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Happened to Me
If Anybody Knew the Real Me
How could god love a messed-up guy like me?
by Josh Phillips as told to Ann Swindell
IYF, January/February 2008
Why Didn't He Hate Me?
I'd killed his wife in a car accident, and now he wanted to talk to me.
by Shannon Ethridge
IYF, January/February 2008
We Didn't Know How to Help
Allison's new relationship was a bad idea. But what could we do?
by Amy Adair
IYF, September/October 2007
Get Lost, Unibrow!
When it came to how we treated Jackson, I thought I was the good guy.
by Josh Kim as told to Christy Heitger
IYF, September/October 2007
What Are You Afraid Of?
Zach Hunter says courage isn't the absence of fear, but the willingness to face our fears.
by Zach Hunter
IYF, September/October 2007
"I Felt Forgiven"
An IYF.com exclusive interview with Lacey Mosley of Flyleaf.
by Todd Hertz
IYF, posted 09/21/2007
Zach Hunter, Freedom Fighter
Meet a modern-day abolitionist.
by Elisabeth Freeman
IYF, September/October 2007
I Didn't Want to Move
My friends were the best in the world. Why did I have to leave them?
by Karen Langley
CL, September/October 2003
Defeated!
God, why did you let this happen? All that work, all that training, all that prayer. For what?
by Matthew Everhard with Latonya Taylor
CL, November/December 2003
I Never Liked My Grandpa …
He never seemed to care about me. But for some reason, I just had to see him one more time.
by Steven James
CL, March/April 2002
Everything But All the Way
Even though I was a virgin, I felt anything but sexually pure.
by Katie Allen
IYF, June/July 2007
Take a Stand
I'd been quiet way too long about the team's beer parties.
by Jason Nelson as told to Chris Lutes
CL, September/October 1998
I Survived Hell
After my kidnappers forced me to kill, I begged God to let me die.
by Grace Akallo as told to Deann Alford
IYF, March/April 2007
Addicted to Porn
I didn't want to keep looking. But I did.
by Shaun Groves
IYF, January/February 2007
Stage Fright
I froze. My world turned black. My mind went blank.
by Christy Heitger-Casbon
IYF, January/February 2007
Flat on My Face
I finally got Trevor's attention—but not the way I'd planned.
by Karen Langley
IYF, January/February 2007
Joy in a Chicken Sandwich
How David Crowder met God in the mall food court.
by Todd Hertz
IYF, January/February 2007
Loving the Unlovable
Surely, Jesus didn't mean to love everybody …
by Todd Hertz
IYF, January/February 2007
I Can Do It Myself!
I skied … I fell … I skied … I fell again …
by Todd Hertz
IYF, January/February 2006
Why Did I Survive?
One second I was partying. The next, I was fighting for my life.
by Austin Atkinson, as told to Christy Heitger-Casbon
IYF, November/December 2006
Cheater
I should have just accepted a zero on the assignment.
by Emily Grimm as told to Christy Heitger-Casbon
IYF, September/October 2006
A Place to Finally Belong
Amy worried about being rejected at youth group.
by Amy Nickerson
IYF, September/October 2006
I Quit
I gave up before I gave it my all.
by Todd Casbon, as told to Christy Heitger-Casbon
IYF, September/October 2006
Attacked
The bear charged. I knew I was going to die.
by Alex Benson, as told to Todd Hertz
IYF, June/July 2006
Party Girl?
I thought drinking at a frat party would help me fit in.
by Elizabeth Miller
CL, March/April 2006
Desperate for Friends
Despite the way classmates treated her, Sarah wanted their acceptance.
by Todd Hertz
IYF, January/February 2006
Am I Gay?
I Just wanted to be a normal guy … was that so much to ask?
Authors name withheld
IYF, January/February 2006
How God Used My Dark Past
Mat went through hard times, he never imagined they would help him witness to a friend.
by Todd Hertz
CL, November/December 2005
I Needed to Be Perfect
Katie Giguere thought being overweight meant giving up her dream.
by Todd Hertz
CL, November/December 2005
Starving to be Perfect
My weight was nobody's business but my own.
by Josh Cromer as told to Todd Hertz
CL, September/October 2001
A Race I'd Never Win
No matter how hard I trained, my teammates didn't notice. Why was I trying to impress them anyway?
by Christy Heitger-Casbon
CL, September/October 2001
Why, God?
My life was such a mess and I was sure God was to blame.
by Tabor Troutman as told to Chris Lutes
CL, May/June 1998
Jordan Bilyeu, Tsunami Survivor
Jordan wasn't sure if he'd live or die.
by Elisabeth Freeman
CL, June/July 2005
My Grandpa … The Stranger
I had absolutely nothing in common with my grandpa…or so I thought.
by Todd Hertz
CL, June/July 2005
Liar!
