GSHS student leads peers to Christ

When Abby Moyer was a freshman at Garden Spot High School (GSHS) during the 2021-22 school year, she joined the Youth Alive Bible Club led by teacher Colleen Bowden. While Moyer enjoyed attending, she felt called to do more than just be a member. "I started by leading prayer," said Moyer, who soon partnered with fellow student Savannah Gray to lead the group.

Youth Alive is a ministry of PennDelYouth, which is associated with the Assemblies of God Churches in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Moyer and Gray worked with Landon Ritchie, youth and connections pastor with Lighthouse Assembly of God, to write a mission statement for the club. "We serve to be a safe place where students can gather together to grow in their faith and talk about God's Word and share their faith with their classmates," said Moyer, who now shares the mission at the every-other-week meetings followed by announcements and an icebreaker activity. After that, Moyer preaches a sermon, which the students break into groups to discuss before closing with prayer. Past sermon topics have included Christlike behavior, language, and influence. "(I focused on) what we allow to influence us and how we're influencing each other," explained Moyer. Since Moyer and Gray began leading the club, it has grown from fewer than 10 students to more than 20. The club also merged with another Bible club at the school.

Moyer's experience with the club and openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit led Ritchie to ask her to preach at a Fifth Quarter event held at the church, 105 Earland Drive, New Holland, following select GSHS home football games. Fifth Quarters include games, refreshments, and a message for students who choose to attend. In 2023, Ritchie preached at the Sept. 15 Fifth Quarter, and he asked Moyer to preach at the Oct. 27 event. Prior to that event, Moyer's mother asked her if she was nervous. "I said, 'No,'" recalled Moyer. "I want to tell them about Jesus so that nobody will be able to say I didn't tell them." Moyer preached about the mental, emotional, and spiritual freedom that can be found in Christ.

"Abby gave a salvation message, and she knocked it out of the park," reported Ritchie, who added that more than 40 students accepted Jesus in front of all their peers in the church parking lot. "For her to have that (response) on her first preaching in that setting ... it was like hitting a grand slam. It was phenomenal."

Moyer has attended PennDelYouth events and training experiences since 2021. From Jan. 12 through 14, she was in Carlisle at the organization's winter retreat where she spoke about her experience preaching at Fifth Quarter to more than 500 students. Ritchie feels that Moyer's openness to God's call on her life is crucial to her efforts. "What's different about Youth Alive is we believe in the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses and share our faith," he said. "To see Abby allow the power of the Holy Spirit to work in and through her life has really been so cool." Ritchie sees hope in the willingness of students like Moyer and Gray to work on God's behalf. "Everybody is saying the future is bleak and that the next generation has problems and issues," said Ritchie. "I believe God has a plan for the next generation, and young people like Abby are making a difference."

Students who would like to take part in a Youth Alive Bible Club at GSHS or Garden Spot Middle School may contact the school offices to sign up. Readers who would like more information about Fifth Quarter or the Lighthouse youth group may visit http://www.lighthouseag.com/youth.