By Jayce Treat – Loveland, Colorado … Voices filled the air, shoulders rubbed up against each other, friends linked arms and swayed back and forth–Hankin’s Hall was filled with students praising God. Before COVID, this was the everyday worship experience at Campion Academy.
Many students are asking how we can help each other connect to God through a mask. How can we show our love for each other from six feet away?
Milka Mendoza, a senior at Campion, felt it was especially hard being separated from her friends. “COVID has made it a lot harder to stay close with God. A big thing for me is being able to worship with my friends. Because we have had to be home a lot of the time, that has happened less this year.” Despite the circumstances, Milka has managed to stay positive. She explained, “Through this pandemic, I have felt God’s presence closer than ever. Why? Well, because despite everything that has been happening, He has still found a way to bless me and the people that I love. Waking up with good health is one of the biggest blessings.”
The pandemic aroused doubt in many people, including Jayden Anggormas, senior. “My spiritual life was affected a lot by this pandemic. There were a lot of problems and doubts because I was worried about how my life was going to turn out.” Jayden realized that he had to let go of his doubts and just trust God.
Jayden shared that he “started to notice others around me lose their faith because the in-person contact was gone. It was really tough, but I found it to also strengthen my faith. Despite the discouraging setbacks, it reminded me that God is stronger. He can work through situations that are even worse, and by keeping this close to my heart, I was able to become closer with Him.”
Teens may find themselves wondering where God is in the midst of the pandemic, but some have been able to use this time to gain a clearer vision of God’s kingdom. “It honestly feels a little difficult to understand why God has ‘allowed’ COVID to happen,” explained Mark Zelaya, senior.
“However, if the world was perfect, we wouldn’t look forward to heaven. I think that maybe God is allowing this to happen because He wants us to see how messed up and cruel the world is, and the sooner we accept that, the sooner we’ll want to be reunited with Him,” Mark commented.
Despite all the challenges, student are still experiencing God at Campion, and their relationship with Jesus continues to deepen.
–Jayce Treat, is a senior at Campion Academy; photo supplied
