Christianity
Janice’s Story
At Toongabbie Anglican Church, the youth ministry is the single biggest source of new Christians for the church. One of those new Christians is Janice Brown, who is in Year 11 at Pendle Hill High School. A re-energised Scripture program, lunchtime group and a breakfast club have helped Janice and others discover new life in Christ.
Janice was struggling with the aftermath of her parents separating. “I felt as though I had no reason to live,” she says. “I had no best friends and no one to talk to about my troubles or my fears. I felt no one cared. All of this led to me feeling depressed and suicidal. I put on my pretend face in front of everyone else, but inside I was alone.”
However, things began to change for when her father and new stepmother started going to church. “There was something different about Debbie, my stepmother, and people at the church. At first I thought, ‘What’s wrong with these freaks? They are always happy!’”
Janice started seeking for information about the God who was changing the lives of those close to her. She continued going to church, to youth group and to the lunchtime group at school.
“I learnt more and more about this God bloke and that he sent his son Jesus Christ to this world because he loved me,” Janice says. “I was like ‘whoah!’ This guy I didn’t even know died for me and made me a brand new person. That’s when I decided I wanted to live for Jesus. I have a best friend who I can talk to anytime.”
Janice has continued to grow and flourish in her new life with Christ. She has been in leadership training with Anglican Youthworks and is actively involved in Toongabbie’s children’s ministry on Sunday.
Reproduced, with permission, from Southern Cross June 2006.
