The Organization that Saved My Life: Youth for Christ by Tori

The Organization that Saved My Life: Youth for Christ by Tori - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

I’m not exaggerating when I say Youth for Christ saved my life.
When I first heard of Youth for Christ, I was in a dark part of my life. Unknown to my family and friends, I struggled with severe anorexia and bulimia. I valued myself based on my appearance and nothing else. I thought that the purpose of life was to be happy, and I was failing. As time went on, I became more and more depressed as I felt more and more worthless.
In this darkness, there was one light: my best friend. She was always happy and full of joy, regardless of the situation. Her father ran Youth for Christ in the area, an organization focused on reaching lost youth through forming relationships and sharing the gospel. She persistently invited me to their weekly meetings until I had no choice but to go.
At first, I kept going because of the free food and fun games. Soon, I went to a summer camp with Youth for Christ. While I was there, we went to a local church. I was dreading it because I always considered church to be the most boring thing in the universe. Despite my dread, during church that day something changed. I felt happy; I felt like I belonged. For the first time in weeks, I ate without guilt.
Ever since that moment, my life has been completely transformed. I learned that my value is not in what I look like or what I feel. I learned that Someone gave up everything so He could have a relationship with me. I learned that I have a purpose in life. I began attending church and formed lifelong, meaningful relationships. These relationships and my newfound faith enabled me to overcome my eating disorders.
That’s how one fantastic organization, Youth for Christ, saved my life (physically and spiritually).