Hello and welcome to this week's episode of Trinity Talks. My name is Kyla and I'm the
online engagement director here at Trinity. And this month we're talking about stories
of faith. And so this week I am sitting down here with Finn and Austin, who are two of
the youth here at Trinity. And they're just going to tell us a little bit about what faith
looks like in their life. So thank you so much for joining me, folks.
Thank you. Thank you for having us.
Thank you for having us.
Yeah, so maybe I'll just get you to start and do a little bit of an introduction. Tell
us a little bit about yourself, your name, and yeah, whatever you think is important
for us to know. So maybe we'll start here.
My name is Austin. I go to John Fraser Secondary School. And I'm a member of Trinity. I love
the youth at Trinity. I love hanging out with them every day. My friend Finn. I love Finn.
He's a goat. Yeah, here.
My name is Finn. I also go to John Fraser Secondary School and as a member of Trinity
Church. And my favorite color is purple.
Okay. Hey, that's my favorite color too.
It's a good color. It's a good color.
What is your favorite color, Austin?
I'm going to say blue. It's kind of basic.
Yeah, no, blue is great.
Okay.
Purple, purple second.
Okay.
Great.
Love it.
Good. So yeah, as you said, you've both been sort of members here at Trinity hanging
around for a bit. So I'm wondering how did you first learn about Jesus? Maybe we'll start
with you, Finn.
Oh, okay. I knew about Jesus like my whole life. I've known of him, but I've just come
to know him this past year. And just coming to Trinity Church the first time I came to
Trinity Church is really when I first found out about who he is.
And yeah.
What about you, Austin? When did you first learn about Jesus?
Well, I was born a Christian and I guess low key I was I just been forced to go to church
like since I was young by my parents. I love you for that though.
But yeah. And then so like kind of just like when I started going to Trinity, that's where
I kind of like I actually enjoyed going to church instead of like dreading it. Yeah.
So kind of like I've known about faith and like I've enjoyed going to church for a while,
but I never really was like engaged in it. I guess like my whole life. But yeah, I've
been like around the church.
Yeah. So you've both talked about, you know, you've been around the church for a while,
but it's been a little bit different as you've come to Trinity and sort of grown closer in
that relationship with God. So what what made you decide to actually want to follow Jesus
for yourself?
Yeah. Just continuing to come to Trinity and just knowing about what what he has done and
just continuing to read my Bible and and come to the services and just yeah, just seeing
all the stuff that he does in our everyday lives that you might not have seen if you
don't don't really truly know him. But yeah, just kind of trying to get close to him every
single day.
And yeah, I would say like mainly it was the camp working at the camp was like a great
experience. And that's what kind of introduced me to Trinity at the start. Like I always
knew Trinity was a church by never went. I went all the way out in Oakville. And like
so yeah, the drive was kind of brutal. But and this is closer. And then yeah, the camp
kind of just introduced me to it and like kind of made me want to actually start going
because I started enjoying like the people in the community rather than I didn't really
have any friends over there or a few I had a few but yeah, I still love them though.
Yes. Yeah, you've developed more of a community here, right?
Yeah, 100%. Yeah, like Finn, even though I knew him before, but like, yeah, like a bunch
of people. Yeah, yeah, cool.
The camp too. Yeah. And I know Finn, you were baptized recently, maybe about a year ago.
Yeah. Yeah. So what led you to decide to do that?
Really, it was just I prayed about it for a while. And it was just something I really
wanted to do coming into my faith. I've only come into my faith for about a year now. And
it was when I moved back from Florida, I was living in Florida for the first two years
of high school. And I came back and I was invited to go to Trinity. And then I came
to a service and then I really liked it. So I came to the next one, the next one, the
next one. Yeah, I think just kind of continuing to build my relationship and pray every night,
pray, pray whenever I get the chance. And I think I was just really called to get baptized
as I was growing in my faith. So yeah, I think that was just one of the things that really
led me to continue on in my faith. And that was one of the big milestones that I have
for my faith. So yeah, that's really what got me to do that was just continuing to build
my faith with God and continuing to communicate with him and doing all that. So I feel like
I was really called to get baptized here. So yeah, yeah.
So when you think about your life and your faith and learning to follow Jesus, what difference
has faith made in your life?
Okay, I can go. I'd say like, I guess it hasn't really happened like crazy right now, but
maybe in the future. Obviously I've lost people like loved ones. But I guess I've never been
like crazy sad about it. And I think that's because faith in my life has made it so like,
obviously if somebody dies like that's sad, like that's brutal. But like when they die,
I know there's life after death and they're partying up in heaven with God. So like, like
I'm low key jealous. But so it's like, yeah, like I don't really like if somebody dies,
like obviously I'm gonna I'm gonna be sad and cry probably. But like, it's like, yo,
they get to meet Jesus. So like, that's kind of how you yeah, yeah, I guess. Yeah, that's
kind of some different.
