The student-led prayer group, Youth Alive, has become a popular addition to the roster of clubs at MHS since students started meeting each Monday in Sra Walk’s homeroom at the beginning of last school year.
Founder and co-leader, Taylor Mabry, addressed how this club came to be, the goals their team is trying to achieve, and what’s next for the club.
Taylor Mabry had previously been homeschooled up until her freshman year. She wasn’t planning on transitioning to public school. Missionaries for the Youth Alive Illinois program had visited her church and talked about starting their clubs in public schools, but at that point, she wasn’t planning on leaving homeschool, so she didn’t give it another thought. Public school just wasn’t her jam– until a Christian conference experience changed that.
“I went to this conference, and they (Youth Alive missionaries) were there too. They had this girl come up on stage, and she said that she was homeschooled and she loved it, but then she went back to public school just so she could start a club, and all these people (ended up) came to Christ.” Mabry said. This missionary’s courage to go out of her comfort zone to create this club in a new school really inspired her to want to do the same. Despite making the move to public school with her goals at the ready, the process would take time. “The first year I decided to not do anything, I just got to know people and just get accustomed to high school and get in the flow of things.” Mabry said. But by sophomore year, things were kicking off. She asked around, trying to find teachers who were Christian and trying to “figure out the vibe.” Eventually, she got into contact with Senora Walk, who was excited about the idea, emailed back and forth, and ended up talking to Courson to get the “okay” for starting the club. Technically, Youth Alive will not be an official club until next year, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t already inspired influence throughout the school. Because once everything was settled, devotions were created and flyers were posted, everything “just grew really fast.”
“I think high school is a really important time in someone’s life. 99% of high schoolers will decide their faith journey, decide their religion before leaving high school. Once they’re getting to college, it’s so hard to impact.” Mabry explained. For high schoolers, Youth Alive is an opportunity to have support and create new friendships, all while sharing the Good News.
Within just one year, Youth Alive has already made and seen an incredible impact, not only on students in general, but for Taylor herself. For her, this was a leap of faith, and has further strengthened her faith.
“I’m a pretty outgoing person, but I’m also kind of reserved. I was scared to go out of my comfort zone, to start a club in basically a new school, to get up in front of everybody.” That jump from homeschool to high school wouldn’t be perfect, but a lot of good grew from it.
“(This) grew my faith so much. It made me into a stronger Christian by testing myself, by putting myself out there. It just showed me that God has me, and He has a plan.” said Mabry.
Youth Alive, as previously stated, has already made great progress, but Taylor knows that this is just the start. “When we started the club last year, I didn’t know who was gonna come.” Mabry says. She knew of other Youth Alive clubs, such as one of her friend’s clubs in Urbana, where only 2 members would show up every week. While this was scary, Mabry acknowledges that things could still prosper despite trials. “There’s a bible verse that says ‘If two or more people are gathered in the House of the Lord, the Holy Spirit is there.’” said Mabry. “So I was like, you know what? If two people show up, we’re going to have a great time.” This trust in the process and trust in God would surely prosper, as Youth Alive now has almost 30~35 members today. “Definitely a milestone was getting to the point where we’re a real club, it’s definitely a real Ministry now.”
Now, Mabry hopes to make a “real impact” moving forward, though I already see this happening and very much believe that Youth Alive has flourished. She aims to organize a fundraiser later this year, involving the entire school and not simply the club, in hopes that they will impact “not just the school, but the community.”
Youth Alive is open to anyone and everyone– their belief is that God’s love isn’t reserved to only certain people. Youth Alive is intended to provide an opportunity for anyone to explore their faith journey and grow their relationships, and members are nothing but welcoming and encouraging.
Eliana Ely, Staff Writer
elyel@sages.us
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