I got involved with Youth for Christ when I was very young. My parents have been involved for as long as I can remember so YFC was very much of my childhood and growing up. When I was too young to stay at home by myself, my mom would take me to The Rock while she went to work. They had games and young people to play the games with me so I was in heaven. I went to kids club, camp, caravans, TNT and Campus Life. These were all of the programs that kids would go to, and we had fun and went on field trips. I also went to Acquire the Fire, which is just a weekend event where junior high and high school students go to worship and be around a ton of people our own age. I absolutely loved being involved in anything and everything that had to do with The Rock. They have a variety of things for kids to do. This past summer I volunteered at the drop-in center. I went in every other day after work and made some connection with the kids and reconnected with the workers and other kids I knew because I have volunteered in years past.

I am currently a junior at Northwestern College in St. Paul. I am majoring in marketing and hope to someday work with a corporation’s product development and advertising their products. I’m very excited to see where the Lord leads me. I work on-campus at our mail center, and I usher for events every once in a while. I also have an off-campus job at The Gap in the Rosedale Mall. I love the jobs I have; they keep me on my toes and very busy. I love the Cities, but I miss home more than one should! I have volunteered a bit up here and want to more. I have a boyfriend and great friends who are helping me grow in Christ. My brother is up here as well, so I get a bit of home every once in awhile which is important.

I think YFC had a great impact on my faith, and I’m so grateful for everyone I met there. They have had a great staff for as long as I’ve been involved. The connection that the staff makes with the kids is phenomenal! The cool thing about the men and women who are involved more permanently is that they get even close to the kids that go there. When I was growing up, having a relationship with someone who mentored me and was a friend to me was so important. That kind of connection is so important when kids are young. The Rock is a place where people feel welcome, and I think The Rock is a vital part of our community because they are involved, they care, and their love of Christ is so evident.

Ahna Plantage

St. Paul