Greetings, Reader!

Remember last newsletter I told you I had some big news for you? Here it is

Ignited Pennings and Counter Culture Teen Podcast are officially partnering with Flame of Faith Publishing.

Flame of Faith Publishing was started by my mentor, writing partner, and friend, Hannah Grace Staton on substack. Here's more about them:

Flame of Faith Publishing Flame of Faith Publishing is a teen-founded publishing company that desires to encourage and equip rising authors of this generation. Their goal is to provide a platform for young writers to share the message God has given them, shining the light of Christ in this dark world and stirring a fire in the hearts of fellow believers. Visit Flame of Faith Publishing on Substack!

Today, I'm so excited to guest Asabella Graves, co-editor and team member of Flame of Faith Publishing! Today, she shares encouragement for young Christians who stand for the truth even when facing setback and pressure from the culture.

Asabella Graves is a homeschooled teen author who discovered her love for storytelling at just eight years old, and hasn’t stopped since. Alongside her passion for writing, she has a deep interest in politics and debate, always striving to understand the world through a lens of truth and conviction. Above all, she loves God the Father with her whole heart and aims to serve Him faithfully in every area of her life. Asabella’s favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 6:13, a reminder that no matter the battle, the Lord remains our constant source of strength and protection.

Here's her message in her article, Called to Stand Apart...

Called to Stand Apart

By Asabella Graves

Being a young Christian today is not easy. Being a young conservative Christian? Sometimes, it feels nearly impossible.

​
We live in a culture that constantly demands compromise. Everywhere we look . . . social media, entertainment, schools, even everyday conversations . . . there is pressure to stay silent about biblical truth. Young people are often told that holding traditional biblical values is “outdated,” “judgmental,” or in some cases, the things Christians believe are deemed as hate speech. And after hearing those messages over and over again, many Christians begin to wonder if standing firm is really worth it.

But truth does not stop being truth simply because it becomes unpopular. If you ignore something, that doesn't mean it will go away. Like an alarm clock blaring in the morning, the truth will continue to slip through the cracks of deception.
​

One of the greatest struggles that Christian teenagers face today is the fear of rejection. It's only natural for people to want to belong and want to be accepted. No one enjoys being mocked, excluded, or criticized for their beliefs. Because of that, compromise can start to look tempting. It feels easier to stay quiet than to risk conflict. It's easier to blend in than stand apart. Why make noise and be your own person when you could simply . . . be like everyone else?
​

But Scripture never promised that believers would have comfort in this world. In fact, Christians were repeatedly warned that following Christ would require courage. Well, that courage matters now more than ever.
​

Our generation is growing up in a time of confusion. Morality changes depending on a popular opinion. Truth is treated like something flexible instead of something absolute. Many young people are searching desperately for identity, purpose, and peace, but they are searching in places that can never truly satisfy them. Most people find their identity in whatever's trending. In today's culture, that's simply overlooked. Blending in with the fad is what's comfortable. If you don't think for yourself, then you're doing life just like everyone else, right?
​

As Christians, we should not respond to that confusion with hatred or pride. We are called to speak truth with both boldness and love. Those two things are not opposites. Real love does not abandon truth, and real truth should never be spoken without compassion. That balance can be difficult, especially online.
​

Social media has created a culture where people are rewarded for outrage, mockery, and division. Things like nuance and grace disappear completely. Suddenly, everyone is expected to choose a side and attack the other. Christians can easily get pulled into that mindset too. But our calling is higher than simply “winning arguments.” Our calling is to reflect Christ, no matter what we do.
​

That means standing firm without becoming cruel, holding convictions without losing compassion, and above all, defending truth without forgetting humility. And despite what the world may claim, there are still countless young people striving to do exactly that.
​

Across the country, young Christians are using their voices, talents, writing, leadership, and platforms to honor God and defend biblical values. Whether through ministries, podcasts, publishing, churches, friendships, or quiet daily faithfulness, this generation is not spiritually dead. There are still young believers who care deeply about faith, family, truth, and freedom. You may not see this in a world filled with secular beliefs and un-Christlike practices. We should be encouraged to know that young Christians are still out there, seeking out the truth and biblical ways.
​

However, it is easy (and understandable) to become discouraged by the state of the culture. Easy to feel outnumbered, easy to believe that standing for biblical truth no longer matters. But history has always been shaped by people willing to stand firm when compromise would have been easier. And maybe that is part of our purpose too! Not to follow culture blindly, but to live differently. Not to hide our faith, but to live it boldly. Not to seek approval from the world, but approval from God.
​

Being a conservative Christian young adult in today’s world may come with challenges, criticism, and misunderstanding. But conviction has always carried a cost. And persecution is just a cost of being a Christian in today's culture. And maybe this is just me, but I don't mind a little bit of backlash if it means bringing glory to God. Why choose silence when you can make a little noise?

Some things are worth standing for anyway.

Updates and Announcements

Last week, I had the humbling opportunity from Flame of Faith Publishing to be guested by them on Substack. If you're interested, you can check that out here:

And on Saturday, May 16th, I was also guested on Legends in Progress, a blog, website, and newsletter by Martin Sword. Here's more about him:

He also happens to be one of my mentees, and I'm really proud of him and how he's grown so far and how he continues to improve. You can read the interview here:

And that's it for today! Thanks so much for joining me – I'm glad to have you on here. Stay tuned for next month's email!

On FIRE for the Lord,

Victoria

Copyright (C) 2026 Ignited Pennings. All rights reserved.