Coaching an Effective Team Meeting

Like them or not, it would be hard to argue that the New England Patriots have been a football dynasty for the better part of the last 15 years. In practice, their head coach, Bill Belicheck, is known for instilling the same simple message over and over. There are hundreds of memes about it, eye rolls from the haters, and a general understanding that he keeps beating a dead horse - but no one is arguing with the results. The message is that the team will win if each player zeroes in on the task in front of them, focuses on good fundamentals, and “does their job” on game day.  The team keeps winning Super Bowls with some incredible talent and that simple formula. In Young Life, we’ve got the talent. Our people are second to none. But do we have that kind of focus on our fundamentals? How well do we really block and tackle?  

I think we’d all agree that the basics of what we do are simple. We show up to where kids are, we get to know them through shared experience and friendship, we share the gospel when there is an opportunity, and we love them regardless of how they respond. Our role as volunteer team leaders, committee chairs, or staff people, is to coach and equip those volunteers to follow through on fundamentals. We get to help them focus and “do their job”, and if we do that well, we win the game. 

One of the best venues we have to encourage this is in our team meetings. Team meetings are our practice field, and we serve our people when we give them a playbook for how to practice. Below you’ll find a bookmark you can print and give to your team leaders. The idea is to give them simple directions to practicing well. 

Team Meeting Bookmark HERE

Set back by injuries and the loss of key free agents, the Patriots have been losing this year. In an attempt to change that story, at the end of the game a couple of weeks ago, Belicheck did something uncharacteristic. He drew up a trick play to try and win the game. Needless to say, it didn’t work, and when he was interviewed afterward, he shared that it was time to get back to the basics.  

It’s been a tough season, and we might feel like we’ve been losing as well. Up to this point, we may have been trying to win with trick plays. While COVID-19 has taken a lot from us, I believe it has also presented us with an amazing opportunity. The loss of large-scale events has given us the chance to inspect our fundamentals. To get back to our core values by investing in equipping our leaders to spend time with Jesus, encouraging them to live in community with each other, and challenging them to pursue real relationships with kids. And it all starts with how we coach them in practice. 

Jesus spent some time in large venues preaching the gospel, but he spent a lot more alone with the Father, on the practice field with the disciples, and ministering to groups of individuals as he traveled from town to town.  My encouragement to you is to try out the bookmark. Use it to guide a team meeting and see if it helps you to “do your job” in a better or more fundamental way.  We may be without the things we usually lean on, but with some focus and intentionality, we can use this season as an opportunity to get back to the basics and win some games.

Written by Matt Walker (ylmattwalker@gmail.com)

Desirable Qualities of Young Life STAFF in a Small Town

A Small Town Young Life Staff person shares similar qualities to the majority of Young Life staff, but, at the same time, has a distinct set of qualities perfectly suited for the small town context. Below is a list of the character qualities observed in successful Small Town staff. 

• MISSIONAL:  As always, look for a leader who loves Jesus and kids and wants to ‘find a way’ to make Him known. A staff person with the right motivation and in it for the long haul can have a major effect on a community. 

• TEACHABLE:  In a small town, a teachable, humble, and obedient spirit is primary in the development of a staff person. In sparsely populated communities you need to listen first, ask good questions, and understand the nuances of a small town.

• SELF STARTER: Loneliness is a major challenge for any Young Life  staff person and even more so in a small community.  The staff person needs to build teams, ask for help, and engage the community. The qualities of a trailblazer, self-starter, networker, and pioneer will come in handy. 

• LOCAL:  A home-grown person can get you far down the road. Ideally, find someone who lives in the community, formerly raised in the community, or has ties to the community (spouse grew up there). Someone who understands a specific small-town’s culture and a known entity earns credibility quickly.  

• COMMUNITY-MINDED:  The staff person in a small town can feel isolated by being a significant distance from other staff. It is essential that a support system is built within the community and local church.

• FAITHFUL/INVESTED:  It is valuable if a potential staff person can commit to an 8-10 year period. It can take this long to become a fabric of the community and school system. Longevity is critical for the goal of creating sustainable ministry.

• PERSONAL INTEGRITY: Young Life Small Town staff live in a fishbowl, everywhere he or she goes there will be a club kid, supporter, or pastor, to run into. Because the staff person is on display at all times he or she must walk the talk.    

7  OTHER HELPFUL SKILLS, INTERESTS, HOBBIES 

1. COACHING:  An easy way to serve a small town is by helping coach a sport (football, volleyball, drama, debate).

2. FUNDING: Personal support can help decrease local funding pressure and quicken on-boarding. 

3. TRAVEL: To serve in a small town, an enjoyment of road trips and travel is a must. 

4. OUTDOORS:  Many towns work around the hunting /fishing seasons and rhythms of an outdoor lifestyle.  

5. SUBSTITUTE TEACHING:  A great way to augment a personal budget and meet key influencers in a ST. 

6. SCHOOL/COMMUNITY RESOURCE:  Staff with skills to serve  the local school/community will be an asset. 

7. BROAD SKILL SET: Staff with broad talents, skills, and interests will have several in-roads to small town life. 

The Storehouse

It was a Monday afternoon in the fall of 2010. I was on Young Life staff in Littleton, CO and prepping for club that night. As usual, I did what most “good” Young Life leaders did three hours before every club - jumped online and Googled “Young Life games” and “Young Life songs.” I had already used everything on Sean McGever’s YLHelp.com and didn’t find anything new or usable on Google, so I went to the Staff Resources site. Same result. I got frustrated and emailed my YL boss’s boss’s boss and asked if we could figure out a solution to this problem. I drove down to Colorado Springs and we met and I presented an idea. He said, “That sounds awesome. We can’t pay you for that, but if you want to start it as a volunteer, go for it.” A month later, The Young Life Leader Blog was born.

I Googled “How to start a website” and created a blog on Blogger. I started spending an hour or so each night after club or after Campaigners or after doing contact work - just writing up the details of what we’d done and what we’d learned. I shared it with our area, our region and a few YL friends back in NC and GA. It slowly grew. Over the past 10 years, I wrote over 1500 articles and more and more leaders started sharing content. Along the way, a ton of other folks started doing similar things - the WyldLife blog, the Capernaum blog, YL College podcast, etc… And there were all the great training resources and videos being shared on YL Access. 

In 2019 we had the idea: “What if we brought all of these great resources into one, easy-to-use resource for staff and leaders?!” At YL2020 we pitched the idea of “The Storehouse” on stage during “The Next Big Thing.” It got funded and we’re moving forward! 

We are currently working with the IT department at the Service Center to create a one-stop-shop for all the best resources in Young Life. Stay tuned! 

Take the QUIZ to learn more!

THE ? WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BE ASKED

-The effect of 7 words on every conversation-

Jesus asked great questions! He didn’t mince words and was masterful at getting to the point. He listened well, created safety and space, and was absolutely the best at the ‘mic drop’ question. He knew how to engage, was comfortable in silence, and somehow posed the question someone really wanted to be asked. 

Questions like:

• ‘Are you hungry?’  

• ‘Are you thirsty?’  

• ‘Do you want to get well?’

• ‘What can I do for you?’  

Jesus’ words cut through the relational minutia and went straight to the heart because he asked the question beneath the question. We would do well to learn from his style. One challenge that has surfaced  globally is  the cultural inability to engage in healthy civil discourse or question asking. Dynamic, two-way conversations have been replaced  with one sided debates, and subsequently left us with the inability to truly listen. 

Conversely we may be talking more than ever...

• Zoom fatigue and ‘white noise effect’ are real conditions as a result of the significant increases in communication platforms, and methods.

• The average YouTube length is 12 minutes, with 1 billion daily mobile video views.

• TikTok reached 700,000,000 active users in 5 years making it the 7th largest social media platform.

• In recent years, TV watching has dropped by 4% (18-49 yr olds) BUT jumped by 74% on online platforms.

• Snapchat has over 265 million users who prefer messages with filters, shortened stories, and disappearing content.

