Daniel

Daniel is a young, ambitious guy who was born to religious parents and has five siblings. He and his family experienced living abroad when the war first broke out, and later returned to Vinnytsia, Ukraine, where he still lives. Currently, the rest of his family is abroad again, and he is staying in a temporary home with his father, who is a pastor, and his older brother. Despite having a large Christian family, he recalls that as a child he felt lonely and spent most of his time at home alone. In his teens, he started running with bad company and fell away from God by leading a rebellious lifestyle.

After meeting his current mentor and good friend, he attended Young Life camp and started helping the team. However, it took him a while to change his lifestyle, as it was hard for him to give up his old friends and addictions. At his second Young Life camp, he had an incredible experience of a personal meeting with Christ and his life changed dramatically. He found a true relationship with God and his calling. When the war broke out, he was one of the only team members left in the city. This shaped his character and fueled his sense of responsibility as a team leader.

Now, as a Developing Global Leader, he is studying economics at a local university. He believes that his country needs economic development and true professionals in this field, especially in such war-torn conditions. Daniel sees great value in raising a new generation of Christ followers and sees himself further developing Young Life's mission in his region in the future.