Introducing Daniel
Daniel joined us in September at the start of his gap year with Youth For Christ. Daniel is from near Brunswick in Germany and is taking a gap year having finished school this year.
I grew up in a Christian family and went to church for as long as I can remember. By serving in my church and learning more about God I became stronger in my desire to live with God. My personal decision to follow Jesus was helped by meeting with other Christians of my own age and to experience Gods love for me for myself.
Who has been the biggest influence on your life?
Especially in my first years my parents had the biggest influence on my life, because they taught me our values and what it means to be a Christian. They always encouraged me to learn more about God and to grow in my faith. In the last year my home group leader became a big role model for my faith, because he showed me how to set Jesus as the centre of my life and how to stay focused in your faith even if you fail from time to time.
What are key life events that have shaped you?
When I was 13 years old, I was on a Christian youth camp where I experienced God’s love for me for the first time. It was important for me to meet other Christians in my age. Another key event for my life was the formation of our youth home group one year ago, because it gave me the opportunity to speak with other Christians about my faith and to discuss several topics.
Why are you doing YFC One?
I am doing YFC One because I wanted to take a year out focusing on God without being stressed from school and learning. I think it is very important to reach out to the young people of our generation in times when nothing seems safe anymore and to show them the hope of we have in Jesus. I hope to learn a lot about God in this year, but also practical things like how to prepare a session and how to share my faith with different people.
What are you most excited about?
I am excited about to see how God could have an impact on the lives of young people in Gloucestershire; to see how he wants to use me and my gifts to serve others and how I could grow through these experiences. I am really excited to see how God will lead us as a team through this year.
What are you nervous about?
I am nervous about speaking to people about God in a language I am not fluent in.
What do you want to see God do in your life?
I want God to guide me through this year by showing me which gifts I have and how I could use them to reach out and to serve others. I hope that I will become more confident in front of others and that this year gives me the opportunity to take a big step by growing in my faith. I have finished school and have many opportunities available after this year, which is why I hope that God will show me what his plan for my life is.
