Hudson plugged into our ministry during his freshman year of college about three and a half years ago. He never could have imagined how deeply it would shape not just his life, but the lives of students he now walks alongside. Hudson came in with little experience interacting with middle or high school students. What surprised him most? How quickly that changed.
“I had never really worked with kids before,” Hudson shared. “I didn’t expect to enjoy mentoring them as much as I do—or to ever be leading teams or connecting with students on this level.” As Hudson became more involved, he began to
see the bigger picture of YFC: the diversity of the ministry and the wide range of students reached across Tuscaloosa. That exposure reshaped his understanding of what we do. “We often think adults are the ones with hard lives or who hit rock bottom,” Hudson said. “But these kids are going through real things, too. Even at such a young age, they’re desperately searching or hope.”
That truth became especially clear through Hudson’s relationship with Ben, a sixth grader from Hillcrest Middle School.
Hudson met Ben in his middle school lunchroom. Ben was hesitant toward Jesus from the start, openly saying that he doesn’t believe and never will. For Hudson, that was initially discouraging. Spending time, showing up consistently and not seeing immediate fruit can be hard. But instead of pulling back, Hudson dove into Ben’s life even more. Ben didn’t come to Campus Life club or an afternoon Hang Out for a long time, but Hudson talked with him every single lunch period. Ben would always take a Hang Out permission slip, yet it never seemed to get turned in. There were many reasons: parents were busy, his brother had sports or there was no ride. After a few months, Hudson decided to offer Ben a ride to Hang Out and would drop him off afterward at his brother’s baseball practice. That small act of consistency changed everything. Ben started coming every week!
From there, their relationship grew through regular milkshake runs, boba trips, and afternoons at the park, along with Ben’s friend Tyler. The three spent time talking about siblings, family struggles and the challenges at home. Tyler and Ben shared similar parental struggles and found comfort in realizing they weren’t alone.
While conversations about the gospel were frequent, Ben was very honest that he wasn’t ready. From the time he started coming to Hang Out through Middle School retreat and beyond, he shared that his view of Christianity had been shaped by negative experiences at home. Hudson described this as “behavioral Christianity” where messages were centered around fear, shame and hypocrisy, causing real church hurt. Still, Ben keeps showing up.
“You need to reach the kids who don’t want to hear the name of Jesus just as much as the ones who already know Him,” Hudson explains. Watching students ask questions and keep showing up has deeply grown Hudson’s own
faith. Over the past three years, he’s become more involved in church, led small groups and grown in confidence, both personally and spiritually.
“I never thought I could lead like this,” Hudson shared. “That’s what the enemy was telling me–but God had other plans.”
Being required to articulate his faith, answer students’ direct questions and clearly share the gospel as an invitation has strengthened Hudson’s confidence in his own walk with Christ. Alongside Ben’s story, some of the most powerful moments for Hudson have come from witnessing long-term transformations:
● Ryan, once an undisciplined eighth grader, now reads his Bible daily and writes nightly prayers to God in his notes app, showing such a genuine desire for the Lord.
● Carter, who has matured tremendously from middle to high school, is becoming confident in who God created him to be, despite difficult circumstances and a lack of consistent parental guidance. Hudson explains, “By everything in his life, Carter could’ve gone down a different path. But God put people in his life like pastors and us Campus Life leaders to pull him towards Jesus.”
Hudson’s story is a reminder that the most impactful ministry often happens behind the scenes. Sometimes it looks like lunchroom conversations, car rides, milkshakes and just showing up week after week. This is where you come in.
Students across Tuscaloosa are searching for hope, and they need leaders like you to help lead them to it. We are always in need of adults willing to volunteer their time and invest in the lives of these students.
Would you consider becoming a leader or inviting someone you know to serve?
Your yes could be the reason a student keeps showing up and eventually finds hope.
Madelin Sims, Westlawn Middle School Leader