“If you could only study one passage of scripture for the rest of your life, what would it be? “

THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL: DOWN, Down, down…. 

A QUESTION: “If you could only study one passage of scripture for the rest of your life, what would it be? “ 

This question was posed during a conversation with Dale and Kathy Bruner. Dale, theologian, author, bible teacher, and long-time friend of the mission of Young Life, has decided to do just that- study one passage for the remainder of his life! Think of the options! Your choice of 66 Books, 40 authors, and literary genres ranging from poetical to prophetical, historical to the gospels. Dale had just finished his commentary on Romans and was nearing the age of 90. He made a decision to focus his study on one passage as his final passion for his remaining years. He chose a passage that was central to gaining a deeper understanding of the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.  

HIS ANSWER: ISAIAH 53

In Dale’s words, Isaiah 53 towers like Mount Everest in scripture, and for a man that has spent most of his life in a library separate from the real world, that is a powerful statement. Dale observed, “books don’t talk back,” which has allowed him to live a simple and protected life. When he started this unique study, the Fuller Seminary library still had limited access due to the pandemic so he began by translating the passage himself from Latin, Hebrew, and Greek, while using the NRSV as a guide. The thrilling outcome was the realization that the calling of Jesus in Luke 4 (Where Jesus unrolled and read the scroll aloud in the temple) came from his understanding of the Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah 53 and the surrounding servant songs. 

For decades, biblical scholars have recognized several passages in the latter half of Isaiah as “Servant Songs” which describe the “servant of Yahweh.” This servant does the will of Yahweh, as the nation of Israel was called to do. As the songs continue, the servant is better exemplified by the faithful remnant of Israel, and finally by an individual suffering servant who bears the sins of the people, intercedes for their transgressions, and justifies. (Isaiah 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; and 52:13-53:12) . He shared, “we divide time by the 30-year ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, but we also divide space. The far-east, middle-east, near-east, the west are all references to their proximity to Jerusalem. Jesus is the center!” The main thought is that the Jesus Christ that we are seeking to lift up came down, was born in an animal feed bin, and ended up crucified on a cross like a criminal. God’s way is always down.

Isaiah: This prophetic book is one of the most quoted books in the New Testament and the fourth Servant Song; quoted or referenced 43 times in the New Testament. The background of Isaiah is that it was addressed to people who had been disobedient and; therefore, had gone into exile. In the second part of the book, Isaiah expresses profound hope that Israel will be restored and ultimately fulfill God’s purpose. In the final song (Isaiah 52:13-53:12) the personal pronouns- ”we, our, us” on the one hand, and “he, his, him” on the other-require the interpretation that the servant is neither the blind nor deaf nation Israel, nor the righteous remnant or prophet called “Israel” but the true Israel, the obedient servant. Yet this servant does not work salvation by power or strength, but by service and suffering. 

The Church: The overwhelming message that is critical for the Church today is that God’s way is humble and lowly. The Greeks wanted ‘brilliance’ in a savior and the Jews wanted triumphant, but the message of Isaiah is not up, but lowly. Interestingly, Dale sees a thread connecting God's plan for salvation being tied to his other four books on John, Matthew, Romans, and the Holy Spirit. Additionally, he sees God’s authorship in the several notations where he states “My servant” - this statement is not attributed to Isaiah but to the Lord himself. It’s inspiring to witness how the reading of God’s word fills Dale with excitement. Jesus clothes himself in the prophecy of Isaiah 53 by showing the fullness of the gospel in one passage.

Young Life: As a YL mission we spend more time in the NT than the OT, but in our affinity to focus on Christ-o-centric passages there may not be one more valuable than Isaiah 53. The message of humility and obedience is timeless and may not be as timely as today. Jesus, born in an animal feed bin, ended crucified on a cross on a hill. The God we represent is countercultural. He identifies with the hurting, poor, and starving. This is disruptive to a self-centered society.  The suffering servant songs may be appropriately labeled Servant substitute songs. 

Advent: So here is an advent challenge for YOU. In the linked pdfs, Dale has separated the 31 verses found in the servant songs in Isaiah broken down to one per day.  One passage, in bite-size segments, to be digested over the course of a month and then repeated. The approach for each daily verse is to see and study the text and go as deeply as you can. All four servant songs on two sides of one page! A perfect Advent exercise. Live with the verse every hour of that day, pray over it, memorize it, and ultimately live in it. 

• The Lord’s Servant Substitute in Isaiah (Page 1)

• Jesus’ Baptism & Transfiguration (Page 2)

  Will this Isaiah 53 exercise become a book? Maybe. We will have to wait and see, but regardless, if you and your community are looking for a passage to study for the rest of your life- this may be it. 
  
  

TRY THIS: As we finish the Advent /Holiday season and enter into the new year, try this: Take this season of Advent to dive deeply into these 31 verses of servant substitution and see what it does to your inspiration to get out there and go down into the world.

-Ken Knipp & Ken Tankersley via a conversation with Dale and Kathy Bruner-September 12, 2022

Axis Resources

Parent Guides by Axis educate and prepare adults to have confident conversations with adolescents about big topics like mental health, technology use, bullying, and more. These downloadable PDFs will answer questions and equip adults to dive deeper with teens.

Power of Story with Brian Summerall

BRIAN SUMMERALL was on Young Life staff for over 35 years serving in various leadership and training roles. He is a frequent speaker at banquets and Young Life camps across the country. Brian loves his Baylor Bears and Texas Rangers and also spends his free time worrying his forehead is getting big enough one day to sell advertising space on. Brian lives in Dallas with his wife, Michele, his two sons, David and Daniel, and his Chihuahua, Annie.

