Faith isn’t something you keep tucked away in a journal or whispered in a quiet prayer. For me, it started that way, but it didn’t stay there. Over the past three years, my faith has become a more important part of my life. I trace it back to church camp, when I was surrounded by the love of God. At first, I thought the “camp high” was temporary, but then the feeling didn’t fade. My love for the Lord just never seemed to diminish like I expected. At first, I focused on my personal relationship with God by reading my Bible, praying, and journaling. That was a really important time for me, but then I realized how faith was never meant to stay private, and how you have to love the Lord loudly, and that is when my faith shifted from personal to public and mission-focused.

For many teenagers, including me, mission work is mainly done through Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. But since Texas passed the new phone law, I’ve had to find other ways. Without my phone, I’ve realized I’m more present, social, and willing to have real conversations. And what better place to spread the word of God than school?

Impactful moments don’t always come from a grand gesture. Sometimes it’s as simple as saying, “Have a blessed day,” or “I’ll pray for you.” When my friends open up about stress, I’ll share verses like Philippians 4:6-7 (“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”) to remind them that God’s peace is greater than our worries. These acts matter. Mission work doesn’t have to be outrageously loud (like preaching your heart out in the middle of the street); it can simply be kindness, encouragement, or listening when someone needs it most.

I’ve also learned the difference between mission work online versus face-to-face. Online, it is easy to be discouraged by negativity or be distracted by “clout Christianity.” In person, though, there is eye contact, tone, and emotion, things that no post can replicate. Every time I talk about my faith at school, it not only helps someone else, but it also strengthens me. 

If you’re wondering where to start, don’t over-complicate it. Invite a friend to pray with you, wear a bracelet with a verse/scripture related topic on it, or choose kindness instead of gossip. Even holding the door open can reflect the love of Jesus in powerful ways.

So while the phone law may have changed how we use social media, it also gave us something even greater: face-to-face faith that can encourage others and transform us at the same time.