences. Ethan, who knew about God and faith, had decided to forge his own path, independently of God.
“I really struggled with facing expectations and holding up to good morals as I was always trying to fit in,” Ethan recalls. Before connecting with Youth Encounter, he felt an emptiness inside and lacked a sense of purpose. He was conflicted about his beliefs and the standards of right and wrong, trying to fit in and belong somewhere. The pressure of religious and sporting expectations made him feel overwhelmed and inadequate.
The Turning Point
“Youth Encounter impacted my life by giving me opportunities to talk to the leaders about my faith in God and explore my beliefs deeper with them,” Ethan shares. The unconditional love and acceptance he found at Youth Encounter provided him with a powerful sense of belonging. This safe environment allowed him to explore his faith, leading to a personal relationship with God. Ethan was baptized in 2019 at a Connect programme gathering, a significant moment in his journey toward living life according to God's ways.
Embracing Leadership
Ethan began volunteering at Youth Encounter, eager to impact others as he had been impacted. In 2021, while leading a camp, he felt God calling him to a life of ministry leadership. Today, Ethan works full-time at Youth Encounter, coordinating risk-taking adventure activities to engage youth while sharing his testimony of God's transforming power. At just 22 years old, Ethan leads therapy groups, Bible studies, camp sessions, group discussions, staff teams, and develops young leaders through work experience at Youth Encounter.
“The relationships I have made at Youth Encounter have helped me keep looking forward and encouraged me in my faith,” Ethan says. “Encounter has helped me find who I am as a person by surrounding me with like-minded people that empower me in who I am and what my potential is.”
The Learnings
“Camp has been the first time where I've been completely touched by God's love and now see and understand it in a new way,” Ethan explains. The leadership programme has also helped Ethan understand why people behave the way they do, enabling him to connect and lead more effectively.