Story. It’s the most powerful way to communicate. Jesus understood this. That’s why He so often chose to communicate truth through parables

This is a book of stories that are telling in what they reveal about God, all told by a master storyteller. Brian Summerall’s tales of late-night dorm raids, college probation, high school awkwardness, and backstage passes will find you laughing. Others will bring you to tears. Whether they are stories of family, fame, adventure, pain, loss, miracles, or relationships, all of these stories reveal a God who is extravagant in His love for us.

---

Read this short excerpt:

Michele and I have have two kids, David and Daniel. 

Before Daniel and Daniel started walking, they spent a lot of time in our  living room on a small, soft blue-and-white-checked baby blanket. Each would hang out in his diapers, roll around, play with toys (i.e., put them in their mouth), laugh, and smile at the world going on around them. 

When I would come home from work in the late afternoon, that’s usually where they would be found. 

Now imagine this scenario. Imagine me as Daniel’ and David’s father, standing above the blanket, looking down at them and asking the following questions: 

“Hey, Daniel, what can you tell me about the president’s new economic policy?” 

“David, what do you think about global warming?” 

“Can you explain to me the internet and its effect on commerce in the global marketplace?” 

Comical as it may seem, if I had done that, my sweet boys would have just lifted their arms in the air to reach out to me.  

Tears would soon follow. I could never do that to my boys. It would break my heart. As  

a loving father, I would not be content to stand above them at a distance, communicating in ways they could not understand. 

Instead, when I would come home and find Daniel or David on the blanket, standing above them or even kneeling down was not enough. I would get down on the blanket and lay down with my boys. I’d tickle them under the chin and whisper in their ear that they are mine. I’d make sure they knew there’s nothing they could  ever do to make me stop loving them. 

Daniel and David would giggle and laugh when I got down on the blanket with them. We would roll around on the floor and play.  

Of course, as a loving father who adores my children, I would do that. I’d come down on the  blanket to be with my sons. 

But, here is even better news. Even if you didn’t have an earthly father who would come down on the blanket for you, you have a God who is crazy about you. He was not content to stay above us and communicate in a way that we just could never understand or fully comprehend. The Creator of the universe, your heavenly Father, came “down on the blanket” to be with you. 

“[God] became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” (John 1:14, MSG)

“Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she shall call His name Immanuel.”  (Isaiah 7:14; Immanuel means “God with us” in Hebrew.)  

His name is not “God at a Distance,” “God on a TV Screen,” or “God on a Podcast.”  

Jesus went to weddings, parties, and dinners; He went fishing with friends and walked along  the road with people. He “hung out” (or, as some of my hipper friends would put it, He was a “good hang”).  

Yes, there are important things in this world for God to be doing, but none of them is more  important to Him than His presence in our life. God with us.  

“God on the blanket.” There’s no better place for Him to be.

Leadership Development – Recruiting the area MVP who will do your job for you!

So I hear you need volunteer leaders?  Committee members?  Financial Partners?  This may surprise you, but in the Area Director II job description there’s one little sentence that speaks explicitly to cultivating a volunteer pipeline:

“Provide quality summer staff, work crew, and adult guests for summer camps.”

I’d like to focus on that last part, because it honestly gets very little attention or love – adult guests for summer camp.  Interestingly, it’s the only time the word “adult” is used in the entire job description, although there are other more familiar words that allude to these kids with wrinkles (volunteer leaders, team leaders, committee, partners, etc).

Let’s level here for a minute on something you and I both know – adult guest asks are the first ones to get dropped in a yearlong camping strategy.  It feels different than asking a kid to join you at camp, although one might argue that the barriers look eerily similar (busyness/time, cost, misconceptions).  But getting potential adult guests to say yes feels impossible.  Why??

What if you, the local staff person, aren’t the right person to invite the adult guest?  You’re probably 15 years younger than them.  You haven’t had significant conversation beyond their kid’s involvement with YL. You spend an awful lot of time with their kid, and they still haven’t fully grasped how or why. You are an enigma to them, and your invitation for them to join you as an adult guest at a camp they’ve never heard of that their kid is also invited to is exceedingly confusing.

So maybe you shouldn’t be the person making the invitation.  Maybe your job is the find the right person who should!

Enter the Adult Guest Host.  The area MVP who will do your job for you!

The Adult Guest Host is the MVP on our adult recruitment team, in the same way that the volunteer leader is the MVP of the local area. Hosts should be people who are pursuing relational ministry opportunities with adults in the community, for the sake of pointing them to Jesus and encouraging personal growth and mission involvement. They should have a year-long camping strategy for their peers with the expectation that it will impact their local area in significant ways through people resources (time, talent, treasure).

We’ve put together an Adult Guest Program Toolbox resource for your area that speaks to:

• The role of the Adult Guest Host

• An area prayer strategy for pursuing and establishing an adult guest tradition

• How to pursue adult guests

• A Two-year adult guest camping strategy for your area

Download it, start praying and asking around about who your Adult Guest Host should be, then treat them like a volunteer leader filling a cabin.  A cabin that happens to be for adults.   

Adult Guest Program Toolbox

Written by: Kristy Clifford

ONE STEP AT A TIME

What I learned about Faith, Myself, and Young Life on the highest peak in Africa.

In Young Life we attend many trainings, discuss strategies, hold open doors in the mornings at the high school, clean round tables alongside our work crew friends, etc. Although I have a limited perspective and a short tenure on staff so far, I’d argue the grit and beauty of ministry is found in the “one step at a time.” 

We walked one step at a time to get up Mt. Kilimanjaro, and it painted a beautiful parallel to the job we do in Young Life. 

This dream was eight years in the making for my Dad (Rodney Huffty) and myself. We had the privilege of going with an organization called “Beyond Adventures” and this team made up of 65 Tanzanian guides and porters. They helped our group of 16 make it to the summit of Kilimanjaro, which stands 19,341 feet tall.

