Unshakeable Faith

By Conner Pritchett

Photos by Sierra Molina

Late at night, sitting on a dock in a green sweatshirt and jeans, Suzy Stone made a life-altering decision.

“The feeling was unexplainable,” she said.

On July 13, 2013, Stone said she committed her life to Jesus in a moment that would change her life forever.

High School Senior Suzy Stone is the middle child of three girls, and the daughter of a happily married couple. Growing up, the Stone family would regularly make an appearance at church.

“We went to church, but all it meant for me was free mints in bathroom,” Stone said.

For her parents, Stone described their incentive behind showing up as being a moral obligation to their children.

It was not until the night of July 13, 2013, at church camp, did Stone changed her view on religion and her outlook on life.

“Until then I was selfish and insecure,” she said. “I didn’t go there for God, I was just there to be with friends.”

The moment occurred during the closing ceremonies in a Young Life camp at the Malibu Club in Canada. At the end of the week, there was some time allotted for silent reflection. She chose the spot on the dock staring at the water inlet. During this time, she prayed. She thought. She could feel something changing in her heart.

“There was something in me that knew I wasn’t making the wrong decision,” she recalled.

She, then moved on to the Closing Words Ceremony from the pastor. The only thing on her mind as she made the walk: the choice she knew it was time to make.

The pastor picked up the microphone, said his favorite memories, and with a smile said his final goodbyes. However, he stopped before exiting the stage. Microphone still in hand, he asked a simple question. Who, today, would like to accept Jesus into their life as their Lord and Savior? And if they were to accept him, stand up.

The crowd was silent. Each eye darting from one fellow camper to the other. A few necks arched as they scanned the crowd. Then, alone, amongst a crowd of hundreds of sitting children, the eyes reached their target. The necks arched even further. Standing was one girl.

Suzy Stone.

Looking back, Stone described herself as confident.

“I didn’t care what I looked like,” she said, “I didn’t care about the acceptance of others.

However, She knows that religion is an awkward topic for others to grasp. She understands that she is unique in her lifestyle and beliefs.

She copes with this by having a strong support group. Deemed her “squad,” it is made up of seven close friends, three of which go to Young Life with her.

She says they are her backbone. Some of which share the Christian faith as her, but to Stone that doesn’t matter. The bond they share is close. They are all there to support each other. She can be herself when she’s around them.

Stone describes herself as being happier than ever. She calls herself a changed girl.

“I didn’t use to care about other people, I was selfish,” she said.

And now with her newfound faith, she feels as confident as ever.

“I just don’t care what other people think about me anymore, I don’t focus as much on my physical appearance”

Stone is moving on to big things in her life. She has a found a new passion. A passion to serve.

Last June through July, Stone worked with the very organization that established her faith. She worked in the kitchen for 14 hours a day for 10 days.

“It’s just my way of showing gratitude to Young Life,”

She doesn’t want to be seen attached to the connotation of a religious person living tooth and nail to any rule they can get their hands on. She just wants to be seen as a girl who’s passionate about Jesus.

“I’m not a religious person, I just have a great relationship with Christ,” she said. “I’m all about that grace, man.”