Bottom line: We tend to talk at, rather than talk to and because we have lost our ability to listen, conversations have lost their power. They have become, superficial, one-sided, and far from transformative. Verbal Interactions are supposed to be refining, precious, disruptive, compelling, and thought provoking.   In a world where tensions feel ‘heavier’ there is a profound need to empathize, connect and resonate which comes from an ability to ask the good question and truly hear others. Over the last several years we have slowly LOST OUR ABILITY TO LISTEN.

This year I conducted a personal ‘case study.’ Basically, I identified a phrase/question that I wanted to be known for asking. I wanted to have the opportunity to ask it in every conversation I was in. Nothing too ornate or refined but just simple enough to be compelling:  7 words in the form of a question.  

My measurements were simple: 

1. How often do I ask this question?  

2. How often was it posed to me?  

The question? 

“TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?”

Every conversation I had, I committed to asking this question at least once. Any meeting that I attended, I made a mental note of how many times the 7 words were used. The question elevated the recipient and fostered humility from the questioner. What the question was stating was, “I want to know your thoughts.” “I want to learn from you.” I was stunned by the response every time I posed the question, and I was on my heels every time I was asked. In honor of the 7 words, here are 7 things I learned from using this phrase.

1. BE ‘OTHER’ FOCUSED:  If it is true that our favorite word is our own name then it seems fair that our favorite sound is our own voice.  Imagine the opportunity we are given to hear a different voice, perspective, view. There is something healthy about giving up significant ‘time of possession’ in a conversation. 

2. CURIOSITY IS COMPELLING:  The world has become myopic and resistant to input. It is also growing in scope, diversity and breadth. Those that will thrive in a changing world will be those who seek input to improve in their skills and grow in their awareness by being comfortable in silence, and committed to seeking to understand.

3. THE VALUE OF BEING SPECIFIC:  Jesus was the best at asking the right question at the right time and oftentimes, the question that others wanted to be asked. It takes thought, work, and discernment but WOW asking good questions is a lost art form and the conversation moves quicker and deeper. 

4. THE MARKS OF A DISCIPLE:  The question doesn’t just request advice, it actually gives the other person's view ‘weight’ and welcomes input, teaching and instruction. 

5. PING-PONG vs PITCH & CATCH:  Some conversations  are barely an exchange of ideas but more a swapping of views where the loudest and last view tends to win (ping-pong). This question forces a slower, lingering conversation where thoughts can settle (pitch and catch). 

6. MOVE THE NEEDLE:  A question that is a request elicits a response. A jaw drop, awkward silence, a sigh, highlighting its uniqueness. To share thoughts, be heard, and acknowledged for our own wisdom is a rarity. Let’s be unique. 

7. YOU WILL LOOK DIFFERENT:  Our posture is external and internal. When you ask this question, you are leaning in, sitting back,  taking mental (or physical) notes, making eye contact and reacting in hundreds of non-verbal ways.. 

As a mission, asking this question and listening to the answer may be our superpower!  Relational ministry cannot survive on soundbites and there is a great need for understanding in the world of kids. These 7 words could be a starting point to some great conversations. 

•  If you ask profound questions- you will get profound answers 

•  if you ask shallow questions, you will get shallow answers

•  if you ask no questions at all, you get no answers at all!  

TRY THIS CHALLENGE! Try this personal case study for yourself for one week. Ask the question in every conversation. Keep track of when you hear it asked of you too. Take notes. Then call me, text me or email and tell me what you learned? I’d love to know what YOU think.   -Tank

Kenbtank@gmail.com

(303) 472-8140

A CREATIVE WAY TO SERVE YOUR SCHOOL

Young Life staff are always looking for creative ways to serve the schools in their community. Last year when the pandemic disrupted everything, schools closed their doors to everyone. Now, as schools begin to open for students and teachers, the doors are still mostly closed to everyone else, making opportunities to serve the faculty and student body more scarce.  There are dozens of creative ways to come alongside the school, and I’d like to share one idea you may have not considered yet. Have you ever thought about getting a substitute teaching license? Even if you have little to no teaching experience you can get one, you just need a college degree, a few bucks, and some time. Here are the reasons we think every Young Life leader should have a sub license and how you go about getting one.

BENEFITS OF GETTING A SUB LICENSE:

• You get to meet and serve students in a different context.

• Kids will ask other kids about how they know you.

• Gives you credibility with the administration.

• There’s currently a massive shortage of subs in most school districts.

• You get paid!

HOW YOU GET A SUB LICENSE (if you don't have a teaching degree):

• YOU OFTEN NEED AN ENDORSEMENT LETTER FROM YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT: This starts with someone you know inside the school or school district. Someone that can vouch for you and affirm that you will be a valuable and beneficial addition as a sub.  In our district, the district writes an “endorsement letter” that you give to the licensing body .

• A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE LICENSING PROCESS: the cost for a restricted sub license in our state is a few hundred dollars through our Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC).

• A FEW HOURS WITH THE TSPC:  Every state has some version of a TSPC. This is the commission which licenses teachers.. In our state, it requires a few hours to complete some online paper work, take a test, get fingerprinted, and then you’re done. Just google “your state TSPC” and you should find  a full list of what is required.

Hope this is helpful and allows you to keep moving forward with students, families, teachers, and administrators in your town. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out.  

By Justin Scott

Area Director

Bend, Oregon

scottyounglife@me.com

KEEP IN MIND:  Like a lot of things we do to serve kids, this idea may be enormously effective in some locations and not such a great idea in others.  Make sure you understand your local school policies.  In some districts, teachers, subs, and other district employees or contractors are not allowed to have contact with students outside of the curricular hours of the school. Therefore, whether as a result of applicable law or by local policy, you may reduce your access to the school for Young Life activities by taking on a position like substitute teacher. 

It is also important to note that substitute teaching is not a part of the job responsibilities of a Young Life staff person. When you volunteer or work for a school district, you are an agent of the school in that capacity, not acting as an employee of Young Life. Any outside employment is subject to Young Life’s Moonlighting Policy. Feel free to contact Legal Services for questions about the laws and policies surrounding campus access or Human Resources for questions about the Moonlighting Policy or job responsibilities.

9 WAYS TO UPGRADE YOUR NEXT VIRTUAL EVENT

By now, most of us have participated, hosted or patiently endured our fair share of VIRTUAL EVENTS.

From virtual yoga classes, elementary school online auctions, zoom birthday parties and happy hours, weekly virtual team calls or Facetime family reunions and watch parties, it’s safe to say we have adjusted the meaning of ‘attending’ gatherings. 

After watching, and facilitating over 100 ‘virtual events’ we have identified 9 things that are non-negotiables to make your next virtual event excellent and unforgettable (in a good way).

9. IDENTIFYING THE PURPOSE OF YOUR EVENT WILL HELP DETERMINE THE BEST PLATFORM TO USE: Regardless the size or purpose of your virtual event, the ‘why’ will direct the ‘how.’ If the primary goal of your event is ‘entertainment’ then a webinar will be your best option. If you want engagement from the crowd, try a Zoom call or broadcast live on YouTube.

8. IT’S A TEAM SPORT: The best virtual events take a team of people. From the Host/MC to the Q&A facilitator, chat engagers, and tech support are all key roles in the execution of a seamless virtual event.

7. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Plan on 2-3 practice sessions for your virtual event with the entire team. Practice how you will welcome people, practice playing videos, power points, key transitions etc. Take good notes, and make adjustments as needed. You will be so glad you did!

6. TRANSITIONS ARE KEY: Similar to an in person event, transitions are so important. We often don’t recognize when they are smooth but absolutely recognize when they are bad. When you think of introducing a speaker or transitioning to a video, make sure you take the mic quickly and give 110%. 

5. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE CHAT FEATURE: The chat feature is hands down the best way to invite people to be a part of your virtual event but only if you have chat engagers. Think of chat engagers like cheerleaders at a pep-assembly, welcome folks in with enthusiasm, get them excited about the content you’re presenting

4. USE ADD ONS TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT: Countdown clocks, mentimeter, zoom poles, and trivia or raffle drawings are just a few fun and easy ways to increase and encourage engagement.

3. ALWAYS ENABLE THE WAITING ROOM: Here’s the best way to describe it, when you arrive at summer camp, you don’t want to be the only one going through the Work Crew tunnel of love, you want your friends to come too. Picture that scenario when you’re welcoming people into a virtual event...it’s so fun when you’re all being welcomed at once. The waiting room not only allows that grand welcome to happen but it also gives your team time to get on the same page, take a deep breath and welcome attendees when you’re ready.

2. DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO ELIMINATE DISTRACTION: One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone is presenting and you hear their text messages, emails, or calendar reminder notifications ding through. 

1. GIVE 110%: When I was trained as a volunteer leader, my Area Director always said “give 110% energy in club so that kids give 80%.” This same principle applies to virtual events. It might sound strange, but be prepared to be exhausted after hosting a virtual event. It may sound crazy, but bringing energy to a virtual event is so important and so hard to do. We take for granted the magic that happens when we’re in a room with people….get ready to give it all you’ve got.

THE LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP MODEL

What do we mean by “Leadership Development?”

As you may know, we now have a Department of Learning and Leadership Development  in Young Life. Tricia Blake leads this department as our first Chief Learning Officer.  I imagine that everyone reading this article would say that leadership development is important, both for Young Life as a mission and also for the Kingdom of God in general. Yet everyone reading this article would not have the same understanding of leadership development, even while we believe that it is important.

What can we learn about leadership development from the life of Jesus??

Though Jesus never used the term, I am struck by Jesus’ intentional approach to leadership development.  What do I mean by that comment?

• Jesus intentionally selected twelve people for his primary community. His call was simple and focused on purpose: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of people.”

• Jesus’ approach to leadership development was rooted in prayer and expressed in large vision. “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  - Matthew 9:37, 38

• Jesus delegated responsibility to his disciples and provided accountability for them. He sent them out to minister in pairs. (Matthew 10:5 ff; Mark 6:7 ff; Luke 9 and 10) Note the accountability in Mark 6:30.

• Jesus restored the disciples when they failed. Although the greatest example is probably Jesus’ restoration of Peter after his denial (John 21), Jesus’ response to Thomas’ doubt, His response to the request to place James and John at his right hand, and His gracious response to disciples’ inability to heal a father’s child (Mark 8:14-29) all reflect Jesus’ continuing trust in the disciples as well as his readiness to give restorative correction when they had failed in some way.

• Jesus called the disciples to love. As we read in John 13, His command is not simple to love one another, it is “love one another as I have loved you.” And both in John 13:35 and John 17:23 Jesus states that the disciples’ love for each other, and our love for one another, is the greatest testimony to His truth.

These are some of the most significant reasons that I am so taken by Jesus’ approach to leadership development, and they are vitally instructive for us.

As we have refined our thinking for our purpose in Learning and Leadership Development, we have agreed that our goal is to create a culture where every person aspires to be an effective leader, a people developer, and a lifelong learner. (See attached model.)

This process begins with the centrality of our life with Christ as we are transformed in our relationship with God, self, and others. It is bounded by the mission, vision, values, and methods of Young Life. It is marked by a focus on people development, courageous behavior, comprehensive stewardship, collaborative leadership, and excellence in execution.

Leadership Development was at the heart of Jesus’ mission. It was the leadership Jesus developed, empowered by the Spirit, that has guided the church for centuries.

Please join us in building a culture that is biblically rooted, where everyone is an effective leader, a people developer, and a continuous learner!

ARE YOUR LEADERS READY?

“Then there are the leaders. We maintain a high standard for our leadership; all of them are carefully trained in our own approach to evangelism... trained, skilled, dedicated people.” Jim Rayburn - 1952 

As our volunteers' numbers have grown exponentially since Jim Rayburn said the above quote, we all want to do our best to ensure what Rayburn said about our leaders is still true today, especially as we look forward to heading back to camp.  

This summer, you have the opportunity to ensure that we are passing on the DNA of Young Life camping and excellent training to the next generation of leaders. Your camp leaders desire to feel confident, equipped, and well prepared from the second they get on the bus all the way to say-so and camp follow-up. 

However, with so many plates to spin heading into the camping season (fundraising, communication, health forms, COVID precautions), good camp leader training could be in danger of being the first plate to drop. 

That does not have to be true! With the help of the 2021 Camp Leader Orientation on Young Life Access (on the devices they carry every day … smartphones, tablets, and laptops!), you can help make sure all of your leaders are on the same page heading into the first leader meeting at camp. And you can rest assured that every other leader at camp that week will have done the same.  

If your area does not have a free Young Life Access account, email Laura at laura@younglifeaccess.com. For complete instructions as to how your leaders can access the training, click HERE. for a simple overview and faqs.

This 2021 Camp Leader Orientation course is divided into eight parts easy to consume parts...

1 Introduction and the Philosophy of Young Life Camping

2 Young Life Camping Non-Negotiables 

3 Understanding Your Role in Leader Centered Camping

4 Being a Leader and Keeping Kids Safe

5 Cabin Time:  Don't Fear the Silence

6 Cabin Time:  Sample Questions and Helpful Scripture

7 Mastering One on One Conversations at Camp

8 A Thank You and a Simple Glimpse of the End

The entire course should take under an hour to complete, well worth the time considering the impact of summer camp on our kids. There is also a “Returning Leader Orientation” which is shorter for leaders who have completed the original training in previous summers. 

Remember, this training is not meant to replace your pre-camp meetings with your other leaders but rather enhance those face-to-face meetings by allowing you to spend more time in direct application of the material and in prayer for your kids. We know you look forward to getting together with your camp leaders in the coming weeks, praying together for your trip together as a team. If your leaders have completed the training on their own, you have more time to pray and discuss what they have learned before those meeting. In other cases, you may want to do the training together by streaming it to a TV and consuming it as a group. Either way, the kids win.

Every kid deserves a well-trained leader. This summer has the potential to be the Young Life’s best, and you can ensure that by making sure all of your leaders are equipped and ready.

For more information on Young Life Access, visit http://younglifeaccess.com.  

Hear About YL1: Young Life’s Next Move To Reach Every Kid

Over Young Life’s 80 year history as a mission, the heart for the ‘furthest out’ kid has been beautifully evident. Recently, there has been a growing conversation to coordinate an effort among YL staff  to share insights and best practices of ministries for kids served by various social service systems. Although these efforts haven’t always been widely known, they represent the heart of the mission’s desire to reach ‘Every Kid’ and address a growing crisis in our culture.  

As the dialogue grew, God moved through the heart of a generous group of women, who invested in the development and resourcing of these ministry types as they develop in scope and presence and that’s how YOUNG LIFE ONE was born! As a mission we say we want to love all adolescents and YL1 aims to honor that posture by reaching out to kids who have been impacted by our cultural challenges. There are currently four different demographics we aim to reach out to: teenagers impacted by homelessness, trafficking, incarceration, and/or the foster care system. 

It has been clearly evident that the Lord has affirmed Young Life’s presence in serving students in these unique contexts over the decades and chosen our current season as an opportunity to provide structure, systems, and resources as we move into coming years.  

Our goal is to train leaders and staff in how to love and care for kids in these governmental systems in an effort to communicate the message that tells each teenager “we love you, we believe in you, and we want to see you survive and thrive now and into adulthood.” We want these teenagers who are so often overlooked or misunderstood to know that the God we know and serve loves them beyond comprehension.

10 TIPS FOR SELF COMPARISON IN A DIGITAL AGE

THE RIGHT TYPE OF COMPARISON.  

(Self awareness in a digital age) 

The current explosion of digital technology not only is changing the way we live and communicate but is rapidly and profoundly altering our brains..[turning us into shallower thinkers].

Gary Small, UCLA professor of psychiatry [59]

YouTube is the second-most-visited site after Google. Two billion users log in to YouTube every month. YouTubers upload 500 hours of new content every minute, and viewers watch over five billion videos every day. This equates to over 82 years of new video daily, which is more than the programming total of the first 20 years of TV!

Pre-pandemic, the average adult in America spent more than 11 hours per day looking at some type of screen: a computer, TV, phone, or tablet. Some of this is for work but most is after hours. 

Part of our role in being involved in Young Life is to help the kids we support have a healthy relationship with social media. This is difficult to do when most of us don’t have health in this arena. Let’s get healthy!