Jesus models going one step at a time for us when we think about the beginning of his ministry all the way up to the cross. God, all-knowing and ever-present, lived in the daily rhythms as we do. He understood the assignment or the goal all along and simultaneously Jesus made his home in day-to-day moments. He limited himself to not being everywhere all at once and not accomplishing everything all at once. Each step mattered and contributed to a grander picture. One no one could have fathomed or imagined.

Our guides on Kilimanjaro told us three rules at the start of the trip: #1 Trust your guide, #2 Trust your guide, and #3 Trust your guide. There were times we walked painfully slow and I grew impatient to just arrive. But to trust them in the process of the climb didn’t just teach me something, I saw my character being shaped and molded along the way. It was a holy breaking for me to feel so helpless and so dependent on these guides, especially in the stubborn moments I wanted to prove myself. They carried things on my behalf and I had to let them. 

These steps we take are never wasted. Even when they feel slow, they are always on time. 

Written by: Kally Huffty (Kally.Huffty@gmail.com) 

GO AHEAD, PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK!!

5 things that every Committee is doing to develop community

The broad definition of a YOUNG LIFE ALUMNI is ‘anyone who has ever participated or engaged YL locally.’ That means just about everybody!  We are NOT talking about thousands of people, but rather millions of individuals over 80+ years. That’s really good news!

So you may ask, “Does that mean …

• “...Junior high kids?”  YEP!

• “...Somebody that went to summer camp?”  FOR SURE! 

• “...Somebody who serves on a committee or a board?”  DUH! 

• “...Someone who was on staff?”  OF COURSE! 

• “...Someone who has donated once or faithfully over decades?”  ABSOLUTELY! 

Recently, we rediscovered the phrase ‘Friends for Life'  (Thanks, Mal McSwain) when highlighting the lifelong impact relationships have on a person or community. Here’s the really great news -->  YOU engage alumni!  Committees, Volunteers, Young Life Staff, and Mission communities participate for years! It is part of our DNA.

Take a minute and read the five key areas of emphasis that every YL area shares when engaging their alumni. All five are included in the local area’s leadership role. Several we are actively  doing, and several need improvement.  Bottom line:   a focus on the shortlist below, will gain volunteers, greater vision, richer community, and adequate funding, and more adolescents will hear about God’s love for them.

1. HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE CAMPAIGN:  Keep track of students involved in local junior high,  high school, and college programs. A Committee member is perfect for this role. Make sure you stay in contact with them consistently as well as encourage them in their faith wherever their next phase in life will take them. For questions and tips contact Kelianne Gros Louis.

1. COMMUNITY DEVELOPER:  A coveted Committee role is ‘social chair or community developer’.  Have someone on your local committee or board tasked to think through the engagement of your community.  Even better, form a subcommittee that is responsible for executing simple YL events and ‘hangouts’ during the year.  if you want to be a part of a cohort developing this role, email Emily Lewis to find out more.

1. SERVE YOUR CHURCH:  One of the best ways to engage the people in your community with previous YL involvement is committing to your faith community.  Young Life people tend to find one another and Church proves to be a  great place to start.  Pro tip: Wearing a YL T-shirt when appropriate never hurts. 

1. GATHERINGS:  Social hours, house concerts, New Year's Eve parties, camp reunions, Fourth of July picnics, are just some of the ideas that serve as an excuse to come together.  They are proven ways for bringing the larger, YL family together.   When YL is the common thread, great things happen. If you have successful ideas or best practices to share, we would love to hear them. Contact Tank.

1. ADULT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY:  Every Young Life area in the United States submits a plan for engaging adults and families. Internationally, we do the same within the international context. Family camp weekends or trips to Trail West are transformative experiences for Parents and families that change generations.  Your local Regional office strategically thinks through the adult guest process also.  Check out our article on the Adult guest strategy in this issue of 5 for Friday (October, 2022).

We know they are simple; they’re just five things. One for each finger on one hand and you are already engaged. It’s comprehensive too. You have a plan to stay connected to students that are currently involved as well as adults who have been involved in the past - your whole community. The above list includes disciplines  executed on the volunteer committee level and when faithfully executed throughout years, your local area becomes healthier. 

 An exercise:  Print this article and take 15 minutes to discuss and grade your performance as a group at your next Committee meeting.  When you are done, plan 2-3 next steps for the coming year.  

-Ken B Tank.  YL Community Networks

4 KEYS TO STARTING A YOUNG LIFE MAN CAMP

For the past several years we have seen tremendous interest in the development of camps for both men and women.  The desire to be together, encourage one another in their faith, and reconnect is strong. A weekend camp is not new to YL staff but before you start working on your own camp mode, here are some keys to designing a Man Camp. 

1. Know Your “Why.”

As we come out of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are still in the midst of an epidemic. The epidemic I am talking about is that of isolation and loneliness, and male friendships are at the epicenter of this epidemic. Most sociologists speak to the existence and importance of “third spaces,” spaces beyond work and family. These spaces could be clubs, small groups, or other ways that people might gather; Man Camp is a potential life-changing “Third Space” for many men. It is a space that provides connection, laughter, play, worship, vulnerability, forgiveness, and growth.

As our vision statement for Colorado Man Camp states, “The purpose of Man Camp is for men to grow in relationship with God, each other, and the mission of Young Life.” Man Camp is not a space unto itself or only a moment in time; rather, it is a springboard to local covenant groups, personal growth, and mission growth. Whether volunteer leaders and committee, alumni, Young Life College guys, donors, local church connections, or friends, Man Camp can truly transform lives, marriages, families, ministries, local communities, and the world!

