Year of Your Life (YOYL) is our church’s full-time Christian gap year that focuses on preparing young people aged 18 to 25 for life. The programme has seen hundreds of lives changed forever since 1989, and this past year was no different.
We share two special testimony highlights from Module 3 (term 3) with you.
First up is Buhle Dyosi,
“Growing up without a father had a significant impact on my life. When I finally got to know who he was, he had already passed away. This hugely impacted my life because I was always this happy kid who didn’t need a father figure in my life. I always laughed at people looking for their fathers on social media, wondering, how can you look for someone who abandoned you?
“I always felt abandoned. Every time I looked at myself in the mirror, I saw a little girl in the mirror. She was running after a moth, acting as if she was happy, not knowing how beautiful a butterfly was supposed to look.
“I couldn’t care less because when I was with people, I was always this happy person and made funny jokes about my life. People always told me how happy and free-spirited I was, not knowing I was dying inside and when I felt alone.
“During Year of Your Life, the Life Training School (LTS) made a huge difference in my life. Having a father like God made me so happy! The Father’s hug made me see how I needed a father in my life. God came to me and showed me how lonely I was.
“The little girl in the mirror appeared again, but this time she was talking. She said, ‘I don’t deserve love. I must do something about it.’ I was so afraid, but God came to me, put me under His wing, and loved me without me doing anything. The girl in the mirror finally saw the most beautiful butterfly and finally saw the light.
“She saw how it feels to have a Father.”
And here, in Musa Hlanga’s words,
“Term 3 was a very interesting experience. This term has made me more intentional with my relationship with God and the people around me. It has made me more self-aware of myself and the things I need to work on.
“My highlight from the term was the evening classes of LTS when we had the Father’s hug. That memory is by far the most memorable moment of term 3, where I sat on the floor in total surrender to God Almighty, experiencing His love and protection in that moment.”
We are so grateful for Buhle’s and Musa’s stories and the many other stories of how God works through the YOYL leaders and programme to prepare young people for life, young people who know God and make Him known in the world. 🙌
If you want to know more about Year of Your Life and how the course combines solid biblical teaching, a life-challenging curriculum, personal accountability and practical experience to facilitate a year, or a term module, of intense discipleship, click here.
You also don’t have to miss out if you’re no longer between 18 and 25. 😉 We’ve got you! Join our next Life Training School in February 2025 by contacting Carin Mascini via hla@hatfield.co.za or click here for more.