The right type of comparison

Let’s say I follow 730 people on my favorite social media platform, which is Instagram. Most of us follow more. This means that every day of the year my account would theoretically show me photos from two people who are having the best day of their year (730 people divided by 365 days = 2). We usually post more if we’re having an incredible experience or a phenomenal trip, so it probably means more than two posts. It also means that every day of the year, 61 of the people I follow are having the best day of their month (730 divided by 12 months = 61). So when I look at Instagram every day, my feed is flooded with images of people who appear to be having their best day of their month, year, or maybe even their life.

How can I not feel like my life isn’t measuring up?

We have front row seats to peoples’ best days—every day. Exotic locations, special someones, and everyone looks like they are laughing really hard at all times. Not many people post sad or lonely posts; I know I don’t. People have said to me, “Pete, you lead such an exciting life!” I usually laugh nervously and mutter something about not posting when I’m often home alone on a Saturday night. Maybe I should. 

At the end of the day, we should only compare ourselves to ourselves. This self-comparison is not a thief of joy but a key to growth. Compare yourself to who you were yesterday. Compare yourself to who you were last week, last month, last year. Not to anyone else. Are you growing? Are you challenging yourself? Are you improving as a person?

How to fight back: Top 10 Tips for Healthy Social Media Use 

1. Schedule social media time throughout the day where you consciously choose to use social media. Only use it during these times – 15 min blocks work well. Be “uninterruptable” during the rest of the day. You can limit social media using Rescuetime (for laptops/desktops only), Break Free, Moment, or a similar app.

2. Utilize the airplane mode button early and often, or put your phone on silent and set it out of arm’s reach. Check your Screen Time in your weekly evaluation.

3. Turn off all social media notifications. This is a game changer and you won’t miss anything I promise. 

4. Engage your social media with purpose and gratitude. Be grateful for blessings in loved ones’ lives. Use other posts for inspiration and motivation, not comparison.

5. Become a person of pause. Pause before posting or replying to a post. Are you edifying and building people up or are you tearing people down?

6. Make your bedroom a “social media free” zone. Don’t look at social media for the first two hours of the day or the last hour before bed.

7. Move social media apps off your home screen and into a folder where they are more difficult to access. Then move them to the second page of that folder. Title this folder “Playtime,” “Amusement,” “Wasting time,” or “Recess” to remind yourself of its true purpose.

8. Have a regular time of “fasting” from technology. Fasting is abstaining from something. Start with a day and go from there. Shoot a bullet before a cannonball.

9. Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself. Remember that in most posts people are carefully curated and it is not reflective of real life. 

10. Delete all social media apps off of your phone. I knew someone who did this and only used her web browser or her laptop to look at social media. She still posted from time to time, and said her life was ten times better. She reclaimed her life.

For most of us, massive, ruthless, drastic action will be needed around social media because of the grip it has on our lives. What action will you take to have a healthy relationship with social media and show the kids you are investing in to do the same? 

A large portion of this article is taken from a brand new book that just released:  Adulting 101 Book 2 by Young Life staff Pete Hardesty and former YL leader/staff/committee Josh Burnette 

THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH

THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH

When I was eighteen years old I went to Europe. I went to Europe because I was worried that I wasn’t smart enough to go to college, and I wanted to drive a wedge between myself and my future. There was a school in the South of Germany where Canadians and Americans and Germans and Australians went for a year to nominally study the Bible and to practically study skiing and drinking Absinthe in the thick German forests. I met many wonderful people at that school, but there were a few in particular who scared me. I went to Europe because I was afraid of the future, and also because I thought that maybe if I could see the basilicas and sleep in the train depots and watch the Rhine move in its ancient way, that somehow I would be ready for the future when it arrived. I was going to Europe to test myself. The scary ones were going to Europe to test Europe. Maybe it’s the reason why Americans in particular have such bad reputations over there. Some people go to Europe to see Europe. Some go to see if the cobblestone streets that held up the chariots of the Romans could also hold the crushing weight of their youth.

In the winter the snow came and settled into the corners of the windows and the places the rooftops come together. Whoever wrote about Christmas first, at least in the Coca-Cola-Santa way we know it to be now, I suspect lived in the South of Germany at some point during the turn of the century. The lake froze over and the markets opened. It was a break in the test I was giving myself. The feeling of the winter in the South of Germany is that we have all been trying to prove ourselves enough, and that maybe being together is good enough for now.

The scary kids drank all the Glühwein in the Christmas markets. Glühwein gives you the warm sensation of swimming, and I could see them floating through the candled wreaths and hanging lights in the markets, dipping their mugs in the vats of it as they went. I tried to drink too much Glühwein also, but it didn’t agree with me. I didn’t feel like I was swimming, just hot and full of wine. So I gave up.

In the countryside near the school was a forest with a lake. It was a small lake with a stream running past but the stream and the lake never come together. There were thin Spruce and Beech trees and larger Pines coming up through the canopy of the others. In the winter the lake froze and the students made trails in the snow to the lake. The Canadians would skate across the surface looking proud, holding their shoulders back and stopping quickly to make a cloud from the ice. One day the scary ones came with a splitting maul to cut a hole in the ice. The hole was two feet across and the ice was three or four inches thick. When the first hole was finished the scary ones walked across the lake, twenty five feet away and they cut a second hole. The second hole was closer to the shore and the ice was thicker over there. One of the scary ones stripped down to his underwear and one of the other scary ones tied a rope to his foot.

“This way we can pull you out if you get lost.” The second one said. And the first scary one jumped in the hole. I remember that a wave of water came out of the hole and soaked through the snow. I could see the ice better after the water came out. The grey ice was scratched from the ice skates. The second scary one was letting out rope, he was looking down into the hole but there was nothing in the hole. A minute later the first one came out of the hole on the other side by the shore where the ice was thicker. Now there was a rope running under the ice.

A few days later we came back to the lake again but it had snowed during the night and we had to trample down the path to get back. The lake had another six inches of snow, and the scary ones had to kick around to find the rope. The rope was frozen in the ice where the hole had healed, you could see where the hole was but now it was ice again, frozen over like a gunshot wound. The scary ones opened the holes with the splitting maul again, careful not to chop the rope, and the second scary one jumped in the hole and swam to the other hole. He tied the rope to his hand because he didn’t want to get pulled out backward if he got lost.

“Now you can follow the rope.” He said. “But it is cold under there and it’s hard to move your arms and legs.”

“What does it look like?” I asked him.

"At first it's blue.” He said. “At first, blue, and then it’s white and then it’s dark.”

“How dark?” I asked.

“It’s as dark as you can think of.” He said. “But it’s only dark for a little while. If you keep going you can see the second hole. Once you see the second hole it’s white and then it’s blue and they you are done.”

I took my clothes off and was standing by the first hole in my underwear.

When I jumped in the hole everything was blue. The shock was so complete that my brain didn’t register the cold, just that it was an impact. It was an impact like hitting your head is an impact. All of my muscles went tight and my heart pulled up into my throat. I started kicking and swimming in the direction of the second hole.

Ten or fifteen seconds later everything was dark. It was dark in a completeness. I could hear the ice shifting and bending. I could see and hear the bubbles moving toward the surface but I could see nothing. Pure and total darkness in every direction. The rope was slack and getting twisted around my ankles. My strokes were beginning to lose efficiency as my muscles tensed. I could feel my heart rate slowing and everything was black. My legs felt like there were rubber bands between them, I was slowing and rising until finally, my head hit the ice. I wanted to surface and take a breath, but the dark ice was there, holding me under.

“You need to turn around.” A voice in my head was saying. “Go back.” You know where the first hole is. The second hole could be anywhere.”

“But the rope is coming out of the second hole.I can’t swim against the rope.” I said. I could feel panic rising in my chest. The kind where I was needing to gasp but there was no air to gasp.

“You are lost.” Said the voice. “Go back.” I closed my eyes and kept swimming.

When I opened my eyes again I could see the white coming through, and then beyond I could see the blue. The blue was reflecting off the bottom here in a circle where the water was more shallow. When I put my hand through the opening of the second hole I felt fingers close around my wrist, and then I was standing on the ice again and the scary ones were standing around me. They weren’t as scary anymore. I think, maybe I realized that we were testing the same things all along.

“Did you want to turn around?” One of them asked.

“Yes.” I said.

