Author: Olivia Zhang  
Date: 05/27/2026
Category: Thanksgiving Testimonies

I don’t really have a “before Christ’ because my parents brought me to church every week. As a result, I never really set my heart on Christ when I was younger since I always thought going to church was just a way for me to see my friends. The moment that really changed how I thought about Christ was during the winter retreat when I was in sixth grade.

Those two days of devotion to God changed my mindset. Instead of viewing church just as a way to see my friends, I saw it as a time to worship and to learn about the Lord. At the end of the winter retreat, people were encouraged to go up to the stage and share their experiences. I could feel the Holy Spirit was working in me because I was compelled to go up and talk. I spoke about how those two days were full of joy and how I felt closer to God and Christ.

Another way God changed me was through Friday Night Youth Group (FNYG). After attending for a few weeks, I became more mindful of what I was doing. For instance, a few weeks ago, each of us wrote one trait about ourselves that was not godly onto dominoes, and we discussed what we could do to change that trait. After the discussion, I felt I had a better understanding of myself and how this trait has been affecting how I interact with others. Currently, I want to get closer to God, and I pray that Christ will protect me from evil things and sins. I also want to be more committed to church activities, such as going to the Safe House more often, even though it has some scheduling conflicts with my school.

 

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