Tolik's Story

Tolik's Story

Tolik, a 16-year-old boy from Kropotkin (see map), couldn't imagine ever being fully loved.

And how could he? His mom, raising him alone, was struggling with alcoholism, unable to give him the attention he needed. His friends, also drowning in drugs and alcohol, were lost, living without hope and a future.

But then, one day, Tolik met a young man named Kolya, who invited him to the 'club.' Curious, Tolik agreed to check it out.

The following twelve months flew by in a wink of an eye. Kolya and Tolik became inseparable, goofing off at the club, going on hikes, and discussing the Gospel late into the night.

When Kolya moved to a new town to start a club there, the Young Life team in Kropotkin took Tolik under their wing. They continued to spend time with him, lifting him up in prayer and trusting God to one day reveal Himself to this young man.

"Your life truly changes when you entrust it to Jesus," one of the leaders once said to Tolik.

"But even if it changes, how will I be able to live it in my current environment?" he wondered. He was caught between the desire to take a step of faith and the reality of all the pressure he was experiencing at home.

But something kept tugging at him. The light in the heart of each one of the Young Life leaders was irresistible. And, Tolik wanted it too.

"And that moment, you could tell, Tolik's heart began to change. Our hearts were ready to jump out of our chests from excitement and awe", said one of the leaders.

Questions poured out of Tolik as if a dam broke. And like a sponge, he absorbed the answers. But it wasn't yet time.

Months passed with more clubs and also a winter camp. Finally, in the spring, the leaders gathered a group of teenagers to help Ukrainian refugees arriving in a nearby town. Tolik volunteered to go.

And that's when it changed.

What Tolik saw at the refugee center shook him to the core.

God loved ALL people!

And God even loved him - the most unlovable and unforgivable person of them all...

At that moment, an unexplainable lightness came over Tolik. God poured the oil of His grace all over his heart, and he could no longer resist.

On that trip, Tolik entrusted his life to Jesus.

Today, Tolik serves as a helper at the club and volunteers on the camp work crew. He is honored to serve other kids just like him. They now have the chance to see the light shining through Tolik and, by the grace of God, find the unfailing love of our Savior.

A word about Young Life leaders

Young Life leaders' work continues beyond the end of a club or a camp week. It doesn't stop when the teenager decides to follow Jesus. And neither it stops when the teenager shows no interest in the Gospel. These young men and women dedicate their lives to walking alongside teenagers, helping them through the highs and the lows, loving them unconditionally, and trusting in God's perfect timing. We are grateful for their dedication, steadfastness, and faithfulness.