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Braylin Allison’s life changed at 16 when she attended Search, a diocesan youth retreat. Today, a parishioner at Christ the King Church in Little Rock, the 23-year-old is dedicated to being that spiritual mentor to teens on the adult Search team and volunteering with CYM at CTK. Her husband Jake, whom she met through Search, serves on the Search adoration team.
“I was still trying to figure out my Catholic faith when I went … I didn’t know how to pray outside of formal prayer that I had learned, and I didn’t know what it truly meant to be involved and have a relationship with Christ,” but soon experienced adoration and a way to live the sacraments. “Life starts to happen; you experience Christ.”
Allison, who graduated from the University of Arkansas with a public health degree and is working this summer with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, converted to Catholicism in eighth grade and soon got involved in youth council and ministry events at Sacred Heart Church in Charleston.
“I got involved in a time in my life when I was very vulnerable and trying to figure out myself,” she said. “… I was met with such understanding and mercy and just acceptance, and I made just unbelievable friends.”
The Search retreat planted a seed of faith.
“It was crazy to see (the adult leaders) talk to me and respect me for what I have to say and they didn’t look down on me because I was young and that was life changing,” she said, adding “I hope to do the same.”
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