“For the lost.”

That’s the name and shared motto at For the Lost Jesus Club started at Waxahachie High School this semester. The group meets on Wednesdays at 8 a.m. in the gray gym. The leaders say their vision is to spread Christianity and create a safe haven for students.

However, this is not the only Jesus-centered club at WHS. The other group, named Jesus Club, was started about three years ago and meets every Friday morning at 8 a.m. in the black box theater. The leaders say that Jesus Club is more than a meeting; it’s a community of students united by their faith, wanting to deepen their relationships with God. The leaders of both clubs expressed their purpose and vision on campus is the same. Both clubs offer devotionals, times of worship, prayer and fellowship on campus, just on different days.

Jesus Club was formed three years ago by senior London Bray.

“I have run the club … (and) my church gave me the idea to start a Jesus Club, but I thought it would be a good idea just to have a place where students can come have breakfast and talk to their friends so people can feel safe at school,” Bray said.

Members of the Bray’s Jesus Club have created an inviting place for students the last few years and leaders say they are excited to share the mission of sharing their faith with students alongside the new For the Lost Jesus Club.

“It is great and gives people more opportunity to go because not everyone can go on Fridays,” Aly Alcala, junior and co-leader of Jesus Club, said.

At the first Jesus Club meeting of the year, Bray set an inspiring tone for the meeting by quoting a verse that resonates with her, Acts 20:24: “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others the good news of the wonderful grace of God.”

Mrs. Caroline Scott, AP English 3 teacher, sponsors Jesus Club and shared her hope for the students involved.

“I hope they feel less alone,” Scott said. “High school can be intimidating, and this club offers a supportive environment where students can lean on and watch others in their faith.

“…I felt really called to help,” she continued. “This is my way of giving back to the school, giving back to the community by being there for these kids.”

For the Lost Jesus Club was created by juniors Tristen Whitlow and Robert Gonzalez, with the inspiration to bring other students to Jesus.

“We wanted to evangelize students at the school, helping them have a place to go that can always help them,” Whitlow said.

Gonzalez shared similar sentiments.

“It provides an opportunity for people who might not be able to go to church to connect with peers and have Godly encounters,” Gonzalez said.

The leaders have goals for this school year to stay on track and move within their purpose, including, “at least helping one person with faith and their overall life and to be there for them,” sophomore Arianna Duron said.

Some students have asked why there are two Jesus clubs, especially when both groups share a similar purpose.

“Last year I was planning to start one but I found out we had one then,” for the Lost leader Gonzalez said. “Three weeks leading up to our church camp at the Oaks there was sign after sign saying you have to start that Jesus club, so when they asked who wants to, I said ‘I will.’”

The leaders of both clubs said they felt compelled to create safe places on campus, and enjoy sharing a common goal to spread the word of Christian teachings to the youth of WHS.