At Miramonte’s fair, (L-R) Olivia Lewis, Grace Bird, Nell Gallahan and Quincy Obradovic helped recruit new members for their Miramonte Faith Club.
This year four Miramonte students banded together to form a club for students to learn and grow their faith in God. The F.A.I.T.H. Club stands for Fellowship, Acceptance, Inspire, Truth and Hope.
Olivia Lewis, a Miramonte junior and co-president of the club, said Miramonte was the only school without a faith club in the Acalanes Union High School District.
“We wanted to make a Christian community for people at Miramonte, for people who share the same faith to come together and grow in their faith journey or learn more about God,” said Lewis.
A typical meeting includes a speaker who gives a message based on a Bible verse. The messages are meant to inspire and be relatable to youth. All meetings end with prayer and pizza.
Joe Little is a youth pastor at Mission Church in Walnut Creek and serves as a liaison for faith club leaders across the Acalanes Union High School District and beyond. He said the student-wide initiative originally started at Acalanes.
A student lost her friend to suicide, and she wanted to make a difference for the gospel in her schools.
“A few students put their heads together and these Christian clubs were birthed,” said Little.
Nelly “Nell” Gallahan, another co-president of Miramonte’s popular club, said she has already experienced God’s movement throughout the campus.
“For example, I had one student come up to me and thank me for providing an avenue for her to connect with other people of faith,” said Gallahan.
While a couple of people at the Faith meetings come with a Christian background, there is a bigger crowd of those who have never heard about Jesus.
Gallahan said this is because newcomers haven’t had the opportunity to be in an environment to learn more and ask questions.
“They might not know who or what they are looking for yet, but I know God is working through us to introduce himself to them,” said Gallahan.
Oftentimes people think youth are becoming less religious, but one look at the club meeting turnouts suggests otherwise.
Calla Garett, a member of the club, said it’s not a union, it’s a community.
“Even as someone that’s not really religious, it feels good to pray with the people I walk past in the halls every day,” she said.
Students like Garett believe it’s a nice feeling to be on the same page as students at Miramonte whom they might not ever have spoken to before.
Little says when students have the opportunity and resources to be passionate about faith, youth can create and pioneer.
“These students have started clubs, worship nights, and [have done] community service outreaches, all to glorify God,” said Little.
Meetings range from 40 to 50 students, and speakers will connect mental health and dealing with the pressures of everyday life to putting faith in God.
Little says he loves getting to hear their stories and encouraging them to live for Jesus in the classroom, the field, the court and every area of students’ lives.
“It has been amazing to see salvations every single week, students getting plugged into local churches, and youth leaders throughout the entire city – coming together to make each school better and brighter,” Little added.
Just like the other co-presidents, Lewis said any and everyone is welcome.
“No matter where you are in your faith,” said Lewis, “you always have a place at Miramonte Faith Club.”