“But then you remembered that the only way out is through.”

“The only way out is through.” I said.

Tyson Motsenbocker tyson.motsenbocker@gmail.com

A 'TED TALK' TO REMEMBER

MY LAST CONVERSATION WITH TED JOHNSON

I don’t remember the first time I met Ted Johnson; he tends to be the type of guy you need to meet a few times to truly ‘capture’ him. Over the years the settings varied:  golf course, a hallway, a board meeting, or countless Banquets. Adorned with a perpetual tan, wry smile, a glimmer in his eye, and an appearance like he just finished golfing, Ted was hard to miss. When your eyes met Ted’s, you would receive a clear message of “there you are!” as you walked into the room. In a Young Life mission that is full of ‘characters,’ Ted was one of a kind! 

Ted went to be with the Lord on December 1, 2020 and already, many of us are realizing the hole this leaves in the legacy, humor, and history of this mission. According to Ted, in 1956, Bob Mitchell “snookered” him into chaperoning a bus load of kids to Malibu Club in Canada. Shortly thereafter he was on the local Santa Barbara adult committee! 60 Years later Ted split his time between Arizona and Colorado, as he continued to be actively involved with Young Life in both states.

Over the years Ted served on five different local committees as well as holding the national Committee Chair role. In 1990, he became president of the Young Life Foundation and served the mission as interim president for 18 months beginning in 1992. In addition to the Young Life Foundation role, he handled a variety of duties including raising money and speaking at over 247 banquets. In 2014, he ‘officially’ semi-retired.

If you have had your own encounter with Ted, then you completely understand why he was fondly described as YL’s Chief Encouragement Officer (CEO). You left every interaction feeling smarter, taller, funnier, wiser, and a better golfer then you were just  moments earlier. He just had that gift. I think in a person’s life there are a handful of encounters where someone speaks, truth, vision, and calling into your life. It may be a parent, teacher, close friend, or perhaps a Young Life leader or Pastor. Although their statements may range from eloquent to clumsy, they ARE always significant! In my life, Ted was responsible for ONE of those encounters. After a 7:00 am call on November 27, 2020 he added a SECOND one. 

Early that Friday morning in November, I received a call asking if I had a few minutes to talk to Ted. ‘YES!’ was my blurted response. I knew Ted was in the hospital fighting health issues complicated by Covid-19 and I was desperate to see/talk to him but knew that would be difficult. The call lasted 47 minutes and it was full of the expected humor and sharp wit that disguised the reality of an aging man in a hospital bed. Ted mentioned more than once that he thought he may pass (be promoted) that day! Urgency edits conversations and makes words intensify and linger, so the conversation shifted. 

We talked about many things like the historical marks/cultural DNA of the Young Life mission and then he got to business. He wanted to make sure that with whatever influence and commitment I could muster I would help ensure that Young Life would continue to be about 5 things. The rest of the time was spent talking about these 5 marks of the mission of Young Life (My very own ‘Ted’ Talk). 

Here are those FIVE:

1. That WE would be about UNREACHED/disinterested kids. 

2. That WE would find a way to go to them. 

3. That WE would always strive to make the gospel accessible because ‘it's a sin to bore a kid’. 

4. That WE would be open to being in their life for a lifetime, because that’s part of disciple making.  

5. That WE would be instrumental in getting them involved with the local church or faith community.

The phone call was a holy moment and a sacramental  conversation. So here’s the thing:  nothing Ted shared was new or even had shifted in its phrasing. I might have just as well been reading from a Young Life Leader manual.  That being said, it felt new to me, and I was renewed by it.  I cried, I was inspired, called, convicted, and found my head nodding in agreement and hearing  something close to “amen...amen” coming from my lips as he spoke. Truth tends to elicit that kind of response I guess. 

At the end of the call, Ted encouraged me to help keep us (Young Life) on this 5-prong path and I found myself committing to that challenge and saying “Ted, trust me, I am not going anywhere. We will make sure we stay the course!” (I may have committed to a few more years on staff during that early morning phone call.) Over the subsequent weeks, I found out that Ted had dozens of calls like this with young and old staff all around the mission!  Classic Ted! He made me feel like it was just for ME (and it was) and he made sure the message got to EVERYONE (and it did).  

In an interview with our YL Alumni Department in 2016 Ted was asked what he would say to current and former staff. Here is his answer: “To those who are currently serving in a staff role, I would say two things. Whatever it costs, stay focused on unreached kids. It’s what Jesus would have done. Also, I encourage you to invite a former staff person to lunch and ask some questions. To those who are no longer serving in a staff role, if there are lines in heaven, you’ll be in front. Thanks for your service!”

I want to be like Ted Johnson:  affirming, funny, tan, golfing. But now I want to be like him in another way - thinking about Christ and Kids in the final week of his life and ensuring that the next generation and the generation after that understands the gift of being able to carry the torch. I’m hoping  to make calls from my hospital bed when the time comes. If you haven’t had the privilege of having a Ted Johnson encounter, enjoy his cameo at YL2020 during THE NEXT BIG THING! 

Written by: Ken Tankersley

THE SIMPLE BRILLIANCE of the Discovery Bible Study!

Before we unpack the wisdom and power behind the Discovery Bible Study method Young Life International has been using over many years (as have many leaders and staff in the US), I want to be sure we are ‘thinking well about discipleship.’ In Young Life, we have ‘believed these things throughout the history of the mission but it is always good to remind and remember before we multiply.

Discipleship Assumptions:

1. Discipleship is Relational.

2. Discipleship is “follow me as I follow Christ.” (I Corinthians 11:1)

3. Discipleship is transforming lives. (Romans 12:2)

4. Discipleship is lifestyle patterns, values, actions, and commitments.

5. Disciplines of the Spirit are modeled, caught, taught, and “owned.”

6. A healthy disciple knows how to develop a constellation of mentors.

The Discovery Bible study aligns well with these assumptions and can encourage a trajectory of a lifetime being a discipler and being a disciple.

All of the elements of the DBS are important. Each step builds from the previous step and leaving out a step or minimizing it short circuits the power.

The beauty of DBS is the empowerment it brings to those who learn how to lead one. I have witnessed, hundreds of times, a young man or woman who met Jesus a year ago at a YL camp in Nicaragua or Kenya, Ukraine or the Philippines, Northern Ireland, or Zimbabwe, leading elders or Young Life veterans in a DBS that was on fire with God’s Spirit and His Word. EVERYONE can and should be able to lead a DBS in Young Life because the Holy Spirit is in charge: revealing, training, reconciling, redeeming, transforming, shaping the character of Christ in us.

Here are the steps (Remember how much EACH step matters):

1. Pray, seriously, attentively to the Holy Spirit. As Dale Bruner says, “the shy member of the Trinity.” Pay attention within this process to the prompts, the pictures, the Words, and the visions the Holy Spirit bubbles up in the reading of God’s Word. Really listen to the Holy Spirit.

2. Have someone read aloud the chosen verses and state what translation. No comment, just read well. Then, have another person read the same passage in different translation. Then, have another person tell the passage. (It is ok if they miss things or even add, trust that the Holy Spirit is leading.) Create freedom in this “telling” so people relax rather than “get it right.” My experience is the God often does amazing things with the “telling.”

3. Now that we have heard the Holy Spirit through three versions of the passage, ask two questions for reflection:

   1. What did I learn/experience about God/Jesus in this passage?

   2. What did I learn about me (or humankind) in this passage?

4. Final discussion: What does God want me to do from what I experienced today in this DBS?

5. Close in an attentive, grateful prayer to the Holy Spirit.

Teach people, old and young, how to lead a DBS, have them practice it frequently. Watch what God does!  if every leader, every staff, every committee person, every campaigner did this, we would be amazed at the fruit the Holy Spirit produced in our mission.

Sidenote: This is not to be dismissive of other study tools or commentaries or practices but this is a practice that multiples because of its simplicity AND the Holy Spirit.

