My story begins with me growing up at Hillside with a family I thought was fully committed to the Lord. As a kid, I would attend Kids Ministry, as well as many events including Summer Blast, summer camp and winter camp. These events were always an amazing time and would form the beginning of my faith.

However, I never fully committed to God. I would always get a big “camp high,” be good for a couple weeks, and then question God. This started to change during junior high, when I joined the original student leadership called CORE. Soon after, I started leading Alta Loma Junior High’s Christian club.

During the summer between my 7th and 8th grade, I made a big mistake at home which made me feel like a burden and soon afterward I attempted suicide. This was stopped by my dad and helped me realize that my parents truly cared about me and that my leaders at church cared about me.

Then COVID hit.

I questioned God and became an atheist. I still went to church because I didn’t want to tell my parents that I was an atheist, so when summer camp came around, I went with no intention of going back to God. My only intention was to have fun.

However, on Wednesday morning during camp, there was optional morning worship, and one of my leaders at the time saw me walking across the bridge and started chatting with me. He eventually convinced me to attend, and as the morning worship was happening, I felt God moving in my heart. I slowly began to sing and once it was over, I went behind a tree and cried for an hour before I went back and confessed my sins.That was the day that I truly started to live for God.

About a year later, I began to serve in Student Leadership and soon afterwards, one of my leaders, Connor Mitchell, asked me if I wanted to serve at Summer Blast. I agreed and although I didn’t always know what I was doing, I found a love for Kids’ Ministry, where I still currently serve.However, it wasn’t all good and it wasn’t always easy after I came back to Christ.

During Covid, a stumbling block started to form in my life, which I still battle to this day. Even with this, high school started the foundation for who I now am. During Winter Camp in 2023, I had a strange experience that would lead to a conversation with one of my leaders and later she asked if my parents were coming to my baptism. I told her they weren’t and that I hadn’t even told them about it. She responded that I should pray about it, but also invite them.

Fast forward a few weeks, and with my parents and one of my sisters watching on February 26, 2023, I got baptized.One thing I realized was that as I started to get involved more, I got even closer with my leaders because I realized that it was a safe space to cry and be vulnerable with people which helped shape me into a better person. I also started to read my Bible more, and pray more which has transformed me and changed my heart.

Recently, while I was at Hume’s Summer Camp, I heard about a program called the Joshua Wilderness Institute which consists of nine months studying the Bible and some fun adventures. I felt God moving me towards this program in late summer of last year and I got accepted into the program. I will be leaving to attend the program this September.Recently, I have unfortunately lost connection with some of the people I cared about most and have experienced loss for the first time. While the Christian walk is not easy, when you get to see how God is using you, it makes it all worth it. As I head into my next season, I cannot wait to see how God is going to use me for His glory. One of the things I want to encourage others to do is to get to know their ministry leaders. A lot of my Student Ministry leaders have seen me through my best times and also my worst, so I want to encourage you to talk to your ministry leaders because they genuinely care for you and want to help you through your pain.“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

By: Daniel McKinley
High School Ministry Senior, Class of 2024

Daniel McKinley is a graduating senior from Alta Loma High School. His plans after High School include attending the Joshua Wilderness Institute to learn more about the Bible and get closer with God. In his free time he enjoys shooting his bow.