Embedded Files
Ella McCune
Everyone is busy with homework, school, or finally taking a break and endlessly scrolling on their phone. Despite this, a group of high school students has found a different way to connect with people: through faith and Instagram. A small group of students at Aurora High School started Aurora Arise, an account on Instagram dedicated to sharing the word of God and inspiring those who watch to strengthen their faith. Every day, a new video is posted based on a Bible verse that expands into a deeper lesson.
Instgram: Aurora Arise
The Aurora Arise account on Instagram (@auroraarise.4) has over 1,000 followers and over 80 posts. One of the leaders of the group, senior Joel Fletcher, advocates for faith and enjoys sharing it with others. Fletcher explains, “We have had conversations with people, helping them grow closer to God, helping others with issues unrelated to faith, and many people have said the videos helped them in some way. One thing I loved to see is people, especially young people, come up to us and say they enjoy the videos. This has personally brought me closer to God in my faith as well.” Fletcher also mentions, “Jesus changed my life in 8th grade, and I want to share Him with others so they can experience the goodness of God as well. He’s given me true life, unconditional love, and unexplainable peace.”
When it comes to posting, it’s important to engage the audience and keep them interested, especially when the audience is large. Junior, Logan Archibald, is another leader of the Aurora Arise group who helps post within the group. “I try to keep my messages short and get straight to the point because I believe less is more. I want people to be able to understand the message without feeling like they have to watch a super long video. At the end of the day, it’s not about making the video entertaining or getting a certain number of views. It’s about sharing the truth of who Jesus is in a way that people can understand and connect with.”
Along with spreading the message of God and impacting others, it has also had an impact on Archibald as well. She mentions, “Starting Aurora Arise has reminded me that my faith has a purpose beyond just my own relationship with Jesus. For a long time, I think I viewed sharing my faith as something I wanted to do but wasn't always confident enough actually to do. Being part of Aurora Arise has taught me that you don't have to be perfect, know every answer, or have your entire life figured out to talk about Jesus. You just have to be willing to let God use you.”
Instagram: Aurora Arise
As Aurora Arise continues to grow, it has faced its share of challenges along the way. Senior Ellen Tachdijan shares some of the lessons she’s learned with the group: “By making these videos and sharing my faith, I’ve learned the importance of being confident in what I believe and not being afraid to be myself. I’ve also learned that even small actions can impact someone else. In the future, I want to continue encouraging others, staying true to my faith, and using my voice to make a positive difference.” Tachdijan also shares, “I want each video to have a meaningful message about God while still being interesting and relatable to others. Sometimes it can be difficult to think of new topics, but I try to pay attention to things happening around me and use them as inspiration.”
In conclusion, Aurora Arise has inspired so many others to grow in their faith and meet new people. If you or anybody you know wants to strengthen their faith with God and connect with others, go to @auroraarise on Instagram to fuel your faith.
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