THE PRAYING LADIES OF GAINESVILLE

Not much is known about the praying ladies of Gainesville, and all of their names — with one exception — are almost certainly lost to history. Here’s what we do know:

In Dance, Children, Dance (later retitled From Bondage to Liberty), Jim Rayburn III quotes his father as saying,

“I found out that across the street from the high school a group of elderly women had been meeting for six years, every Monday morning, getting down on their knees in the living room of dear old Mrs. Frasher’s. They prayed every Monday morning for six years, long before I ever heard of Gainesville, Texas, for the high school kids across the street. I was there a year before I heard of that prayer meeting. I used to go over there with those five or six old ladies and get down on my knees with them after that club started to roll. That was the thing the Lord used to start it.” (From Bondage to Liberty, p. 36)

While Jim Rayburn often told the story when he was alive, it had never appeared in print until the release of Dance, Children, Dance in 1984. Since then it has become the stuff of Young Life legend.

A few trips to Gainesville twenty-plus years ago and lots of research have fleshed out some of the details about this particular episode in Young Life’s history.

The first thing I found out, searching City Directories of Gainesville, church records, the local cemetery, and the city newspapers is that the “Mrs. Frazier” referred to in Dance, Children, Dance, was actually Clara Ann Frankenberger Frasher, the wife of Henry Leonard Frasher, better known as “H. L.”

I asked Jim III where he had gotten the story in the first place and he said it was from an old talk his father had given. From that I inferred that the name had been spelled phonetically by whoever transcribed that message (F-R-A-Z-I-E-R rather than the correct F-R-A-S-H-E-R). As a result, it now appears in From Bondage to Liberty correctly as “Frasher.”

According to city records, the Frashers did indeed live across the street from the high school. The house, however, as far as I can tell, no longer exists.

In an interview I did with him, early volunteer and staff member Murray Smoot told me about Mrs. Frasher, whom he got to know well during his short stint as associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville. (Mrs. Frasher and her husband were active members there.)

“She would sit on her front porch, not too far from Gainesville High, and watch the kids, [go] back and forth, back and forth. God gave a great burden on her heart. And she would sit there in a rocking chair on the front porch. (And I’ve been there on her front porch many a time, I knew Mrs. Frasher well.) And she prayed for these kids. She said ‘I don’t know what I can do, but I pray that someone will rescue these kids. They don’t know where they’re going, they’re just wandering back and forth and going where, nobody knows.’ It was her prayer life that really brought Jim Rayburn to Gainesville High.” 

Murray described Mrs. Frasher as “just a guiding light. There were four or five women who were of the same spirit and of prayer,” saying further that Mrs. Frasher was “a warmhearted person.” (I should note that it’s my impression the origin story for Young Life was given to Murray by Jim, not by Mrs. Frasher herself.) 

I wish I had asked Murray if he remembered any of the other women, but I did not.

The timeline that evolves would be as follows:

Mrs. Frasher began praying for the kids at the high school around 1934. At some point she enlists some other ladies.

In the spring semester of 1939, Jim begins a Miracle Book Club at Gainesville High School, seventy-five miles from where he is in seminary in Dallas. I have not been able to find any recorded reason (other than Mrs. Frasher’s prayers and God’s plans, that is!) as to why Jim went so far afield to do this work, as there were plenty of schools in Dallas or Fort Worth at which to start an MBC chapter.

In the fall of 1939 Jim is hired by the First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville to be “Christian Education Director and Choir Director,” having been noticed by the church’s young pastor, Clyde Kennedy, for his work with Miracle Book Club. There was a lengthy discussion by the elders about this move. It was finally brought to a vote by none other than Henry Frasher, Clara’s husband.

Jim goes to work for the church in the late fall (November?) 1939. By January of 1940, Jim’s Miracle Book Club has exploded, thanks to the prayers of Mrs. Frasher’s group, the prayers of some of the early “club kids,” and the radical step of moving the club meetings from afternoons after school to a weeknight in a member’s home. It is, in fact, the largest Miracle Book Club group in the nation.

The success in Gainesville led Jim to trying out a series of “Young Life Campaigns” in the subsequent summer (1940, after Jim’s graduation from Dallas Theological Seminary), first in Gainesville, then in Houston, and finally in Dallas. These are the first events Jim ever held using the name “Young Life.” (While Jim strongly disliked the name “Miracle Book Club” and some of the organization’s practices, he did end up borrowing some key concepts from them, primarily the idea of centering an evangelistic outreach around a single high school rather than around a particular local church.)

During the 1941 school year (Fall 1940 - early Spring 1941) Jim was out of seminary and still working for Miracle Book Club, but he increasingly used the name “Young Life Campaign” and, by March of 1941 he had made his break from MBC. Young Life was born. (It would legally incorporate in October of that year.)

Some final notes about Mrs. Frasher: She actually was closer to Jim’s younger brother Bob, who served as the pastor of First Presbyterian, Gainesville, after Jim left seminary, though Jim knew her first (Bob was at DTS at the time of his pastorate).

I don’t think Jim kept up with Henry and Clara, though I believe they knew of Jim’s early Young Life work. Sadly, Young Life left Gainesville a few years later.

Mr. Frasher lived to the ripe old age of 92, dying in 1960. Clara preceded Henry in death by six years. Mrs. Frasher died at 83 after a long illness on July 14, 1954. In what I see as a heavenly coincidence, she died the very same week that the ministry in whose founding she was so unknowingly instrumental welcomed its first campers to its newest property, Malibu Club. She got to watch Malibu open from the heavenly bleachers, where she and her old friends have long since reunited and have no doubt cheered on the tens of thousands of kids coming to Christ in Young Life ever since they met on their knees in the 1930s.

Written by: Kit Sublett kitsublett@earthlink.net

Global Training & Discipleship March 2021

A WORD FOR THIS SEASON - Judgement

The season of Lenten reflection and fasting serves as an opportunity for personal repentance and corporate reawakening. The 40 day journey culminates in the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection making Easter Sunday one of the most important days in the Christian calendar marking Jesus’ victory over death on the cross and allowing  believers to celebrate his life. Accept this painting from Daniel Bonnell as a gift  for you as you prepare for Holy week leading up  to Easter. 

Daniel Bonnell is a working artist, an author, and a teacher. He is known throughout the United States, England, and Israel as one of the few noted sacred painters of the 21st Century. Bonnell received his BFA degree from the Atlanta College of Art and his MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design and his paintings are found in churches around the world, and private collections. If curious, his  art may be found at BonnellArt.com. I stumbled upon Daniel Bonnell’s art a few years ago while looking for a creative way to engage gospel narratives in the New Testament and now he serves as a regular ‘go to’ for me when I am anxious to revamp, rekindle, or re-engage my understanding of scripture or my embrace of a significant season in the Church calendar like Lent.  

HERE is a link to print one of his current pieces of artwork titled “JUDGEMENT.” Judgement is a word that we have become accustomed to seeing and feeling in our current cultural climate and the painting acknowledges that.The scene is  intense. There are themes of discord, mockery, humility, and loneliness. Bonnell captures it all! Interestingly, he chose to paint this event on ‘grocery bag’ paper on purpose  because he wanted a medium that was humble, modest and world wide.  His three step process was simply to:

1. Paint the painting. 

2. Ball up the paper. 

3. Flatten with an iron to depict  an aged and weathered texture. 

What I appreciate about his style of painting is his ability to capture ‘moments’ in scripture. As a stand alone, those moments are intense, transformative, complicated, and telling. They demand the observer to engage, look deeper, pause and think.  For that, I am grateful. During this 2021 Lenten season he also seems to catch the ‘corporate moment’ we are all dealing with around the globe surrounding civility, blame, isolation,  and disruption. In many ways, this painting shows not only that Jesus is ‘counter cultural’ as so many Biblical historians are apt to point out, but also affirms the common understanding that oftentimes  the majority opinion in scripture tends to be wrong. 

I don’t know exactly which ‘scene’ in Holy Week Bonnell attempted to highlight for this picture, but it could certainly be the selected passage from LUKE 23:  13-23 below:

Pilate gathered the people together with the high priests and all the religious leaders of the nation and told them, “You have presented this man to me and charged him with stirring a rebellion among the people. But I say to you that I have examined him here in your presence and have put him on trial. My verdict is that none of the charges you have brought against him are true. I find no fault in him. And I sent him to Antipas, son of Herod, who also, after questioning him, has found him not guilty. Since he has done nothing deserving of death, I have decided to punish him with a severe flogging and release him.” For it was Pilate’s custom to honor the Jewish holiday by releasing a prisoner.