2. Enlist Strategic Partners.

Most local Young Life areas cannot establish and sustain a Man Camp on their own, nor can a Young Life property. Our experience has been that a camp such as this must be owned on the divisional or regional level, open to an audience beyond regional boundaries, and supported by local areas and a Young Life property. To this end, a steering group must be established early in the process that not only represents the assignment team roles but also represents the regions and the various constituencies of men that may attend. This group will not only serve to create the camp, but they will also be critical in the marketing process and the execution of the camp itself.

3. You already know what to do.

Here is the great thing about a Young Life Man Camp… It is pretty much exactly like every other Young Life camp that you have ever done! (Minus the opposite gender, head leaders, and a square dance.) Seriously, men love Young Life Club and seize the opportunity to worship and hear a Christ-centered message. Men look forward to Young Life program and need to laugh. Men appreciate the grandeur and excellence of a Young Life property, and men love to play in all the ways that our camps provide. 

In Colorado, we have learned to not “over-program” Man Camp, but to plan enough to give structure, while also protecting room for solitude, relationships, and the movement of the Holy Spirit. We prepare excellent meals, messages (devotionals and Clubs), seminars, and free-time opportunities, but we have learned that men want to process in “cabin time;” whether in a cabin, around a fire, while playing a round of frisbee golf, or going for a hike. Bottom-line, what we often take for granted and is a part of our DNA, men are blown away by and are desperately needing. You got this!

4. Start Today!

Like almost anything we do, preparation often affects a positive and excellent outcome. We are not suggesting that you run a Man Camp in the next few months; rather, we are asking that you consider how something might develop in the next year. Perhaps there are a few people in your region, or a few regions in your division that would understand the impact and influence of a Man Camp? Have a conversation, brainstorm a possible steering group, look at the calendar, connect with a Young Life property and begin to pray. Often an experience like this starts small and take years to mature, but you have to begin somewhere. 

If you would like to learn more about how to establish a Young Life Man Camp, simply email jschultz@sc.younglife.org. Or, check out the attached resources below.

• Club Schedules

• Frontier Man Camp Master Schedule

• Man Camp Planning Document

• 5 Things To Do WAY Before Man Camp
  

Written by: Jonathan Schultz (jschultz@sc.younglife.org)

ANSWERING WHAT AND …. WHY!

In a recent 5.4 Friday survey we asked YL staff “What would they want volunteer leaders to have access to YL Connect?” The 18 suggestions below identified the major themes from their responses and have given us a good sense OF WHAT the staff in the field are looking for. Now, there is only one question left - WHY?

One of my favorite techniques to use when getting to the bottom of something is called the “5 whys.”  The origins of this technique are found in the early days of Toyota manufacturing.  

“The basis of Toyota’s scientific approach is to ask why five times whenever we find a problem … By repeating why five times, the nature of the problem as well as its solution becomes clear.“ Taiichi Ohno

While Toyota used this to get to the root cause of a failure so that they could get back to manufacturing cars, it can be extremely helpful in evaluating other types of problems and needs too.  

So here we are… asking you to ask why.  Why, you ask?  Well, we really want to understand what volunteers need to do and how we may be able to help equip them to do it.

You said your volunteers need access to Camp Information.  Why?  Why?  Why?  Why?  Why?

Now, a request- 

HERE IS WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:  Can you identify what you would like your volunteers to be able to do in YL connect,, ask “why?” a few times and let us know what you come up with?

Email us HERE and let us know your ‘WHY’

0922 Volunteers

When I attended UNC-Chapel Hill as a college student, the legendary Dean Smith was our basketball coach. He’s arguably one of the greatest coaches of all time, in any sport.

This past weekend, I saw a lot of Tar Heel fans sharing a story about Coach Smith on social media. When I watched the video, I immediately thought about Young Life leaders. It’s from an interview with Kenny Smith on the All the Smoke podcast.

You can watch it here on Twitter or on YouTube below (starting at the 34:42 mark.)

What would it look like for Young Life leaders to be that intentional about listening and understanding the culture of the schools we visit? Earning the right to be heard begins by seeking to understand before being understood.

Written by: Drew Hill. Originally Published on Young Life Leader Blog here.

The Alumni Engagement Toolbox: it has everything you need!

During my time on my local Committee, I’ve realized there is one tool that every YL area needs. It’s versatile, functional, can get you out of a pinch, and is usually found in random locations like -a toolbox, aside drawer, glove compartment, and often the proverbial back pocket. Whatever you need, the multi-tool can deliver!   

In Young Life, the multi-purpose tool is your local Alumni or Mission Community They are the stakeholders of the ministry.  They have been involved and desire to have an effect. There are hundreds or thousands of them in every geography where YL exists and when they are equipped- they are powerful! A hand tool (multi-tool) combines several functions in one unit, and that is what I think you will find when you engage those who have a history with YL in your community. All you need to do is know how to use this incredible resource. 

A few months ago we asked YOU this Question: “Tell us all the ways you are engaging alumni in your community?”

We asked, you answered and it turns out that engaging alumni is something many of you are already doing! Way to go! Whether you are a pro already or need a nudge in the right direction, this group is a game changer for your area!  Maybe you’ve been a part of a conversation in your area that sounds something like this…

Staff Associate: “I just ran into someone at the gym with a YL shirt on.  Turns out they were a club kid here in our area in the early 2000s- I wonder how many other people who used to be involved are living here locally?”

Area Director: “I’m sure there are lots!  Let’s put that on the agenda at our next committee meeting- we also have some former staff and leaders who still live here, maybe they would be excited to help!”

Committee Member: “Ooh that sounds like a fun job!  I would love to help build significant connections with local alumni by putting on fun social events and keeping them updated on the area!”

I know in our Area, similar conversations have been happening a lot so we decided to do something about it. I just became the leader of the team focusing on sharpening this multi-purpose tool. YL Alumni. Here’s our game plan…we are basically building out another club in our area!