Yeah, yeah, I think faith has has really put a new perspective in my life, especially from
how I used to live and how like, being in sin, just a new perspective on on life and
seeing what Jesus has done for for my life, being able to grow in my faith. Yeah, so I
think it's made a huge difference in the way that I act and that I even treat people or
just continue to to to grow and as a person as well as a disciple for as Jesus's disciples.
So yeah, yeah, I think I think just being friends with him too and like having people
that like, I'm friends with like, like, like, Finn holds me accountable a bunch, which I
like, very much appreciate. And yeah, like, I think just having people like like minded
individuals around you know, yeah, for sure. Like same with same with Austin and all the
all the people at the youth. Yeah, no shout out to the youth.
Shout out to the youth. Go to the youth group. But yeah, just having those friendships and
those those people that can keep you accountable and keep you wanting to grow in your relationship
with him and just keeping you on the right track, you know, just trying to help people.
It's just massive. So yeah, no, it's insanely important. For sure.
For sure. Yeah, and so good that like, you get that community here.
Exactly. Yeah, yeah, through through the folks at your work right at camp and through youth
groups. Yeah, yeah, even in the service, like people are so friendly, they're talking to
each other. Yeah, yeah, it's awesome.
And so the community that that is built here at Trinity is just amazing. And it's one of
the things that also will help you continue to to grow in your relationship is the community
that that has been built here. So yeah, totally like compared to my other church, I guess massive
here. So yeah, yeah, yeah.
Oh, that's great. Yeah. Yeah.
So we have lots of different folks who are listening. Some who haven't been in high school
for a while. So just thinking about your your experience in high school now as as people
of faith, like what what does that look like?
I don't know how like how much more difficult it could be than like in the past. But like,
I'd say like a lot of people like we go to John Fraser, I'd say not a lot of people are
Christian there. Mostly Muslim. We have a bunch of Muslim friends.
Yeah, very. Yeah, yeah.
So being able to spread your faith and in whatever situation you're put in is very, very important.
To us and just kind of being able to spread the word and and you know, just being with
with our friends that that may not have the same faith as us. It's it's super important
that we are we are able to be that that seed for people and be able to to give them an
opportunity to hear the word and see it through our actions as well.
Yeah, I don't know how many talks we've had with our Muslim friends. Like we always talk
about faith. Yeah.
And I know like, yeah, he he shout out. He comes to the youth group.
Shout out to Lucy. Yeah, he comes here. He he like is okay with our culture and we're
okay with his and like, yeah, for sure. Like having that. So like, I say it's like, it's
difficult, but it's also like a blessing kind of in a way because like you're around all
this different culture and it's like maybe in the past, you wouldn't be or like in high
school. But yeah, like it's a lot more diverse than I think it would have been.
And yeah, you know, it's it's an opportunity to be able to get people to connect, you know,
like, like literally connect. But um, yeah, no, it's it's it's it's a it's truly a blessing
to be able to share our faith with with people that might not be like minded and just be
able to plant that seed for them as well. So and also being like accepting rather than
like for some people could be like somebody else is like Muslim that's like bad and it's
like, oh, I can't be friends with you. But it's like being that person that's like, I
don't care, like we're friends. Yeah. Yeah.
And just like having that. Yeah, I feel like it's it's a blessing 100%. Yeah. Yeah. And
and a great way to get just like show love differently. Yeah, sure. Yeah. Yeah, that's
so cool. So if you think back on your life so far, has there been a moment where you
feel like your faith has helped you get through some like challenging times?
Yeah, yeah. Like Austin said, there there have been multiple times in my life where
people have passed and just being able to know that that there there is life after after
death on this earth is is very comforting and just being able to be with the Prince
of Peace, you know, just kind of having having his comfort be with you. And it's it's it's
very, very nice to know that that they have life after death and that they they aren't,
you know, in eternity, like damnation, damnation. I don't know if that's a word.
That's a good word.
But yeah, no, just kind of being able to be held in the love of of Jesus is it's really
comforting. So yeah, I'm gonna have to piggyback off of Finn's answer because nothing like
then like crazy has happened in my life. But yeah, like I'm very blessed to be able to
say that. So yeah, I just feel like yeah, I just have to piggyback off in. Yeah, for
sure. In those moments where there can be a lot of uncertainty that yeah, that yeah,
we get to walk through it with that peace of Christ. Right? Yeah, I remember I remember
I used to like sit there and be like, like imagine like you just dying. That's like it
like you're like I used to like trip me out. And then so like, yeah, just having that like
thought that it's like it's not over. And it's like for sure, like we get to like party
it up like and it's like eternity. Yeah, eternity. Praise God for eternity.
