Young Adult Baptism: Zach Grose
When Zach first walked through the doors of Northridge, he was seeking something deeper than a routine worship experience. Growing up in a Presbyterian home where faith shaped family values and church attendance was a regular part of life, it wasn’t until he joined a Northridge Community Group in 2019 that his spiritual journey truly became personal and transformative.
“Everybody was so welcoming and so kind,” Zach recalls. “I found that everybody was very accepting. Everybody would answer your questions about the Bible. It was just a really good thing — something I needed to do for myself.”
Zach’s deeper investment in Northridge began almost by accident. Taking the step of joining a Community Group led him to connect with influential, faith-driven young leaders, who would eventually establish what is now NYA Ministries. The group started small, meeting in an apartment on East Ave, but quickly grew as young adults craved community and connection following the pandemic more than ever. “After COVID, our group just expanded like crazy,” Zach says.
What started off as attending a Community Group led to an invitation to become an NYA Apprentice Leader. Zach stepped into this mentorship role, guiding the young adult community on their faith journey with dedication, a positive attitude, and a genuine willingness to help others. This year, his leadership expanded even further as he began leading a branch of NYA Ministries at the Webster Campus. “We’ve averaged about 20 people in our group every week,” Zach shares. “Everyone seems to know the gospel and really enjoys it.”
His own faith journey is one of gradual transformation. Raised with deep Presbyterian roots, Zach was baptized as an infant and confirmed in seventh grade but admits that his faith wasn’t a personal commitment until he began to serve at Northridge.
The turning point in his faith came in July 2025, when Zach made the choice to be re-baptized at a beach baptism event. “As soon as I got baptized, I started viewing the world differently through Christ,” he says. He began reading the Bible more regularly, doing devotionals, and giving his life fully to God. “I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for God.”
Following his baptism, Zach felt a renewed sense of purpose to lead others and share his experiences with other young adults seeking a faith community. “God just kind of spoke to me, saying you need to get involved more, you need to step up a little bit, you need to be open to things.”
For Zach, the highlight of his time with NYA has been the Surge Conference, experiencing powerful moments of prayer and worship with hundreds of young adults. “To see 200 young adults just praying out to God… it was just amazing. You just don’t see that every day.”
Reflecting on what he’s learned through his faith journey, he’s discovered that God is a loving, caring father who always has a plan, even during hard times. “If God’s calling you to serve, trust Him. Serving is the most important thing you can do in a church to get involved. NYA is a group filled with people who love Jesus and care about each other. If anybody’s looking for a community that really loves Jesus, this is the group for them.”