1. TEAM LEADER: Have a committee person/couple who leads the charge on Alumni Engagement

2. VOLUNTEER LEADERS: Gather a small team of folks (former staff, former leaders, other YL alums who are still involved) who will OWN the alumni effort together

3. CLUB PLANNING: Determine an Annual Alumni Calendar (here is ours) and who will be the point person

   1. Quarterly events (happy hour, trivia night, cornhole tournament…)

   2. Alumni Communication

      1. Social media plan

      2. Email/text database

   3. Web page development/updates

4. INVITATION: Spread the word! We have a growing list of former staff and leaders who are excited to tell all the folks they know about what’s going on with Alumni in our area. 

5. LEARN FROM EACH OTHER: Let’s continue to share best practices!  Here are some other ideas happening out in the field already- keep up the good work!

• Promote Summer Staff to local alumni

• Offer opportunities for mentoring leaders or leading YLC small groups

• Resources for parents

• Social gatherings

• High School grad campaign participation

• Monthly area update emails with 1 min video kid story

• Family Camp opportunities

• Help plan and lead YL information evenings.

• Alumni judges at Club events 

• Pancake Breakfasts for D-groups or Campaigners 

• Hosting Team meetings 

• Lead and develop your area prayer initiative

• Adult guest trips for fall weekends or summer camp

We are fond to say “it takes a community to lead a community!  And when you do, EVERYONE is changed!” When someone realizes that they could be involved with Young Life for Life, everything changes. I am still learning, if you have thoughts on input on how to lead your own local Alumni effort, and become an expert with this multi-tool,  please contact ME so I can continue to learn from you!  

Here we go!  

-Emily Lewis, Young Life Community Networks

WHICH WAY DO I GO?

  Delegation -vs- Empowerment

A recent U.S. survey  of all U.S. Area Directors and Committee Chairs asked the following question:

Q.  What has been a significant area of frustration regarding your working relationship with your Committee Chair or Area Staff?

The top answer by Area Staff?  “Getting Committee members to do something.” 

The top answer from Committee Chairs?  “Getting the YL staff to give us something to do.”

Once you get beyond the irony of their answers, you will notice that deeper issues appear. Poor communication and missed expectations are a result of differing assumptions. We have not been clear about what we expect from each other and consistent communication is a priority for any healthy team or organization. Bottom line:  we risk diminishing the contribution of the 10,000 U.S. Committee members as well as thousands more internationally.  

The Mission of Young Life is built on TEAMS.  Christ-centered and volunteer-led are how we will go deep in our effectiveness and one of the reasons for our success as a mission. Teams take time to develop and YL’s ‘walk alongside’ model can seem woefully slow when compared to the pace of today’s world. In my conversations with local staff and Committees, two words continued to show up that may help foster true ownership around Young Life volunteerism. DELEGATION & EMPOWERMENT. 

Delegation is the assignment of authority to another person to carry out a specific task. It assumes clarity of roles and trust that work will be accomplished by another person. At its best, it is very efficient.  It is a key principle in management but tends to be transactional pm. 

Empowerment involves the passing on of authority and power to another individual as they endeavor to achieve a goal. This slow process allows the individual to grow in strength and confidence.  It is a key principle in leadership and tends to be transformational.

Simply, delegation is giving limited authority for a team member to act on the behalf of the group's leader.  Empowerment is allowing a team member to act on their own behalf.  Although we may start with delegation, our goal in YL is to empower.  Both develop capabilities and skills and allow others to take on more responsibility, but only one of them fosters ownership, and vested interest. 

The average volunteer leader has only been in leadership for less than a year. The average Committee Chair has been in their role for less than three years. Our ability to complete the journey from Delegation to Empowerment is important now more than ever. Through our history as a mission, senior staff reference the classic three step process they went through. 

• STEP 1:  I do it, YOU watch!

• STEP 2:  YOU do it, I watch!

• STEP 3:  YOU DO IT! 

In a season where we have fewer volunteers and a greater need than ever before, we need to polish up these skills of  empowerment. Just look at the Gospels and observe how Jesus empowered his followers. He moved them from self-focused to others-focused. He would teach, send, and then debrief and at its core, that is exactly what we are doing here. EMPOWERMENT! 

TRY THIS EXERCISE with someone on your team. It’s simple and once you do it, you may realize that you have opportunities to empower others daily. Choose someone (faithful, available, and teachable) that you want to help develop in leadership. Be intentional and prayerful about this invitation. 

• ENGAGE:  Pick a task, or skill where you want to help them develop. A powerful statement is made when you choose a task that you love and is hard for you to give away.  Make sure it has a start and a finish so that you have something to celebrate. Write down 3-5 skills where proficiency is required for success.

• ELEVATE:  Now have the conversation with the person you are developing. Let them know the vision you have for them, your intent to invest in their growth, and your commitment to the work needed for them to become proficient in this role.   

• EXPLAIN:  Next, go to work.  Explain what expectations are and think through the challenges or pitfalls they may encounter. Secondly, allow the person you are empowering to express needs, challenges, and difficulties.  Lastly, commit to celebrating successes and learning from failures.  

• EQUIP:  Finally, equip them by giving away power.  Encourage and find ways to communicate trust.  Support them with resources and help them think through some of the pitfalls.  Follow up often. 

Empowering others takes time, but the result is undeniable. Existing leaders, local committees, and support teams are a great place to start.  Email me HERE  to share your own observations and what you are learning. 

THE BIG SWITCHEROO THAT'S CHANGING THE FACE OF RELIGION IN THE U.S.

If recent trends in religious switching continue, Christians could make up less than half of the U.S. population within a few decades. Pew Research Center set out to answer the question: What might the religious makeup of the United States look like 50 years from now if recent trends continue? They took a mathematical and demographic approach to the question, focused on data from surveys on religion. They also looked at “switching,” which deals with voluntary movement into and out of religious groups. 