When the crowd heard this, they went wild. Erupting with anger, they cried out, “No! Take this one away and release Barabbas!” For Barabbas had been thrown in prison for robbery and murder.  Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, tried to convince them it was best to let Jesus go. But they cried out over and over, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

A third time, Pilate asked the crowd, “What evil crime has this man committed that I should have him crucified? I haven’t found one thing that warrants a death sentence! I will have him flogged severely and then release him.”

But the people and the high priests, shouting like a mob, screamed out at the top of their lungs, “No! Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Finally their shouts and screams succeeded. -  Luke 23: 13-23

As you enter Holy Week, ponder the following questions surrounding this painting and accompanying scripture:

Q.  What character stands out from the painting?

Q.  Of the gestures and raised hands etc, what do you notice? How does it make you feel?

Q.  What do you glean from the posture of the person of Christ? (both internally and externally)

Q.  In the passage above which verse or statement in the scripture seems to be represented by the painting? How? 

Q.  In what ways do you see ‘JUDGEMENT’ depicted in the painting and the passage.  What new perspectives on the word do you have as you prepare to celebrate Easter? 

For better or worse, JUDGEMENT may be the word for this Season and the purpose of Holy Week is to reenact, relive, and participate in the passion and punishment of Christ. Judgement by its nature, demands a response and that response is clearly felt in the  three days spanning Good Friday to Easter. Perhaps as Spring enters our world we can explore how to be people of peace who are grateful to receive and extend grace in a season of Judgement. Hopefully, GRACE may be the word for the coming Season.  

Written by: 5.4 Friday Team

Global Volunteers March 2021

Did You Know?

WyldLife doesn’t have an official anniversary date. As early as the 1970s, some leaders started “Younger Life” to teach high school Campaigners kids how to share their faith. In some urban settings, staff saw that younger kids were facing tremendous challenges, so they started clubs just for them. Staff learned that middle school kids can, and do, respond to the gospel, and by the late 1990s, the ministry had a name:  WyldLife.

In 2000, mission leadership announced that Young Life would now be equally committed to both middle school and high school ministry. Today, there are 1,706 WyldLife ministries in 739 areas in the United States. WyldLife leaders adapt ministry to meet the unique needs of early adolescents, knowing that younger kids are more open and in need of caring adults who can tell them that God loves them. Areas with WyldLife have the opportunity to disciple kids for seven years, watching God develop them into kingdom-minded young adults.

Why is WyldLife so important? Staff, leaders, parents, and kids answer that question in this short video. 

How much do you know about WyldLife? Test your knowledge here.

Want to know more about how to start WyldLife in your community? Let us know and we’ll connect you with the people who can help.

FALL 2021 STARTS THIS SPRING

I believe that now is the time to dream about the Fall. As leaders we are called to lead with hope and belief. We have to be leaders to see into the future and lead to what will be. We can’t get stuck in living in what is, but always dreaming and looking ahead. Now is the time to dream about the Fall and dreaming about the Fall starts by leaning into the Spring. If we wait until the Fall to ‘restart” we will be too late. 

I would like to offer FIVE “S’s” for your Spring. Four of them will be external and one will be internal, but all five are key to being ready for the Fall. 

Social Media! Most of us have become good at virtual this or that, but many of us have been using social media poorly. Consider how you go after new students in the Spring. Students are hungry for connection and they are smart enough to want real connection. Here are three ideas to implement right now for the Spring social media. 

• Find and follow all the freshmen you can. Don't wait for them to follow your YL page, you add them! Take the initiative, be proactive. 

• Slide into those DM’s. That’s right, any students who like your post, start a conversation. Conversations turn into real relationships. 

• PLEASE stop post infographics and leader bios. It’s about them not you so post pictures of people not ‘cumurcials’ about your next thing. 

Shared Adventure is the second ‘S” plan for the spring. You and a student or two do something together that’s fun! The list is endless so be a dreamer and think about what is possible. Obviously follow local guidelines as it relates to Covid but also think about outside the box. Take some time in January and come with a plan or two and give it a try. 

Small groups/Campaigners! Invest now in the kids who are believers and start talking about the Fall! Give them the idea of Mission Community. We are growing together but we also have a mission to accomplish. Let’s go after our school for Christ! Help them to see the future. 

This one is a bit of a reach, but our fourth ‘S’ is squad. I believe that when we enter the Fall of 2021 we will have to look around and see who is still around as it relates to our leadership teams. So let’s start rebuilding our teams NOW! Plan a new leaders night at the end of the spring. Dream about a ‘big event’ where you can welcome new leaders into your area or on your team. Then work backwards and start a great leadership training class. Invite everyone and lead them to a place of giving their life away for Jesus. Your investment now will make the Fall of 2021 possible. 

This last ‘S’ is the internal one and the one that will be key to your success in the future. The last S is ‘should.’ Should you still be doing this? Are you still called? Make no mistake the Fall of 2021 will be a complete restart of many areas and clubs. There will be little to build on it will be hard to restart. Are you up for it? Don’t get me wrong, I am for sure not saying now is the time to quit, but I do want us all to realize that while the future is filled with hope and exciting new opportunities, it will also be difficult. Make sure you are ready for the battle that lies ahead.

YOUR AUDIENCE JUST GOT BIGGER

 (Cohort Report on Large Virtual Clubs) 

In a season where so much has been postponed, disrupted, cancelled, and retooled, we want to give some good news! THE LARGE VIRTUAL CLUB PILOT WAS A SUCCESS!!   With the success of the Young Life College and University National (US) virtual clubs, there has been tremendous interest from other mission leaders in getting their State, Division, Country all in one room and the 6 summaries below are the result.    

Campaigners, Military students, Young Life, Capernaum, and Assigned Team Members were just some of the Global audiences that our cohort connected with a larger group then ever, and some students that would have never had the opportunity to be together otherwise. While so many have done creative things over the past year with all things "virtual," we have been reminded and encouraged through our Virtual Club Cohort of "every kid!" Six ministries took part in our cohort reaching thousands of students virtually. While the numbers were exciting, the diverse reach was even better. Our staff invested their time and energy to produce a high quality on-line experience to reach students  all over the world!  As we imagined the process, we mostly thought about the "how" and "why" to make it happen. In the end, we were reminded of the "who" that we pursue all over our world and the God that causes students to say after their virtual event...“I hope if I ever get to go to heaven that Jesus would call me daughter!”

Below is a simple list that gives and overview and link (when possible) of the six virtual clubs! Please feel free to reach out to the staff below to learn from them so you can do your own and reach more kids then ever!

VIRTUAL CLUB TITLE 

ALL EAST CAMPAIGNERS

LENGTH /LINK

https://vimeo.com/500123742/2f7b7954cc (33:09)

AUDIENCE?/SETTING 

High School Campaigner students. Available for the month of February - in groups and individual.

MESSAGE/THESIS 

We’re all on a journey with Jesus – what is next for you?

STAFF CONTACT 

Rick Beckwith:  RBeckwith@sc.younglife.org

VIRTUAL CLUB TITLE 

NORTHSTAR REGIONAL CAPERNAUM 

LENGTH /LINK

https://zoom.us/rec/share/NPviwtDwUilNeJz_eWa7H0zynhNxLqYfknNEHd4WL1DpFVk7u4soa87Xeg7Wyk-Q.V8ThvfRrXrTihaFr 

Passcode: .WCzZb86 (90 minutes)

AUDIENCE?/SETTING 

Capernaum students. Using Zoom Webinar

MESSAGE/THESIS 

Many of the Capernaum clubs in our region are still virtual due to state and school restrictions. Although it’s not the same as meeting in person, our Capernaum students have loved joining friends and leaders on Zoom for club during the pandemic. We are offering this club as a way for students to expand their social circles and get to hear about Jesus, all at the same time!

STAFF CONTACT 

Jamie Fendler:  jamiefendler@gmail.com

VIRTUAL CLUB TITLE 

YOUNG LIFE CLUB BEYOND

LENGTH /LINK

(Link not currently available) 

HOW LARGE OF A AUDIENCE?/SETTING 

Military Teens around the world. Live zoom call with kids from their homes (Europe in lockdown until March 14.)