Carrie lied about me. So why did I have to be the one to patch things up?
by Liz Kral with Crystal Kirgiss
CL, January/February 1997
With Friends Like These …
Everyone seemed to think my birthday present was so funny. Obviously, they knew something I didn't.
by Elesha Hodge
CL, September/October 1999
Why Was I Talking to Him?
Jason wasn't exactly the most popular kid in school.
by Amber Verwey as told to Chris Lutes
CL, March/April 2005
I Was the Team Joke
After a few practice drills, it was clear I was no longer the fastest and strongest guy on the court.
by Todd Casbon as told to Christy Heitger-Casbon
CL, March/April 2005
12 Truths for Awesome Living
Anna O'Connor says having cancer has taught her to live life to its fullest.
Interview with Chirs Lutes
CL, March/April 2005
My Best Friend Needed God
by Jarrod Stichter, as told to Chris Lutes
CL, January/February 2005
Another Boring Talk?
Hot rooms and long talks that never end.
by Andy Bosemeyer, as told to Chris Lutes
CL, January/February 2005
I Hid My Pain
Alex wondered how he would survive his parents' divorce.
by Alex Moberg, as told to Karen Langley
CL, January/February 2005
Not Good Enough?
Singer Bethany Dillon is learning to trust in a God who is bigger than all of her bad days.
by Todd Hertz
CL, January/February 2005
Exclusive
My relationship with Paul had taken over my life.
by Kate E. Schmelzer
CL, January/February 2005
Where's My Christmas Spirit?
The kid had just broken a window, and I was ready to let him have it.
by Gwen Spaulding as told to Chris Lutes
CL, November/December 2001
Letting Go Of Anger
Madolyn now stays cool in situations that used to send her into a rage.
by Madolyn Cavazos as told to Karen Langley
CL, November/December 2004
I Was Boy-Crazy
ZOEgirl's Chrissy Conway learned how to make better dating decisions.
by Todd Hertz
CL, November/December 2004
I Felt Dead Inside
Cutting myself helped me release the bad feelings inside. So why did I always feel worse afterward?
by Holly Dawn Hunter
CL, November/December 2004
I Hated Being Home
Skillet's John Cooper had to learn how to forgive.
By Todd Hertz
CL, September/October 2004
Broken
It was all about me until one tackle changed everything.
by Clif Weston
CL, September/October 2004
The Lure of Gang Life
I joined the gang and suddenly had more money than I thought possible. I also lived in constant danger of taking a life or losing my own.
by Jeremiah Utley as told to Chris Lutes
CL, June/July 2004
Fast … Faster … BUSTED!
Did you see a cop? I didn't see a cop.
by Todd Casbon, as told to Christy Heitger-Casbon
CL, June/July 2004
I Knew He Wasn't a Christian
I thought I was part of God's plan for bringing brad to Christ. but brad wasn't changing. I was.
by Amy Adair
CL, June/July 2004
All Alone?
I wasn't fast like my brother. In fact, I wasn't good at anything.
by Christy Heitger-Casbon
CL, March/April 2004
What if I Die?
I deserved to go to hell. So why wouldn't God send me there?
by Matt Gredy as told to Amber Penney
CL, March/April 2004
No One Understood
When Dave first moved from the Philippines, he was lonely and angry.
by Dave Mcdowell, as told to Karen Langley
CL, January/February 2004
Confessions of a Grumpy Camper
I was sure the trip couldn't get any worse. I was wrong.
by Jessica Hendricks
CL, January/February 2004
Mean Spirit
The Pantherettes didn't want to support my cheerleading squad. They wanted to take over.
by LaTonya Taylor
CL, January/February 2004
A Different Kind of Rave
I went to the rave to sell drugs, but I walked out with something that would change my life …
by Daniel Markey as told to Mark Moring
CL, January/February 2004
"I Felt Stuck in My Faith"
When her spiritual walk slowed to a crawl, Joy Williams turned to her mentor to get things going again.
by Mark Moring
CL, November/December 2003
Weird Old People
What I discovered when I finally stopped to listen to the older people in my life.
by Sara Groves
CL, November/December 2003
Is My Sister Going to Die?
How could I trust God when this awful thing was happening to my family?
by Camilla Bekius
CL, November/December 2003
I Lived a Lie
I'd partied almost every weekend. I'd also told everyone I was a Christian.
by Holly Vicente Robaina
CL, November/December 2003
8 Steps to a Better Friendship with God
by Holly Vicente Robaina
CL, September/October 2003
What Can We Do About AIDS?
Christian musicians are rsponding to the crisis in Africa. You can too!
by Mark Moring
CL, September/October 2003
I Wish I'd Waited
Now I understand why God wanted me to save myself for my wedding night.
by Valerie Gotuva*
CL, September/October 2003
Don't Let Me Die!
