Content Note: This story includes mentions of self-harm. If you are struggling, you are not alone. Please reach out to someone you trust or a mental health professional.
Yen* was known to be a good kid. In her parents’ eyes, she was a responsible daughter. To her father’s fellow teachers, she was an active student. Behind that facade, however, was a Yen that only she and her close friends knew.
At the age of 12, she was already vaping, swearing quite often, and was even harming herself. On top of these struggles was Yen’s confusion about her sexual identity. She was actively involved in the queer community and had a romantic relationship with a girl. She defended that relationship against her family and cut ties with her friends.
But one of her friends invited her to a high school Bible study at an Inter-School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) chapter in Northern Luzon. At first, she didn’t want to go, but her friend persistently invited her every day and even got her father’s permission. So she decided to join. There, Yen heard of John 3:16. Just when she thought everyone and everything she loved had given up on her, she realized that the Greatest Lover pursues her. “Tumalikod na tayo sa Kaniya,” she said, “pero hindi Niya tayo binitawan.” (We turned our backs from Him but He never let us go.)
Now in Grade 11, Yen continues to attend the Bible study and looks forward to doing so until college. Slowly, she begins to see changes in herself. She has stopped vaping, is free from self-harm, and is no longer in a same-sex relationship. Yen sees the transforming work of Christ in her, little by little.
(“Yen” is a pseudonym, and all details are shared with her permission.)
PRAYER POINTS
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Pray for Yen to grow spiritually and to continue walking intimately with the Lord.
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Pray that our students who are going through similar struggles as Yen’s will encounter Christ.
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Pray for wisdom to our field staff, volunteers, and student-leaders who disciple students on campuses.
REGIONAL UPDATES
Northern Luzon: After the fellowship at the University of Baguio went inactive in 2020, a graduate volunteer, an adviser, and three students are exploring a re-pioneering effort.
Metro Manila: Campus chapters at Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Philippine Normal University, Far Eastern University, and UP Diliman held booth fairs in September to introduce and invite students to the fellowships.
Southern Luzon: Twenty-two student leaders and seven graduates from Cavite, Laguna, and Oriental Mindoro were trained at the Local Leadership Summit on September 11–12 and 20.
Bicol: A student-initiated Night of Prayer in a boarding house at Albay has become a regular gathering, now held twice a month.
Western Visayas: A freshman education student at Bago City College has started a Scripture Engagement with her friends on campus and hopes to begin an IVCF fellowship at her school.
Central and Eastern Visayas: The Eastern Visayas State University-Tanauan Campus Chapter welcomed 54 freshmen during their Freshmen Treat on September 17.
Northern Mindanao: The Silab chapter at Central Mindanao University welcomed 32 students at its Welcome Treat on September 10.
Caraga: Staff and volunteers moved to new area assignments: Glenda and Mae in Agusan del Sur, Nova in Agusan del Norte, Jehanne in Surigao del Sur, and Nathaniel in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.
Southern Mindanao: Student-led discipleship across South Cotabato is growing, with 25 new small group members at MSU-GenSan and regular ISCF classroom gatherings and Bible studies in Polomolok.
