The testimonies of French Jesus followers impacted by TeenStreet show that the local youth culture is shifting due to the hope of Christ.
Since 1993, thousands of young Jesus followers who were once discouraged and timid about sharing their faith have become emboldened through OM's TeenStreet ministry to share the love of Christ with their peers and grow in their own personal relationship with Christ.
Through numerous events and small groups in around 50 countries worldwide, TeenStreet encourages young people to have fun, go deep and be bold. The original TeenStreet event continues to run annually in Germany, lasting a week and hosting over 1,000 teens from countries all around the continent. In addition to sending teens to Germany for the event, TeenStreet in France also organises TeenCity events in partnership with local churches, which draw together teens from around France for one weekend at a time.
As a majority of the population in France is secular, young Jesus followers often feel like the odd ones out. Ketsia, Pierre, Nathan and Jade all have stories that illustrate the transformation God desires to enact in young people’s lives. The four overcame fear, hopelessness and false comforts through the love of Christ, and are now demonstrating a way for others to do the same.
Each of these teens once struggled to share their faith. Many of them had a dim understanding of God’s heart — especially regarding His plan for their lives. As Jesus got a hold of their hearts — through TeenStreet events and other circumstances — they were emboldened to share the gospel and the hope of Christ in different ways. Though their personal stories and how they impacted others differ, all four teens agree that the testimony of a fellow teenager can be effective in reaching their peers.
Caught between two worlds
Ketsia noted how she felt like she was “between two worlds,” as she navigated life as a Jesus follower in a secular culture. The lack of hope stood out to her about the world around her. Perhaps that is what emboldened her to begin growing in community at a TeenStreet event. She remembers her first visit to TeenStreet as a “great step because it marked the beginning of (…) [my] walk with God.” As she grew in relationship with Jesus, she was inspired to share the gospel with her circle of friends and others at her school — of which many believed a variety of different faiths before hearing the beauty of Jesus’ love. Ketsia’s strategy of sharing the gospel grew over time, moving from debates to descriptions of God’s heart for people — a heart that wants to restore their hope and accept them despite imperfection.
Pierre saw that many within general French youth culture “believed in things that (…) [didn’t] glorify God,” and did not bring peace or joy. Most teens around him were gripped with a fear of rejection and a fear of death. At a young age, Pierre was timid in sharing the gospel, but found that TeenStreet was “strengthening” for his faith. He has attended TeenStreet events all around Europe and experienced a transformation at each one. The presence of God and the community at TeenStreet inspired him — so much that he plans to do a short-term outreach with OM. His new and natural cadence inspires curiosity in those around him; curious to know why he is so kind and has such a joyful attitude, many have heard the hope of the gospel through Pierre. His goal throughout the day is always to interact with people with an attitude that points to Jesus.
Nathan, like Pierre, demonstrates his faith by how he lives. He does not tend to lean toward a conversational approach unless the subject comes up, but rather, lives to show his faith through his character and care for others. With a passion for sports, he hoped that it could be an outlet for sharing the gospel and prayed about how to share his faith through sport. He used to find sharing his faith to be difficult, but after growing in the faith and experiencing the presence of God at a TeenStreet event, those around him know about his faith and that he is always available to discuss the hope he has in Jesus.
Before her faith was strengthened, Jade found that standing up for her beliefs around her peers was difficult. She noted that the local youth culture is infused with distraction and teens turn to friendships and their personal understanding of the world to cut through all the noise around them. “Everyone nowadays is surrounded with distraction all the time (…) we are fed with constant content.” Jade would struggle to stay focused when it came to sharing her faith, and prayed for God’s wisdom in conversations so that she would remain steadfast. At a TeenStreet event, she decided that she wanted to publicly announce her commitment to Jesus and was inspired to get baptised. It was also at TeenStreet that Jade first felt the presence of God, experienced deliverance and met her now-fiancé. Living confidently in God’s Truth, Jade is saddened for those in her generation that do not know Him. “This generation is growing with a brain really full of (…) questionable information” and “feel this lack of meaning in life.” Despite living in the information age, Jade describes the young people around her as living absent of the freeing truth of Christ — a situation which inspires Jade to now stand firm in the truth and share it boldly and lovingly.
The testimony of many teenaged Jesus followers in France is one of moving from being influenced by the culture to being empowered to influence the culture. Like Pierre, they may begin as timid in sharing their faith yet become emboldened to share the love of Christ with others — even when they risk alienation for being the only Christ follower in their social circle. Though these young Jesus followers live out their faith in different ways according to their interests and temperaments, they live a vibrant life in light of God’s principles for thriving and listening to their convictions — even when they contradict cultural norms. At TeenStreet, teens encounter the presence of God and an encouraging community that challenges them to stand up for their convictions, proclaim the gospel and live according to their faith.
Ketsia, Pierre, Nathan and Jade noted that their surrounding secular culture sees the friendship and understanding between young believers and that it leaves an impression. They have learnt that lovingly sharing the gospel and demonstrating kindness opens hearts to Jesus, just as the Bible describes in John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (NIV).
Please pray for TeenStreet around the world. Pray for the ministry of TeenStreet in France — that it will increasingly meet the needs of the secular youth culture, sharing the hope and Truth in Christ. Also, pray for young people to find TeenStreet events and for teens to be emboldened to invite their friends — and to be met with softened hearts. Join us in prayer for Jesus followers everywhere to be as bold as lions (Proverbs 28:1) and not bow to fear (2 Timothy 1:7) as they continue to share the Truth of the gospel in love (Ephesians 4:15-19).
If you would be interested to know more about TeenStreet in your country, check out their website: teenstreet.life/.