Juliya Krizhanovskaya

Many of you reading this might say to yourselves, who is Juliya and why is Kaila writing about her? Why should I read something on a girl I do not even know... well I will tell you now... read it, because truth is.... a lot of us could learn from a girl like Juliya. Though she may only be a Jr. in high school, she is one incredible individual.
It was my first year of Interns and I had just officially been commissioned as a leader for The City Church and was about to embark on a new journey of becoming a cadre leader. (Also known as a small group.. for all you non-City-Church-people). Unlike only leaders, I was blessed with being handed off a cadre instead of starting my own from scratch. Vanessa Silva (Now Dunn) had just been released to pastor at one of our church plans and I was going to take over the North End Cadre. I will never forget that day as Juliya came to cadre for the first time. There was always something about her which caught my eye and I never knew exactly what. Something in my spirit... that is all I can say.
My cadre was at a place where everyone came from all different shapes and sizes. Many who never grew up in church or even knew who God was. There were those who came who had to take breaks for a cigarette smoke, there were those who came to cadre for there first time on drugs, there are girls who used to work the strip clubs and there were those who were abused. ( I only say this out loud because they would love to share their stories with you as well.) Then walked in Juliya. A totally normal looking girl. She would be "the girl next door". So quiet, so gentel, just always observing what was around her. She was never someone who was longing for attention or making thing dramatic... she just was Juliya. (mind you she was only a 8th grader at the time).
But I am telling you, I have never been so blown away by this girl. My gosh, as soon as Juliya had a chance to talk about God... the whole room would go quiet. The stories, the testimonies, the revelation, the wisdom on this girl was something which some 30yr olds never even learn! At 14 years old, this girl would not only read the scripture, she would study it in the Greek lang, the Hebrew lang, and then write her own version as to how it applies practically for her life today! THAT'S NUTS! The moment I learned this about her, I literally went to God and said... " God? Are you sure you want me to lead her? Because right now it feels like she should be the one coaching me?". She would come to cadre telling all of us who she got to tell Jesus to on the bus, or tell us what God was doing in her life, or tell us what scripture God gave her for some person at her school. If there is any girl who knew the voice of God, it would be her. Because God was constantly speaking to her and she was constantly just obeying. Whatever it was that He asked. For example... tennis. God told her to do tennis so what does she do, she signs up for tennis. Did she have the money to buy the gear or pay for the insurance stuff? No. But of course, God some how some way covered everything she could ever thing or imagine.
Now if you step back and look at her today, only 3 years later... you would never imagine her to be who she is. Something had been truly birthed in this girl to church the world for God. At Mariner High School ( a school with a huge drop out rate, gang related activity, low income), Juliya a sophomore at the time who was nothing more then just a very sweet looking white girl started a Bible Study movement on campus called the Movement with another GCer. Within two weeks of there doors opening up, over 70 students were coming. They had so many people, they could not fit them in the class room. In fact, the school tried shutting them down because they said they needed more teachers to help facilitate because it was so big. This girl has visions to change a school and that is exactly what she is doing. Not only that, but she is now currently looking into becoming student body President, she is already on leadership, and she is just an overall leader.
Not only is she a leader at her school but she is also a leader for the Generation Church as well. Now overseeing much of what I left behind at the Alderwood campus, Juliya leads a small group, loves people, is always serving, and always the first to come to the alter. If I had to paint one picture which describes Juliya, it would be a picture of a girl crying at the feet of Jesus saying.. "Lord, whatever you want. I have no idea what I can do for you but make me something so I could do something for you." Powerful. You want to know what child like faith is? Just spend an afternoon with this girl. I am telling you, it will probably do you some good.
This goes to show you, you never know what kinds of people you are sowing into. You never know who they will be.
Juliya, you personally caused me to love people in a new level. The way you pushed for more of God, just motivated me to be a better leader for you. I love you. I care for you and always will. I love how God gave me visions for that school but God chose you to see the plans follow through. It reminds me of Moses and the promise land. :) I can not wait to see what God does with you. I always believes that my Timothy (you) would surpass the Paul (me). AND PS. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL and so grown up! It's crazy