It's just a it's a sense of comforting for sure. Oh, 100%. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Um,
have there been any sort of big moments in your life where you feel like wow, that was
really significant for my faith or like something that was like that that was a moment that's
like really meaningful to me. Um, do you want me to go for it? I'll have to pass out. Okay,
okay. I'm gonna have to. I think I think I don't like I don't I don't know how clear
that I remember this, but I think it was low key. It might have been in, um, it might have
been in camp. Just like, okay, there was two, there was two in camp, just like teaching
the kids. I think that like brought me a lot closer to God and like everything just like
teaching these kids about something that they might not even know. And just giving them
that perspective. But then also my I go to I go to another youth group called Young Life,
and I love it there. And there's the leaders there. And we like they take me out to like
McDonald's. They they pay for it. So yeah, it's like that's that's a win in itself. Um,
but then we also like talk about faith and just like those conversations with with Martin,
I don't know if you should be watching this, but uh, yeah, with Martin, I had those conversations
with all the leaders there. They're awesome. And like, yeah, just those conversations kind
of like brought me to where I am today and like answered questions that I might not
got answered anywhere else. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah, I might I might also have to piggyback
on Austin. But just I do like devotions on on tech talk. Check them out. Check them out.
Hey, if in the need to check them out. Okay. But just being able to spread the word on
on there, I think has been a huge blessing. And just just one day I was I just felt called
to I was I was praying and I felt called to be able to spread the word. So I thought that
was a good way to do it. But definitely I think that was something that God was really
put on my heart and that like I can I know was God. So 11,000 views to
Wow. Crazy fan. It's impressive. Yeah, that's that's so cool. And like one of those things
that so let's be real, I am not on tech talk. But like there are a lot of people who are
a lot of people and like that's a really cool way for like you to be able to like reach
a specific audience. Yeah, especially with like modern and nowadays, like a lot of it
is spent like time spent on our phones and and for example, tech talk like a lot of people
are on there. So I thought that would be a really good way to be able to, you know, spread
the message and plant that seed. So yeah, yeah, for sure. I learned stuff when I watch
your things. There you go. I was watching my mom the other day.
That's so cool. She saw I was going to go she was like, is that fit? I was like, yeah.
Yes, it was. Yeah, you taught me and my mom. Thank you. That's so cool. Oh, God. Oh, God.
So throughout this winter, starting in January in church, we've been talking about heroes
of faith, some of those people in scripture that are examples for us. So if you think
about your life, who are some heroes of faith in the Bible that you feel like really drawn
to? Yeah, yeah. I think one person that really stands out to me is Job. Okay, just hearing
about his story and how he had everything and everything taken away from him and how
he still stood faithful. That's just been something I've been trying to build my life
off of because I'm truly blessed in this in this life and God has truly blessed me and
my family and my friends and all that. But I think something I can truly learn from is
Job and how he had everything taken away from him and he still stood faithful. And that's
just something I want to build my life on because I have such blessings to be able to
lean back on, but be able to stand faithful. That's something that I'd really like to give
to Job and like that I can really learn from. Yeah, for sure. I'm gonna say I'm gonna say
a story because, yeah, and I like she's not a crazy hero, but like in my life, like her
story has been very influential. I think the woman who commanded Daltry, I love that story.
Just because it kind of just shows, especially when Jesus was like whoever has not sinned
can cast a first stone because they want to stone this lady. And it's just kind of like,
you can be two people, you can be the people who were gonna stone or you can also be the
lady, the lady who's sinned and people are judging you for that or you judging people
for sinning. And it's kind of like you can't really judge anybody because you are also
that lady who has sinned, right? So it's kind of like, it kind of puts a new perspective
on like life kind of, you know, and then yeah, so yeah, I like that story. I think the lady
could also be a hero of faith or the woman who committed Daltry could be a hero of faith
because she's asking for forgiveness and the people who also walked away and were like,
yeah, I've sinned, could also be a hero of faith and God, you know, Jesus, the hero,
the hero of the girl. That's a good one. No, that's super cool. Yeah, I don't think
that that's one that like people like think about a lot. But yeah, you're so right. That
like, yeah, there's so many ways to sort of identify ourselves in that story for sure.
