• Posted:
  • August 8, 2024
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  • Stories

Faith and Friendships: Jordan and Ayden’s Story

Meet Jordan and Ayden, two brothers who are involved in Student Ministries and the DiscoveryLand volunteer team! In this chat, we dive into their journeys with faith, school, and friendships. Read on to learn how they are growing in Jesus and what it looks like for them, in their everyday lives, to join Him in the renewal of all things!

FAC: Welcome, Jordan and Ayden! Would you like to introduce yourselves?

J: Hi, I am Jordan, and I’ve just graduated high school. I’m going to be attending the University of Calgary for engineering.

A: I’m Ayden, and I just finished grade 9 and will be starting high school soon.

FAC: Those are huge milestones. How do you guys feel? Are you nervous, excited, or indifferent?

J: A little bit of both. There’s a lot of figuring out that I have to do right now.

A: I’m really excited. It’s a brand new start, and I’m looking forward to making a lot more friends who share my beliefs.

FAC: Do you remember when you first started coming here? What were your impressions?

J: I was in grade 4 or something like that. One of our other churches had a falling out, so we were jumping between churches before landing at FAC. We found it really welcoming and loved the atmosphere. 

A: I’m pretty sure I was in grade 1. I didn’t really know anybody here, so it was different. I remember this one leader who was always around in my class. I don’t remember her name, but I remember her being really supportive and kind.

FAC: You guys started attending FAC relatively young; tell me a little bit about how your relationship with God formed during elementary school.

J: At first, going to a Catholic school, I thought everybody believed in God. But as I continued, I realized that not everyone believed the same things I did. That threw me off a bit. I thought everyone knew that God existed and was there for us all the time. So, ever since then, I felt like I needed to talk more about God within my school community.

A: It’s sort of the same for me. I knew some of my friends didn’t believe in God, so I kept my faith to myself. If somebody asked, I would tell them, but I wouldn’t go around and share.

FAC: What about now? What has God taught you recently? Where are you at with God?

J: Before I graduated, when I was applying to universities, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I took many different courses, from computer science and robotics to drama, trying to figure out what felt right. I debated between dramatic arts and engineering. Gradually, I began to see that God was putting signs in my path throughout high school. In grade 10, one of my teachers introduced me to the robotics program, and I became one of the leaders from grade 10 to 12. In grade 12, I was also my school’s Schulich leader nominee, which is an engineering recognition. All these signs pointed me towards engineering.

FAC: It’s so cool how all throughout high school, God was guiding you to exactly where you needed to be. What about you, Ayden?

A: Throughout my junior high experience, God showed me that I wasn’t alone. He gave me opportunities to build new friendships and become a leader in my school. In grade eight, we were doing a musical, but I didn’t feel motivated to participate. However, the next year (this year), I felt guided to join, and I got the lead role. Everyone, including Jordan, said I did well!

FAC: That’s awesome to hear! How has FAC been part of your process of getting to know God?

J: In my first semester of high school, I was at school until 8 pm because I was also in my school’s musical! It was just go, go, go with no breaks, so I felt I wasn’t expanding my faith as much as I wanted. But in the second semester, I started attending youth group every Wednesday. It was a great experience to grow in my faith around people my age.

A: I have always gone to youth. But in grade 7, I didn’t feel passionate about going because I didn’t know many people. But over the few years, I felt called to youth group and met more people each time I went. Eventually, I started enjoying it, and it became my safe place to grow spiritually, without the worries about what was happening next. 

FAC: What advice would you give to people who are your age who are on the fence about getting to know God?

J: I would say the biggest thing is to ask questions. I had many questions about my faith, and I found people, like my youth leader and small group members, to discuss them with. It helped affirm my beliefs because I got answers from a Godly perspective rather than a secular one. It was eye-opening and helped me figure things out for myself.

FAC: That’s such a cool point. We need other people to help us; we’re supposed to live life together. Having someone in your life who is further along in their faith is key. What about you, Ayden?

A: My advice is to surround yourself with good community. Most of the friendships I have from school don’t really believe in Jesus, and that’s been tough for me. Surrounding yourself with good people who share your faith is a game-changer. Going to youth and making friends here really made a difference for me.

FAC: If you were to look back, what would you say to your younger self?

J: I would say, don’t lose hope and always trust that God has a plan for you. There were times when I felt down because of poor grades or felt far from God. But, I found that I flourished the most in school when I was closest to God. Sometimes during tests, I’d get a feeling to revisit a question, and I’d realize I made a mistake. God was guiding me!

A: I would tell myself to not lose hope in my friends. I would tell myself to keep inviting my friends to church, encourage them, and don’t give up!

FAC: It’s been so great talking to you both about how you are learning more about Jesus, discovering your gifts, and growing in faith. Thank you, Ayden and Jordan!

Thanks again, Jordan and Ayden, for sharing your stories and how you are sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ, right where you are!

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