K for LIFE: A group of seniors attending since they were in elementary school maneuver their final year before college at KLIFE and have grown their friendship since

Around the corner of a church, a group of high schoolers hide in the pitch black at 11 p.m. The “murderer” roams around the church while the others attempt to hide from them. Unaware of who it is, the suspense continues as they try to decipher who is doing the “killing.”

This tradition illustrates the friendship of seniors Will Beck, Brooks Moore, Cole Chinnock and Luke Bartalos.

While many high schoolers find their community and friend group from a sporting team, a hard class, or even in a club, Beck, Moore, Chinnock and Bartalos have built a lifelong friendship through building their religious faith at KLIFE — a religious youth group.

“[KLIFE] helped me grow my friendships, grow my faith in God and it’s been a big part of my life,” Moore said.

As they drive to the KLIFE house and walk into the building for their weekly meetings, not only have they gained life advice from their mentors, but they now have a place where they can belong. 

“High school is such a hard time and you go in your freshman year and you don’t know what or who you are,” Chinnock said. “But I think KLIFE really helps you solidify that and find who you are.”

Every Sunday, a group of nearly 20 seniors meet with their mentor, Matt Ford, at the KLIFE house. Then on Mondays, they join the rest of the high school group. 

They venture inside the building and usually start off playing games such as basketball with their friends. Then they sing worship songs and the mentors give sermons about scripture. Not just about high school needs, but anything and everything they need to hear, such as troubles in family and current events.

Every week since elementary school, the group has attended their youth group at the KLIFE house. They share their prayer requests, asking for the group to pray for things going on in their lives, and by doing this they are able to learn more about each other’s needs and concerns, such as things they are struggling with and need help with.

“You get to hear a little different side of [your friends],” Chinnock said. “You get to know them a little better because you know what’s on their heart and what they’re thinking and maybe concerned about.”

According to Moore, everyone should join KLIFE. It can truly improve anyone’s high school experience, the role models can lead the path for their futures through advice and their teaching.

“[Our mentor has] been through it all, he’s had a rough go at life,” Chinnock said. “He is so knowledgeable, and you can talk to him about anything. The older mentors have just been really awesome.”

Memories like retreat trips over the summers and post-youth-group Chick-fil-A dinners have been made throughout the friends KLIFE experiences. They have gained experience working with younger kids and with older mentors to continue to grow their faith.

Over their sophomore summer, some members of the group went on a retreat trip to Kanakuk, near Branson, Missouri for 24 hours. They stayed awake almost the entire time and came home practically delirious but with memories of their time well spent with their friends, worshiping and learning more about each other. 

They continue on their friendship from retreat camps to their everyday meetings and hangout outside of KLIFE and of school.

After the conclusion of each meeting, the group gather up their things, say their goodbyes, head to their cars and take the four minute drive to Chick-Fil-A. There the group continues to bond and create close relationships and a friendship outside of the KLIFE walls. 

“[During KLIFE] we get to see each other more, and then we get to grow in common interests and just learn more about each other,” Moore said.