Trapped underwater, Carly thought she would surely drown.
by Carly Boohm, as told to Gail Wood
CL, June/July 2003
"You'll Never Make It"
Peter was told he'd never finish that 2,168-mile hike. But that didn't stop this college freshman from trying.
by Peter Frost, as told to Holly Vicente Robaina
CL, June/July 2003
Aren't You Listening, God?
I prayed about my eyes every night. Why wasn't God healing me?
by Holly Vicente Robaina
CL, June/July 2003
An Answer to Prayer?
The doctor's words sure didn't sound like an answer to prayer. It just felt like God had really let me down.
by Amy Adair
CL, March/April 2003
Bouncing Back
When her 10-year-old cousin died of leukemia, Stacie Orrico was devastated. But she decided to turn her grief into something positive.
by Mark Moring
CL, March/April 2003
They Were So Cruel
Miss America Erika Harold struggled to forgive the bullies from her high school.
by Erika Harold as told to LaTonya Taylor
CL, March/April 2003
Every Guy's Struggle
I agonized. I pleaded with God. But then I'd find myself falling into lust again and again.
by Mark Allen, as told to Chris Lutes
CL, March/April 2003
I Turned My Back on God
Before joining Plus One, Jason Perry made some decisions he still regrets.
by Jason Perry
CL, January/February 2003
"You Ain't No Better Than Me"
A kind act brings an unexpected reaction.
by Ed Gilbreath
CL, November/December 2002
Am I Going to Die Young?
Competitive athletics had taught me to tackle any challenge. But this one was different from anything I'd ever faced.
by Johanna Olson, as told to Christy Heitger-Casbon
CL, November/December 2002
When a Friend Messes Up
It's hard to confront a friend, but sometimes, it's the right thing to do.
by Amber Penney
CL, November/December 2002
Facing My Fears On Reality TV
Three weeks. Twelve teens. TV cameras everywhere. And one amazing mountaintop experience.
by Chip Luter as told to Latonya Taylor
CL, November/December 2002
I Just Couldn't Say No
They kept offering me drugs, and I kept turning them down. But then I figured, Why not just this once?
by Jason Gomez as told to Christy Heitger-Casbon
CL, September/October 2002
Where Are You, God?
After the terrorist attacks last fall, Natalie LaRue felt like God had abandoned her. Here is her story.
by Natalie LaRue
CL, September/October 2002
Stressed Out!
Confessions of a High School Workaholic.
by Ben Hines
CL, September/October 2002
"I Killed My Baby!"
I'd made lots of bad choices, but having an abortion was the worst choice of all. How could God ever forgive me for what I had done?
by Nereida Becerra as told to Autumn Issitt
CL, June/July 2002
Could Life Get Any Worse?
First my sister, then my dad … Only God could get us through these tragedies.
by Laura Taylor
CL, March/April 2002
What Am I Doing Here?
I had big expectations for what God would do on my mission trip. But I didn't get what I expected.
by Autumn Issitt
CL, March/April 2002
Good Enough 'Cause God Said So
Once troubled by insecurities, the two sisters in Mary Mary now sing with confidence about God's love and faithfulness.
by Mark Moring
CL, January/February 2002
The Nightmare of September 11
When terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, Phillip Santiago and Matthew Rivera were in school just three blocks away. This is their story.
by Mark Moring
CL, January/February 2002
Where's My Christmas Spirit?
The kid had just broken a window, and I was ready to let him have it.
by Gwen Spaulding as told to Chris Lutes
CL, November/December 2001
Tall, Dark, And Handsome …
but definitely not a Christian. So why was I falling for this guy?
by Camerin Courtney
CL, November/December 2001
My Boyfriend Raped Me
Jack seemed like a great guy at first. He'd send me flowers and shower me with affection. But then he began to change?
by Me Ra Koh
CL, September/October 2001
Gossip
It ruins reputations and destroys friendships. So what can you do about it?
by Autumn Flutur
CL, May/June 2001
The Anger Inside
Steve's anger was out of control. He knew if something didn't change he'd end up in jail — or dead.
by Amber Penney
CL, May/June 2001
Good-bye Granddad
As I watched my grandfather die of Alzheimer's, I knew I was losing one of the best parts of my childhood.
By Carolyn Arends
CL, March/April 2001
Why All the Suffering?
Babies are dying every day. Why doesn't God do something?
By Saralynn Blyth
CL, January/February 2001
Why Me?