MESSAGE/THESIS 

John 5 – The man by the pool: Do you kinda feel like in your life....you are sort of not breathing or unresponsive?

Q.  What are some ways you might “pick up your pallet” and walk?

Q.  Do you feel “stuck” in something like the man by the pool?

STAFF CONTACT 

Jodi Chesemore: jochesemore@mcym.younglife.org

VIRTUAL CLUB TITLE 

GREATER NORTHEAST REGION HIGH SCHOOL

LENGTH /LINK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2QuM71wKh0&feature=youtu.be

AUDIENCE?/SETTING 

High school students. February 1 - small groups and individual viewing

MESSAGE/THESIS 

Winter/spring semester kick off! Our goal was to set leaders up with a person of Christ talk to help go deeper with kids in a season of isolation.

STAFF CONTACT 

Shannon Burgoyne: shannonsburgoyne@gmail.com

VIRTUAL CLUB TITLE 

YOUNG LIFE DEAF KIDS CLUB

LENGTH /LINK

Coming Soon!!

AUDIENCE?/SETTING 

Deaf and Hard of hearing students

MESSAGE/ THESIS 

Deaf and Hard of hearing communities already spend significant time in isolation and Covid-19 has exponentially heightened that challenge. We want to connect deaf communities around the mission and give them a sense of hope for community and vision for ministry. 

STAFF CONTACT 

Araya Williams: info@sonshineinterpreting.com

VIRTUAL CLUB TITLE 

NATIONAL ASSIGNED TEAM ‘CHALK TALK’ VIDEO

LENGTH /LINK

60 minutes. https://vimeo.com/509022439/76696f5988

AUDIENCE?/SETTING 

This 60 minutes isn’t just for YL Staff on a summer assignment; this is for EVERYONE who cares about Summer Camp.

MESSAGE/ THESIS 

Assigned Teams can consider this day zero of their assignment and the first step toward preparing you for a Spirit led summer! You are made for this! Now let’s get trained for this! 

STAFF CONTACT 

Tank: kenbtank@gmail.com

1000 HOME VISITS = EXPONENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES!

Since Young Life goes to where kids are and in many of our states kids are having to do school from home, we decided to visit kids at their homes. We have done this with WyldLife, Capernaum, and our Young Life clubs. All told, we have visited kids’ homes almost 1000 times this past fall semester. 

We divided our club roster amongst the leadership team and the same leader kept going to the same homes.  We did sidewalk graduation ceremonies, we delivered Easter candy baskets, back to school care packages, giant sized otter pops, frozen yogurt, lunches from their favorite fast food place, birthday/half-birthday greetings, and finally this fall started to do what we called “club on the porch.” 

“Club on the Porch”  is where we would come up with a club game that they could do on their porch or driveway. We came up with games that an overall winner could easily be identified by who did the game the fastest, furthest, or most in the allotted time. Then we would come back with a surprise sidewalk award ceremony that we plotted with the parents to get their kid to walk outside and not suspect us hiding around the corner, behind the bushes, or the car in the driveway. We’d play “We are the Champions,” explode confetti cannons, present an award certificate or trophy and bringa free lunch to be enjoyed on the back patio with their YL leader. We’ve done all this with leaders showing up wearing masks, bringing a bottle of hand sanitizer, and other good practices to keep leaders and families safe.

What happened after almost 1000 home visits?  

Leaders got to know kids so much better through their conversations. Kids really look forward to their leader showing up. Leaders got to know parents better than ever! I can confidently say that I got to know more parents in six months than the past three years!  Parents loved that we consistently showed up 1-2 times a month. They enjoyed talking to another adult face to face.

Towards the end of the fall semester we started bringing high school campaigners and student leaders with us. We invited these students along so that they could introduce us to their friends who we didn’t yet know, those friends' of theirs homes that don’t come to club. We plan to continue this moving forward. This spring we are going to take Young Life leaders and high school student leaders along with our WyldLife leaders to meet all of the graduating 8th graders.

This has been such a win for our area that we will continue to do this when Covid restrictions are long gone. Showing up in their world for some one on one time with a splash of Young Life fun has made the past nine months some of the best ministry we have ever done in our area.

Looking for some ideas and inspiration? Check out some of these ideas:

Birthday Ideas    

Club on the Porch      

Sidewalk Graduation Ceremony

Back to School video Compilation video

Photo Albums Ping Pong Game, Capernaum Porch Club, Teddy Bear Club, TB Club 2, Back to school, Graduation Pics, Graduation Pics 2, Award Ceremony Video

By Robb Schreiber and Brad Scandrett from San Diego North Young Life

BINGE READ THIS BOOK?

BINGE READ THIS BOOK?  - Rediscovering the MPOE

(Read to the End- Special Invitation at the end) 

It can be challenging for me to see opportunities or find hope in this current season. Like many of us, I experience disruption upon disruption, as well as a pronounced sense of being ‘stuck’ most days. The ebb and flow or feeling up and down has made me more reflective. My realization: things are hard, BUT on the bright side, my devotional times have never been so rich, I have made a habit of walking miles each day, and I have daily conversations now that I don’t think I was equipped to have a year ago. In addition, I am sure that I have never watched as many TED talks or listened to as many podcasts or read as many books as I have during the past several months. To be fair, my binge-watching is at an all time high too. (Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime video are all winning.)

I have a small library. Nothing fancy, mostly paperbacks, but enough books to fill a shelf and impress guests. Over the past few months, I have had the chance to dust off some of the classics. I simply re-read and rediscovered some time-tested truths that I have forgotten. What books? Books like...

• True Spirituality - Francis Shaeffer

• Your God is Too Small -  JB Phillips

• Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster

• Be my Witness -  Darrell Guder

• The New Testament in Modern English for schools -  JB Phillips

• Peculiar Treasures, and Wishful Thinking -   Frederick Bueckner 

• Out of the Salt Shaker -   Rebecca Manly Pippert

As I have talked with many of you, I realized that I am not the only one.  A return to the basic, foundational truths and key principles of our faith and ministry has been a viral trend in our mission. 

A favorite book that I keeps being mentioned in various conversations, with different groups and settings is:

Title: THE MASTER PLAN OF EVANGELISM.  

Author: Robert Coleman,  Written:   1963

Overview:  Coleman models Jesus’ discipleship methods in Matthew 4: 19. It's a classic and at last count has  sold more than four million copies and has been translated into over 100 languages! This 160 page, 60+ year old book is a ‘must read’ for YL Volunteers, Staff, and Committee! The eight guiding principles that frame the book are so simple, I almost remembered it from memory and I haven’t read the book for years.

1. Selection 

2. Association 

 3. Consecration 

4. Impartation 

5. Demonstration 

6. Delegation 

7. Supervision 

8. Reproduction

To be honest, it’s hard to accept that this book wasn’t written by YL! Our methods are so embedded in its chapters.  The whole thesis is that Jesus set the bar high for discipleship when he called twelve average men to follow him. Coleman distills that truth even further, “you find the most natural way to be with someone,” he said. “You’ve got to be with someone to disciple them. That’s the master plan.”

At the heart of our conversation around discipleship and the principles of 3-12-72, or the international context of map/tree/list, lies the reality that “Discipleship is not a gift of the spirit; it’s a command.  It’s not some special call; it’s a way of life,” —Dr. Robert Coleman.  I know I didn’t write this book, but I have sure benefited from it.  Also, I enjoyed re-reading it because I am reminded to live out its biblical truths. If you are inclined to read or re-read it, I have an Opportunity for YOU!   

SIGN UP HERE!   THE MASTER PLAN OF EVANGELISM VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!   

• Starting March 2021 - December 2021 (Brief hiatus over the Summer) 

• Train the Trainer model, you attend the Club then lead your own with your Committee and Volunteers

• We buy the books for you and send helpful resources 

• Limited Spots! We have spots for 25 YL Area’s and Committees and two Regional Cohorts. So hurry!   

 If you are interested, just respond “I’m Interested!” to Blake Raney  and we will give you information about an upcoming call to give you the overview of this initiative. This could be one simple, and fun way to reconnect to the DNA of the YL mission for your local areas.