Finding Support and Growth

Christian Avila is a 16 year old with a powerful message for young people. "They don't have to be or look a certain way for people to like them," he said.

Christian ministers to middle school students who attend Victory World Church's junior high ministry. That's the same age he was when peer-pressure type circumstances caused this teen to take a look at his own life --- and his walk with the Lord.

Now, Christian is a "regular 212er," part of Victory's youth ministry. But a few years ago, he viewed church as more of a social gathering than a spiritual experience. "My cousins always tried to invite me to the church. They are also involved in 212," he said. "I would come, but I looked at it a different way than I should have. When I was in 7th grade, it was like it was just a place where a bunch of people came, and there was nothing to it, nothing that my soul could rejoice in. I looked at it as a party, and I came and hung out for a little bit."

In 8th grade, Christian said, "I started hanging out with the wrong people, the wrong crowd, at school. I never did drugs, but I knew somebody who did them and I knew somebody who wanted them, a friend who I was trying to get to like me. I was the middle person." As a result of that involvement, he faced disciplinary action by his school, as well as the effect on his family.

"My entire family was shocked. It was a personal challenge for me. I was wondering about my future, and I was scared of what was going to happen to me," Christian said. Although he felt like the "black sheep" of the family, God was definitely at work in Christian's situation. "The cousins that go to Victory just loved on me and said it was going to be alright, we're going to get through this," he said.

Christian also received support from Victory's youth pastor, Rolando Gonzales. "What helped me in my experience was to find somebody I can look up to, somebody I can follow, somebody who can teach me the right ways," he said. Similarly, Christian wants to be a role model for others. And yes, his story took a positive turn, as Jesus "ignited" this young man's passion for God.

"For every action, there is a cost, but it was God's grace that allowed me back into school," Christian recalled. "My family helped me in every way they could, and I decided to go to more spiritual things. During the Ignite spring break conference of 2002, I felt that God just lifted everything off of me, how I acted around other people, how I felt that my image was more important than what was inside of me, how I looked, dressed, who I hung out with. God touched me, and I could feel how my whole life was changing in a matter of minutes."

These days, Christian has a vision for his life. "Ever since then, I've been serious with God. He showed me more things I have to improve in. God has called me into the ministry more than ever."

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