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HYC Dallas: Kaleigh Sunderlin

Hope Worldwide • October 14, 2015

HOPE Youth Corps has a deep spiritual impact. Apart from serving underprivileged communities, every day, the participants hear Bible lessons, have quiet times together, have discipleship groups, and deep spiritual conversations. They share their faith, lead Bible talks, and strive to be more like Jesus.

Again and again, we hear of young people turning their life over to God after attending one of our volunteer trips. Listen to what this young lady, Kaleigh Sunderlin, has to share. She was just baptised earlier this month...

"I've grown up going to church my whole life. I lived in Texas until I was 9 years old. Moving to Illinois was very difficult, having to leave the only friends I'd ever known. I remember crying and praying several nights begging God to move my family back to Texas. Eventually I made some great friends in Illinois, but after getting close to them we had to move again. This time we moved to California. I was super excited when we first moved there because of all the fun things there were to do. I became consumed with so much in the world that I started to lose sight of God. I still participated in all the church functions but only half-heartedly.

I began to pursue my dream of singing and playing piano; I auditioned for Orange County School of the Arts, and began recording songs. My life was all about me; how I looked, what I wore, and what people thought of me.

I had previously applied to go to HYC Dallas because of the changes I'd seen in my brother and my friends. What I didn't know was I'd be moving to Dallas the same summer! I was excited that after 7 years God finally answered my prayers and brought us back to Texas, but this meant I would have to leave my new friends and the lifestyle that I was pursuing.

I had a lot of questions about God, and one day at HYC, I decided just to let it all out, and ask Derik and Leigh Anne Vett for advice. I thought they would just say, read your Bible and pray, but they actually took the time to give me direction on how to pursue a relationship with God.

My experience on HYC and the love of the people in the Dallas Church inspired me to study the Bible. I began to see how much God loves me and sacrificed for me. I fell in love with God's Word and wanted to learn more and more about Him. The more I learned, the more I recognized how much I need God. A little over two months later, through God's grace, I was baptized on October 3rd, 2015. I'm no longer living for myself; now I am living for God. I am so grateful for His unconditional love!"

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