“A journey towards a future”

My name is Gustavo, but within Radicais, in my local YoungStars group, I’m called Max. I’m 20 years old and I’m from the southern part of the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

I started participating in Radicais (the Youngstars Organisation in Brazil) when I was 13 years old, at a summer camp organized by the team. At the time, I had just started attending church, and the camp was about to happen. Since I couldn’t afford it at that moment, I wasn’t going to go. But Jordelio—the main leader and president of Radicais—called me to talk and asked if I was going. After I told him no, he said he would bless me, and when he found out that I had a brother, he said he would bless him too, so we could both attend the camp. This gesture deeply impacged me and my family. After that, my involvement came naturally, and it has been 7 intense years since then.

Radicais has become a part of my life, and I can’t see myself apart from it. To me, it’s a tool for evangelism and discipleship that prepares children and teenagers not only for church life but for all areas of life. It’s a place to overcome your limits, even the ones you thought you couldn’t leave behind. A place to connect with people and live intensely through everything that lies before you.

Radicais in Brazil can teach everyone a lot about tackling tasks with intensity and team spirit. It’s about being competitive and passionate about what lies ahead, and always be ready to take on new challenges. What makes the team different, in addition to this, is the spirit of unity that brings everyone together for a single purpose, making us a family.

In July, the Youngstars in Brazil, Radicais, sent me, one of the leaders to Europe to gain more knowledge and experience, with the goal of continuing to improve the work already happening.

It was an extraordinary experience, filled with challenges and valuable lessons. In the end, there were five camps in four different countries, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Romania, where we worked with children and teenagers, focused on pioneering techniques, engaged in physical activities, and much more. This experience and knowledge I can share back home, will broaden our perspective and prepare us better for our work in Brazil. It also deepened our connections with other Youngstar organisations.

After everything I experienced, the most profound feeling I have is gratitude for this privilege. It's impossible to share two months of rich experiences in a short text, but I am confident that these moments will bear fruit. I'm eager to share what I’ve learned with the team in Brazil and to continue growing in our mission to spread the gospel to more people.

What I can say for sure is: This journey is a milestone in my life, and I'm committed to applying everything I’ve learned to make a lasting impact back home.