• Where are people switching to and from? 

• What trends are there in why people “switch” religious affiliations?

• When are people making a “switch?” 

All of these questions (and more) are addressed in this report. Obviously, there are so many other factors happening behind each person who decides to leave a religious affiliation, but that data here provides a helpful look into the mind and life of someone “switching.” 

Take a read. 

MAKING STRATEGIES SIMPLE

TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR FOUNDER:

We’re grateful to Rick Beckwith and Marty Caldwell who have pulled these letters back into the light. Below is a letter from our founder, Jim Rayburn, from the early years of Young Life. As all our communities look at their strategies for the upcoming school year, we felt it was poignant in its simplicity and focus. Jim focuses on contact work, follow-up, training of leaders, and gracious, informal Club and Camp time.

“There is much more to be said about Young Life strategy but this much leads me to emphasize that the most significant thing is not the techniques or the people. It is, instead, this true compassion that comes from above.” - Jim Rayburn

Here’s a potential exercise:

1. Read these letters with your committee and/or leaders.

2. Adopt the outline of this strategy as your plan for your upcoming year.

3. Share with us if you’ve already been adopting.

REFLECTING THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE - Asian Young Life is growing

In January 2022, I took on a local role as a Young Life Area Developer focused on helping our region reflect and reach the fast-growing Asian American communities. The demographic changes we saw in schools were not reflecting in our Young Life Area. Cities that were 40% Asian American in the school district were only 15% Asian in Young Life Areas. Four months later in April, I accepted an additional national role as the U.S. Asian Initiative Coordinator which was generously funded by the Global Giving Circle. 

THE OUTCOMES OF THE PROPOSAL WE SUBMITTED TO THE GLOBAL GIVING CIRCLE ARE: 

● Young Life ministries better represent the student populations they serve 

● Sustainable and scalable ministry models published (Student Staff Model) 

● 10 new part-time Student Staff starting new ministries 

● 4 Regional Trainings equipping 100 staff with awareness and training for ministry with Asian kids 

● Annual Roundtable gathering of key Asian staff and initiative stakeholders 

● Inaugural Summit gathering of Asian and Asian-focused staff and volunteers 

● 300 new Asian kids to Young Life Camp 

● 3 cohorts established to support and encourage and retain existing Asian staff 

As you can see in the outcomes above, the U.S. Asian Initiative aims to support Young Life across the U.S. to better reach underserved and underrepresented Asian communities. In May, we held our first national Zoom roundtable for AAPI staff and staff who have a vested interest in the initiative. 

We will be developing programs to support Asian American staff as well as material and strategies to support Young Life Areas to reach Asian American kids. 

Locally, I am working alongside Young Life Area staff in my region. By connecting with local churches and adults, we hope to find potential new hires and volunteer leaders. Also, throughout the past year, I’ve been able to connect and encourage Asian American volunteers in the Greater Seattle area. 

With consistent check-ins and hangouts, we’ve been able to encourage Asian American leaders to continue reaching kids in their Young Life Areas. We hope to create more onramps to develop leaders through the U.S. Asian Initiative. 

This opportunity is open to all Asian American staff both US and Internationally. 

HERE IS WHAT I NEED FROM YOU: 

 If you know of someone that I can connect with both on YL Staff or in your community, please send me an email. 

 If YOU would like to learn more and get involved in the US Asian initiative, please email directly HERE.

Written by Peter Lee, North Puget Sound Region

DON’T FUMBLE THE HANDOFF

-How the ‘Grad Campaign’ became a Game Changer-

Each year, US Regions partner with the Alumni & Friends office to lead the  HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE CAMPAIGN.  The goal of the Campaign is to stay connected to those finishing high school and transitioning to the next chapter of their life. Whether it be college or the military,  gap year or the workforce, we want to honor the long-term relationship with these students. Over the last 3 years, we have successfully handed off over 60,000 graduates and currently have over 10,000 of those grads connected to the local Young Life community in their new location! 

It all starts with one YL Leader or staff having the vision for a lifelong relationship.  When done well,  It is a gamechanger for:

• Long-term relationships. 

• Continued Discipleship. 

• Volunteer leader pipeline.

• Young Life College health and growth.

• Summer Staff growth. 

Some testimonials/best practices from individuals who have advocated this effort are below: 

“As an area director who is sending off college freshmen from our high school clubs every year, and meeting college freshmen as they walk onto one of the three campuses in our city - the importance of the HS Grad Campaign cannot be exaggerated.” - Alyssa Beaubien, AD Tallahassee, FL. We would never want our prayers and pursuits of kids to stop once they graduate high school.

“We don't employ any earth-shattering strategies other than we really emphasize communication. We clearly and consistently talk about the importance of the HS Grad Campaign and getting students plugged in. It's modeled as a priority in our region which has helped to "bake" it into the culture and build YL College and community.”...the High School Grad Campaign as vital as anything we do in the mission.” - Kimie Chilcoat, Regional Administrator 

“It is a little bit of extra work to ask staff to do, but in our experience, asking staff to figure out where their students are going next is a net positive for their ministry.  Maybe they learn that a student is actually planning on staying in the area, or a large number of students are going to the same local community college. That can be the way to starting a Bible study or fostering leadership on campus! Numbers do tell a story, and having the numbers in front of you of where students are going can only be helpful.” - Luke Waltermire, Young Life College Director.

