Hey Jane,
I want to talk to you about something that a lot of young people your age are dealing with right now.
Research shows that many teens and kids today feel nervous about sharing that they're Christians with their friends or at school. They're afraid people might judge them or think they're weird. If you've ever felt this way, you're definitely not alone—and it's not how things should be.
What Does It Really Mean to Be a Christian?
Here's something cool: even though people call Christianity a "religion," it's actually much more than that. Being a Christian means you are like Jesus Christ.
In the Bible (Acts 11:26), people outside the church started calling Jesus's disciples/followers "Christians." They didn't come up with that name themselves. Other people noticed something different about them and gave them that label. Why? Because these followers' lives had actually changed when they decided to follow Jesus.
When you believe in Jesus and start following his teachings, something shifts inside you. You start to genuinely love God and care about what he cares about. And here's the thing: when you really like someone or something, you naturally talk about them. You don't have to force it.
Think about it this way….you talk about your friends all the time, right? You care about what they think. God wants the same kind of friendship with you. A friendship where talking about him feels natural, not forced or awkward.
How You Can Start Sharing Your Faith
You don't have to preach sermons or be super bold right away. Start small:
Share what you're experiencing: When prayer helps you feel peaceful or joyful, mention it naturally in conversation
Share what you're learning: If you read something interesting in the Bible, bring it up like you would any other cool thing you discovered
Share your church experiences: Talk about fun or meaningful things that happened at youth group or church, just like you'd share about any other part of your life
The key is being real. You're not trying to convince anyone or win an argument. You're just sharing what's important to you.
For Parents
Here's how you can support your preteen/teen:
Make faith part of everyday life: Don't save God-talk just for Sundays. Have regular family devotions, pray together about daily stuff, and show that following Jesus matters every day, not just at church.
Let them see you share your faith: Include your kids when you help others, serve in your local church, or talk about Jesus with friends. Let them see what it looks like in real life, not just in theory.
When faith is woven into your family's normal routine, it becomes easier for your teen to see it as a natural part of who they are and not something separate or embarrassing.