What about like in your life? Are there people that you like know personally who are like,
yeah, that's my like faith hero? I must say Rob, Rev Rob. Yeah, yeah. Because you know,
he's just preaching the word every day. And I love his talks. And I think those were like
the first sermons that like I kind of connected with because before I used to go to like the
sermons and like just sit in my chair, look at the ground and like kick my feet. But like
I actually like pay attention and like because I like he makes it funny and stuff. So I think
like stuff like that like Rev Rob or Rob, sorry, teaching the word. Also Martin, I mentioned
him before. Yeah, Finn Deneen. Yeah, he he's a he's a hero of faith, you know, that's a
he keeps him accountable every day. And I talked to him about faith a lot. And just all my
friends also, even if they're Christian or not. And yeah, all the years at Young Life,
all the people are youth group. Yeah. I would have to say, of course, Pastor Rob, you know,
just being able to go to the sermons and make them very interesting and be able to connect
them to real life scenarios and just being able to learn a lot from him. He's he's really
been a hero for me as well for my girlfriend, Kate, she always keeps me accountable. She
goes to the youth group as well. So always keeping me accountable and keep me on the right
track to growing my faith. So she's really just been there, just helping me with my relationship
with with Jesus as well. And yeah, the people from youth group just kind of piggybacking
off off Austin again. Yeah, the people from youth group, Zion runs the youth group. And
Maya as well. She also runs the youth group. And then Austin, you know, like I have to
say, best friends. So he's got a he's got a special place in my heart. And he always
always keeps me accountable as well for if I ever slip up or if I do something that I
shouldn't be doing that doesn't glorify God, Austin's always there to tell me about it
and that, you know, keep me accountable. So yeah, for sure. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, sounds
like you've got a really, a really good community that you've built around yourself.
Oh, for sure. Yeah, I'd say I'd say all of like the people I value most are within the
church. So I think that's very important. I'm very happy that that is so. Yeah, for sure.
So here at the church, we have a lot of people of a lot of different ages and sort of backgrounds
and things. And sometimes people who are not teenagers feel like they can't relate to the
teenagers. They're like, so I'm just not even going to try not going to talk to them. So
like, what would you say if there's people who are like, like, yeah, want to get to know
you a little bit better, but like they feel like intimidated?
Don't be. I'm just I'm just I'm a normal person. You were my age once. So yeah, like, we're
basically the same age. If you think about it, because you were my age once, you have
more wisdom than me. So you could actually teach me something. I was your age once.
Yeah. No, you were my age once.
Because they are my age once.
Because you are my age.
The other people, the other people are my age.
Okay, yeah. And I'm like,
But yeah, don't be scared to come talk to me or Finn, because obviously, like, we can
have a great conversation and you can teach us something about ourselves and we can maybe
teach you something about yourselves. And it could be a great conversation.
For sure. Yeah, we've we've been in been in your shoes. Is that correct?
Yeah.
Yeah, no, we've been we've been your shoes and we've we've had your experiences like
there were there were kids that we were also scared to talk to you and you know that we
could have learned a lot from and those are something that I kind of wish that I can go
back and be able to learn more from the teenagers or the people that were older than me because
they do have lots of wisdom and that they could teach me going forward into my life.
So if you ever see us on in the church, don't be afraid to come up and say hi.
So yeah, we're always open to conversation.
For sure. For sure.
Practice, you know.
Yeah, unless we go practice, we got to go.
I was to say, you only you the one thing in life you can't get back as your youth. And
I think the only way to get that little part of youth back is to talk with you. So yeah,
that's why yeah, that's why I always talk to the kids at camp, you know, they always
they keep you young.
Yeah.
Give me a I'm almost an uncle now. I'm almost almost 18 years old.
status status status status almost.
Yeah.
That's so great. I feel like at some point in this podcast, we're going to need to provide
like a Gen Z dictionary.
So on status, how would we define this?
Like when you're old, you're like, you're like, you know, like, yeah, pretty much.
Okay.
Then yeah.
Okay, great. Yeah. Anything else you guys wanted to share?
Um, not a whole lot.
Yeah, not not too much. Just we love the the sermons and the church that we
Yeah.
community that we have here and we cherish it so much. And we just want to continue to
grow in our relationship with God and just continue to live, live like Jesus and lead
others to Jesus. So yeah, no, that's that's a
Keep keep doing what you're doing. You're a journey.
Yeah, for sure.
For sure.
Yeah, I love the community here. Keep being friendly. Keep being keep loving God and treat
others like you would want yourself to be treated.
Exactly.
Yeah, sounds great. Well, thank you so much guys for taking this time.
Thank you for having us. We love this.
Yeah, yeah, this is a lot of fun.
We gotta come back.
Yeah, great. Yeah. And for those who are watching, I hope that you have been able to find some
encouragement and fun in the midst of this as well. Yeah, and just think about how faith
has carried you through your life and all of the ups and downs as well. And we will see
you again next week.