Blind by the time she was in junior high, Katie Pavlacka was mad at God and the world. But today this 19-year-old swimmer is trusting God with all her heart … and setting her sights on Olympic gold.
by Mark Moring
CL, September/October 2000
An Unexpected Customer
He was definitely different, and I didn't really want to help him. But he taught me an important lesson.
by Ashleigh Kittle
CL, September/October 2000
Forgiving Dad
I didn't understand how the man who taught me right from wrong could commit such a sin.
by Amber Penney
CL, September/October 2000
Facing Her Past
Raped when she was 17, musician Tracy Dawn spent years running from her pain. But she finally found hope and healing in a loving Savior.
by Chris Lutes
CL, May/June 2000
Life Sentence
At the age of 19, Crystal Sturgill was convicted of murder and sent to jail for the rest of her life. Sound like the end? It was only the beginning.
by Steven James
CL, May/June 2000
On a Mission
Because of his own experience with cancer, college senior Matthew Littlefield is driven to help others with the disease—and someday find a cure.
by Mark Moring
CL, May/June 2000
Not Good Enough?
For the first time in my life, I was in the spotlight. But I'd never felt more like a nobody.
by Kimberly Claassen
CL, March/April 2000
She Needed Jesus
A new orphanage wasn't enough. What the little girl I met on my missions trip really needed was a Savior.
by Laura Hepker
CL, January/February 2000
Diary of An Anorexic
I thought being thin would put me in control. Instead, I nearly lost everything—including my life.
by Christy Heitger-Casbon
CL, January/February 2000
A Gift of Love
We thought we were pretty good at loving God, but we had a lot to learn.
by Crystal Kirgiss
CL, November/December 1999
It's Not Fair!
I knew Dad's depression wasn't his fault. But I still couldn't forgive him for being so mean.
by Cathy Lescheid as told to Helen Grace Lescheid
CL, November/December 1999
With Friends Like These …
Everyone seemed to think my birthday present was so funny. Obviously, they knew something I didn't.
by Elesha Hodge
CL, September/October 1999
My Friends Showed Me God's Love
"I am thankful to God for what he's done in my life. I am also thankful for my Christian friends. It was their genuine love that
shoed me the way to Jesus."
by Anonymous
CL, September/October 1999
My Mistake
The guilt I felt after having sex was overwhelming. I thought God could never forgive me for what I'd done.
by Sarah Clements as told to Carla Barnhill
CL, March/April 1999
Stronger Than Fear
Stephanie's father had AIDS. Could she find the strength to stand by him as his life slipped away?
by Crystal Kirgiss
CL, March/April 1999
Miss Grumpy's Big Adventure
I knew this Spring Break trip was a disaster waiting to happen, and I was determined to have a lousy time.
by Elesha Hodge
CL, March/April 1999
Kevin's Different World
My brother will always have the mental abilities of a 7-year-old. But when it comes to faith, I feel like I'm the one with the handicap.
by Kelly Pinson Adkins
CL, January/February 1999
The Least of These
At first, all I saw was a frail old woman too dirty to touch. But those feelings soon changed.
by Amy Morsch as told to Dean Nelson
CL, January/February 1999
Why Won't She Listen to Me?
I watched as my sister's boyfriend crushed her spirit and tore her away from the people who loved her most.
by Angela Sanford as told to Liberty Lay
CL, November/December 1998
"I Could Have Been Mad at God … "
"I was only 4 when I became a homeless person. My parents had been divorced for a few months, and money was really tight. One day, Mom just said we were moving. The problem was, we didn't have any place to go … "
by Megan Siedlarczyk as told to Carla Barnhill
CL, September/October 1998
Paradise Trashed
The park I loved as a child was a mess. I had to do something about it.
by Erin Lyons
CL, July/August 1998
Family Ties
Dilapidated buildings, the stench of rubbish everywhere, cows wandering around the city, carts pulled by people, not horses, families living in "homes" the size of most Americans' bathrooms.
by Rebecca St. James
CL, May/June 1998
Grounded!
"No TV, no telephone, no friends, no car for the next two weeks."
by Nate Zoba
CL, November/December 1997
What an Experience!
Take a trip to Nashville with our Campus Life/Charlie Peacock lyric contest winner.
CL, September/October 1997
Michael
He looked like he really needed a friend. But did it have to be me?
by Crystal Kirgiss
CL, September/October 1997
So Why Was I Dating Him?
Paul wasn't a Christian. I was. So why was I dating him?
by Crystal Kirgiss
CL, July/August 1997
"I Can't Do This!"
I doubted my abilities. Worse, I doubted myself. How could I ever get over my fears?
by Katy Soule
CL, March/April 1997
Hometown Improvement
"My friends wonder why I spend so much time volunteering. I tell them I can't imagine doing anything else."
by Adriana Barrera as told to Carla Barnhill
CL, November/December 1996
Desperate to Fit In
I just wanted to be popular. So how did my life get so out of control?
by Colleen Holmes with Crystal Kirgiss
CL, November/December 1996
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