This fall, our Young Life group went to Windy Gap with twelve first-time freshmen and a brand-new adult leader. As the most experienced student leader on the trip, I chose to step up-not because anyone asked me to, but because I wanted to show the freshmen the same love and welcome I’ve received through Young Life.

All weekend, I did my best to provide a space where the freshmen felt known, included, and supported. From leading them around camp to answering questions about faith, my goal was simply to reflect the love of Jesus in the same way others once did for me.

Every night after the speaker was done, I led cabin time, discussing what we had heard and relating it to real life. To my surprise, the freshmen opened up very quickly, sharing honestly and digging deep into the conversations. It was clear that many of them were really considering what a relationship with Jesus might look like for them.

The most powerful moment came during Say-So, a tradition where students who want to begin a relationship with Jesus stand up in front of the whole camp-about 500 people-to publicly share that decision. Of our twelve freshmen, nine stood up.

It humbled and, at the same time, inspired me to watch them make that choice. It reminded me why I stepped into leadership in the first place to help others experience the same love, hope, and the way everyone feels like they belong that Young Life has given me.

Windy Gap was more than a weekend away, for many of our freshmen, it marked the beginning of something much deeper. It’s a journey that I am grateful to have played a small part in.