Sometimes it is just a simple discipline.  (4 steps) 

1. Area Director/Leader/YL Committee member  asks  students  “What are you doing after graduation?”

2. Their information is put into the Grad program.

3. If they move into a new community, the local YL staff reaches out to them. 

4. Oftentimes, by the end of the next year, the students had been placed as leaders!

Sometimes we even see a ripple effect. “We have had many kids head off to Division 3 schools to do sports. One of our students left for a college where there was no YL to play sports. Due to lack of community they transferred to a YL College (Due to HS Campaign information) and ended up quitting the sport he was playing and becoming a solid YL leader. He is one of our best leaders and just recently graduated and became a teacher and is now leading YL at that school and teaching and making an impact for the Kingdom- many ripple effects!” - Kimie Chilcoat

If you are looking for a game changer for your local YL- this is it!. The HS Grad Campaign gives our graduates a place to land. It gives them a person who is praying for their arrival, excited to meet them, and willing to pursue them before they have even met face to face.  When done well, it is a beautiful handoff!  Most importantly they will get to experience post high school life knowing they were not made to do life alone. A seamless ‘handoff’ will impact the student and the ministry for years to come!

-Kelianne Gros Louis

WHAT IS IT ABOUT FRIENDSHIP THAT IS SO POWERFUL?

In Young Life, we know the power of relationships; we don’t need to be convinced. However, it’s always affirming when publications like the New York Times recognize the power of something as simple as friendship. While the theme of this article is about how friendships can help lower socio-economic students perform better simply by having friendships with those with more affluence, the power of friendship is unmistakable. Your friends strongly influence how you perceive reality.

“Friends are not just by your side; they get inside you. If you want to help people change, help them change their friendships.”

Now, in Young Life, we’re working toward something more powerful than simply upward mobility in the economic food chain. But, if friendships can have that profound effect for socioeconomic levels, imagine how powerful they can be when sharing our faith? 

**Exercise:  Share and discuss with your leadership team, Committee, Discipleship group and larger mission community to foster more intentional ways grow your relationships through friendship. 

Read the full article here.

View as PDF

15 CONVERSATIONS TOWARD 1 GOAL-Christlikeness

We all know the basic messaging elements of Young Life’s mission statement

Part 1: “introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ.” 

• The person of Christ, in all his humanity, divinity, compassionate humility, and sacrificial love;

• The truth of humanity, including its brokenness, sin condition, and separation from the Lord;

• The invitation to new life made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection.

Part 2: “helping them grow in their faith.”

That’s an endless conversation and a lifelong learning experience. During our small sliver of time with students, where do we start this formation process, and how do we determine a direction and plan?

Thanks to a generous Templeton Foundation sub-grant awarded through Fuller Youth Institute, various Young Life leaders and staff have spent the past year considering this question and developing discipleship content that can be used broadly across the mission, from WyldLife to Young Life College and University to Young Life Capernaum and more.

“Head, Heart, Hands: All of Me Becoming More Like Jesus” is a full-scale series that includes 15 group conversations (that can be subdivided into even more conversations if desired), leader’s guide, helpful tools and formation resources, student take home cards, and more.

The content went through a pilot-feedback-revision cycle during 2021-2022 with all ages (middle school through college) in a variety of contexts (small town, suburban, urban, camp). All of the feedback and suggestions were reviewed and incorporated into fully revised files that are now available for FREE to all leaders and staff.

Our hope is that those who use the content during 2022-23 will provide additional feedback so that we can continue developing the best possible discipleship content.

• You can access the content by signing up at the link below. 

• Thank you for all you do to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ.

• Thank you for all you do to help them grow in their faith.

• Thank you for being faithful disciples yourselves.

We hope and pray that these resources are helpful in both your own life of discipleship and in your discipling ministry.

ACCESS NEW DISCIPLESHIP SERIES HERE

Written by Crystal Kirgiss

THIS MAY BE THE BEST TRAINING YOUNG LIFE HAS TO OFFER

 -A Summer Camp Assignment-

This summer I experienced the gift to sit in a room of Adult Guests observing a week of Young Life camp. They marveled at the inner workings of YL’s camping ministry. They were in awe of the spirit, the humor, the community, and the like-mindedness of this mission. It is remarkable to think about the very narrow window in the culture we are trying to engage:

• Early to late adolescents (Junior High, High School, College)

• No knowledge or perceived interest in faith

• Limited understanding of the life and teachings of Jesus 

• Living in countless communities  around the Globe 

• Immersed in the most challenging cultural and theological climate in decades.

Our mission is “introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith” is a tall order. It requires clarity in calling, sensitivity in approach, and a broad skill set. How do you train an organization to reach the next generation? Having just returned from a month serving at one of our Camps, I think I have the answer. A SUMMER ASSIGNMENT!

I have spent over 5 years of my adult life at Young Life camps. With students from my community or serving others who have come as guests. It has left its mark on me and I am not sure there is a better way to spend your summer and IT JUST MAY BE THE BEST TRAINING THAT WE OFFER. An ‘Assignment’ is YL’s version of an ‘intensive’ or immersive experience in culture and theology and it's built into our Job Description. The training we experience is daily.  Whatever role you have been asked to accept, you have been gifted the unique opportunity to have a singular focus on serving in that role. (a rarity in today’s culture).  In addition, YL stumbled upon the genius of having this training occur in the context of mission community. The popularity of internships and ‘gap year’ are increasing because refinement happens while living and learning with others. YL staff are students of students, Christ, and the culture, and serving on assignment is at the intersection of all three! 

No matter what your role is, serving a month-long assignment refines and transforms you daily. The discipleship is modeled in the manner of Jesus and the Disciples. You study service, hospitality, community, or discipleship and then are sent out to live it out in community. Daily, you return together, debrief and do it again. It’s experiential discipleship!

Here is what I observed this Summer-. 

• WORK CREW BOSSES: Every day a work crew boss lives at the intersection of mentor, boss, discipler, and motivator to small and large groups of teenagers.  A 4-week small group with intentionality and intensity!!

