Teen Times:I always wear three bands. One is the well known WWJD, which stands for What Would Jesus Do. Another says GOLF, meaning God Of Love and Faithfulness. The last one is FROG: Fully Relying On God. This is my favourite - if I ever feel lonely or scared, I glance at this one and I know God is there.
Whenever I meet new people, they nearly always ask me what the bands mean. It is a fun way to describe my faith. I like wearing these bands because I love being a Christian. I suppose that seems strange seeing as I'm only 15 and there is a perception that young people are not committed to their faith.
A general reaction to Christianity is that it is boring. Sometimes I think other religions, such as Buddhism, are made to look more attractive, or allowed to be taken more seriously, such as Islam. There is a lot more to Christianity than Bible-bashing. It's hard for me to imagine not having God in my life. In the morning I always feel safe knowing that I'm going through my day with Him.
I go to Abbey Presbyterian church on Parnell Square, Dublin. I sometimes hate the thought of getting up for 11am when I could be lying in bed. However, when I get to my church and I'm with my friends, it makes it all worthwhile. There are not many young people in my church but those of us who are there have known each other since we were small and so we all get on really well. I like to meet the older people too; they always ask me how I'm getting on and take an interest in what I am doing.
We've got people from all over the world in our church. I've met people from Africa, China, Romania, Bulgaria, France, America and lots more. They are all very interesting. My dad is the Minister of the church and so we are often asked to go back to houses for dinner. The food from different countries I have tried has been really good, even though I was reluctant to eat it at first because it was like nothing I'd had before.
On a Saturday night I go to a youth club in another church in Adelaide Road. Loads of my friends would be out drinking but I don't need drink to have fun. I love hanging around with the people in the youth club because they are Christians and are a great support. I don't mind taking any of my other friends along because it usually shows them that Christianity isn't as boring as they thought.
When I was a child I went to Africa, as my dad was a missionary there. I hope to go back there with my friend Laura some day. This summer my family and I are interested in going somewhere different on missionary work. There are lots of ways to help people, both in Ireland and the rest of the world.
In the summer I go to Teenstreet, which is organised by the Christian group Operation Mobilisation. This is a huge gathering of teenagers from all over the world who are Christians. It is held in Germany, and it is the most amazing experience I have had. I've made loads of friends there. I keep in touch with them by e-mail and we help each other with our faith. The music is so heart-warming and really makes me feel closer to God. In Teenstreet, they help us to express God in whatever way we want, whether that is through art or music or socialising.
God is great, is what we say, in all the different languages of the participants at the Teenstreet event, including Irish. This is so true; I don't know what I would do without Him guiding me through life.
As it is coming up to Christmas, I look at my What Would Jesus Do band and know that what he did was come to earth as a baby to save us. He changed the world. And He changed my life.
Kirsten Boal (15) is in transition year at Mount Temple School, Dublin
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