Leon started coming to the City Life Center in 2022. He brought friends from school and sometimes his younger brother tagged along. The group was rambunctious and often started fights. Leon had a good sense of humor but could be easily influenced by others, and he was always eager to look cool in front of his friends. During sophomore year, he disappeared.
We didn’t see Leon again for two years. When he came back, he was alone. His mom had moved to the Eastside, and he’d become involved with local gangs. He was nervous to be out in public, constantly looking around and afraid to stay in one place for too long. In October 2025, he lost his brother to gun violence. He stopped coming to the Center.
Erin, the City Life Director, continued checking up on Leon. Week after week, she called to ask how he was doing. Then one day, he answered with good news. “Miss Erin, I’m getting baptized!”
Leon invited Erin and other City Life leaders to witness him get baptized on his 17th birthday. There was not a dry eye in the church that day. When Leon walked up to Erin, notes sticking out of his well-loved Bible, she barely recognized him. “There was light in his eyes again,” she said. “God had given him new life.”
Youth for Christ offers students more than just a place to hang out. It offers hope, community, and a chance to find life again. Pray for Leon and his family, as well as the other students who God is transforming. To find out how you can get involved in ministry, visit our Join page and apply to become a volunteer!