• SUMMER STAFF COORDINATORS:  It is not hard to acknowledge that at the center of much of the change and tension that we are experiencing as a culture is the College-Aged Student.  Summer Staff Coordinators have a front-row seat to the openness, hunger, and hurdles that are present on college campuses and get to exercise discipleship principles in the midst of it all, daily! 

• HEAD LEADERS:  Head leaders do contact work with everyone at camp and you can’t host a daily leader meeting and not be changed.  Equipping, encouraging, and teaching are the sweet spot for head leaders while managing schedules, and being a Young Life leader to everyone at camp on the side.  

• PROGRAM DIRECTORS:  The Program team is successful when they aren't just funny, but in touch with the culture by opening up a space for the gospel to squeeze in.  Laughter is one of the key tenants of the mission and it is a high calling that oftentimes is at the top of the list of what others admire and appreciate about the mission.  One month of sharpening that skill makes your 

• SPEAKERS:  Obviously, the Camp Speaker has the honor of speaking daily, but perhaps more importantly they are able to observe what element of the Gospel resonates with students ‘today’.  That is next-level knowledge that only comes from the gift of having a weekly audience of students that lets you see how your theology intersects with the street. 

• CAMP DIRECTORS: At most camps, the CD has the opportunity to equip, encourage and manage a team of over 100 staff and volunteers. Additionally, they are privileged to partner with the camp staff and others.  The empowerment of this team happens daily! 

Lastly, the beauty of YL camp is the Camps within Camp. Work Crew, Summer Staff, Volunteer Leaders, Assigned Team, Interns, Property Staff, Adult Guests, Families. All of these are experiencing intimacy and transformation. Literally, we are witnessing the mission statement at work on a daily basis, there may not be better training available. 

MORE THAN FUN AND A GAME

Try this RECIPE!  Mix all ingredients together into one :

• One part of Disney hospitality & magic.

• One part Barnum and Bailey circus showmanship. 

• Stir in a pinch of Harlem Globetrotter pizazz and humor.

• Add a dash of Baseball. 

Finally, bake in some Core Values that attract a broad audience. What do you get?  

THE SAVANNAH BANANAS BASEBALL TEAM.  

There is something big about this little team from a southeastern coastal community in Georgia. By now, you may have heard about them. Maybe you are one of the 4,000,000 followers on Instagram or have seen them on ESPN, The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, or HBO etc. Finally, like me, you may be one of the 50,000 people on a waitlist to attend a game at historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia.  

Twenty of us from Young Life roadtripped from all around the country to see the baseball team that has become a viral sensation since its humble re-start in 2016. We came to learn what Young Life could glean about culture and belonging and they did not disappoint. I knew it would be more than ‘fun and a game,’ and boy was it. 

From the moment we walked in we were met with baseball’s version of “organized chaos, with a purpose:” 

 Here is what we saw:

• A sold-out crowd hurrying through the gates to claim choice seats in the stands.  

• An eight-year-old boy leading everyone in the crowd in large group calisthenics.  

• A team of cheerleading Grandmas named the Savannah Banana ‘Nanas.’

• A dancing 1st base coach and a ‘Dad-bod, cheerleading squad (The Man-Nanas).

• A mini-parade every time a run was scored and a surprise visit from the pep band in the Men’s Bathroom!

• And… an 11-0 victory over their unwitting opponent. 

Here is what we witnessed just beneath the surface:

• A team owner who was everywhere, teaching, training, and modeling.

• Ownership that was strongly embraced on every level from the players to the concession workers 

• A well-thought-out and detailed experience packed with humor, laughter, and joy

• A spotlight on fans exclusively - from young to old.

• A home-grown experience of belonging that you didn’t just watch, but participated in. 

• No sponsors, no jumbotron, no tech. Beautifully relational.

• Anxiety every time you left your seat because we were so caught up in the excitement.

• Some really good baseball!

BUT, It wasn’t just about the Fun…We were able to talk with some key Savannah Banana staff including Jesse Cole (owner) about the creation of the team (How the SB became the greatest show in baseball)  as well as whether there were any core values that they were committed to. His answer revealed the ABC’s of Banana Ball.  A-always, B-Be, C-Caring, D-different, E-Enthusiastic, F-Fun, G-Growing, & H-Hungry. After unpacking the core values Jesse said, “Simply, we want everything we do to be ‘Fan’s First,’ if it doesn’t serve them, we aren’t going to do it.”

The Savannah Bananas play in a College baseball summer league, BUT, it wasn’t just about Baseball either. This year 1500 College level baseball players competed for 30 coveted team spots, and yes, they won and they are favored to win the league championship too. But although baseball was at the center of things that night, it did not feel central. 

The staff of the team has grown into a team of hundreds. This summer, they had over  1200 applicants for jobs. BUT, it wasn’t just about the Team. They are successful and are being courted by MLB to play in larger ballparks. They seem content to stay where they are. As a fan, I know I got more than my money's worth. 

My biggest observation was the conviction that healthy organizations are able to be crystal clear on what they are about. On every level and from every member. At the end of the night, a group of remaining fans circled together for a ‘kiss goodnight.’ We sang a song and then came together for one final send-off.    

• “Bring it in!” said Jesse Cole. 

• “On three” someone else yelled.

•  “1,2,3” the entire crowd cheered.

•  And we all said…“Baseball”,  (nope) …“ Savannah Bananas”, (try again) …“FANS FIRST!” (Exactly!)

In your YL community, how would you finish that cheer? What is unmistakably central to your ministry? What draws others in? What  focuses your efforts? It's worth a conversation. Let ME know your answer. 

More Savannah Bananas Resources:

Jesse Cole of The Savannah Bananas: 5 Things a Business Should Do to Create a Wow Customer Experience

An A-PEEL-ing Vibe

Savannah Banana's Website

Core Values from Jesse Cole

Be Clear On Who YOU Are

The Need to Belong 

Stand By Me with the Savannah Bananas