How Gauntlet gave me a big vision of the future

Brittany Kelly discovered the power of serving at Gauntlet. Press play to hear how the summer camp shaped her kingdom mentality

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Brittany Kelly saw the big picture.

She volunteered at NewSpring Fuse because she remembered being the teen who walked away from church because it wasn’t a place where she felt she belonged.

Creating a fun, welcoming atmosphere on Wednesday nights was something she looked forward to every week because she knew the difference it could make.

But leading a group of girls at the Gauntlet? The first time she heard about the five-day student summer camp at Daytona Beach, Florida, the whole idea seemed intimidating.

Then some of her fellow Fuse volunteers said they’d go with her — and she knew God was taking away her excuses.

Gauntlet showed Brittany the true power of a kingdom mentality.

Her experience was so awesome, she returned the following two years. She’s gearing up for her fourth time as a volunteer in 2018.

“I would always encourage someone to take their next step by serving at Gauntlet because you don’t know how one moment can change an eternity,” Brittany says.

In 2017, Brittany saw the clearest example yet of how God was working through her to impact students.

You never know how one moment or conversation can change a student’s eternity.

Although she didn’t have existing relationships with two of the three girls in her room, by midweek, all of them had warmed up to her.

Then one of them found the courage to talk about the pain of not having a father in her life.

Brittany could relate. Her father was absent when she was growing up, too. Brittany shared about her past with the girl, and she spoke about the healing she experienced when she asked Jesus into her life at NewSpring in 2015. Brittany was able to forgive her dad, and their relationship is growing now.

“I felt God had placed me there for a reason; for that specific conversation,” Brittany says. “You never know how one moment or conversation can change a student’s destiny.”

The girl gave her life to Jesus the following day.

Brittany says Gauntlet creates unique opportunities to develop relationships. And volunteers can continue to invest in students and guide them once they return home.

“They have their independence, everything is fresh, and they are in transition,” Brittany says. “Knowing they are not alone can help them get through situations.”

The impact multiplies in ways that will never be known, she says.

“No matter how big or small your investments, it’s lasting, impacting, and transformative in their life,” Brittany says. “Every little ounce of grace they experience is something positive and contagious that they can pass on to everyone. Those students will make a difference wherever God takes them in the future.”

Make your eternal impact on the next generation, and sign up to serve.