Youth Input

        Hello my name is Tocarra, I’m 13 years old and I’m a part of the youth at Agape International Ministries. Being the youth of today is not easy. We go through maybe more than what our parents went through. We are exposed to a lot of worldly things like drugs, guns, gangs, sex, stealing, and killing. And when you get to your teenage years you are very curious, most of us have low self-esteem, and are trying to find out who we really are.

At school we have to worry about fitting in, wearing the right kind of clothes, who you can and can’t talk to, who’s your friend, and/or where you live. And since I’ve been in middle school I have really had to worry about who’s really my friend. I’ve learned to watch and listen to people. Friendship to me is trust and honesty. Sometimes I still choose the wrong friend. There are times I’m relieved and times that I’m hurt. Either way I’ll be ok.

Being a member at Agape International Ministries has helped me.  I’m more outgoing.  I want to be around more people.  I have friends that I can trust and that are honest. And I have pastors that love and care about me. I’ve also learned what type of person I’m supposed and expected to be.  I have learned more about God.  I know that He loves me. God blesses me too.  Being in church and loving and knowing about God helps me to not do those worldly things.  Studying the bible, listening to what my pastors are saying in church and learning from other people has also helped me.  I see that my parents are not just saying what they want to say but that they are speaking the Word of God.