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.

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

PRAYING WITH PURPOSE

Have you ever asked a question not getting the answer you wanted only to find out later it was the answer you needed?

In May, I was in the place where I was saying to the Lord “A pandemic? Really?” He gently directed me to Ecclesiastes 3, “A time for everything under heaven.” Respectfully I continued to ask, “But Lord, why a pandemic?” Not having my full attention, Jesus took me to the second half of the second verse. “A time to plant and a time to harvest” (NLT). Being somewhat seasoned in life, I remembered the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” and the phrase ‘a time to reap and a time to sow.’ Trivia question, who was the band that released this song in 1965? There is a time for everything, you have to read to the end for the answer!

I continued with the Lord, and with a grumbling spirit I said, “I can’t sow. I am an Area Developer and I sow by going and meeting people and building relationships and building teams that start Young Life. I can’t sow right now because of this blasted pandemic.” Thankfully the Lord is patient and I felt like he said to me, “Steve, we sow in prayer.”

So, I got to work and assembled a list of the schools that do not have Young Life in our region. Contacting some nearby staff we scheduled days to pray together onsite, at schools. Ten weeks and ten prayer tours later the Lord had taken me to 118 middle schools, high schools and colleges covering 3,738 miles. I was humbled by the magnitude of the task before us while standing in school parking lots to pray for kids, teachers, coaches, parents, churches and entire communities.

I might never see the full impact of these prayer tours, but the Lord has already connected provided people in two new communities where info meetings are happening. More importantly, we have seen one college junior come to Christ!  

Young Life’s history rests on prayer. Clara Frasher and her prayer circle were critical to Jim Rayburn’s first club at Gainesville HS. Every kid we desire to know Christ is moved by prayer.

Here is a confession. I only prayed at schools in the western and central part of our region. I plan to get with the staff in the northern part of our region to pray with them at the remaining 80 schools that are without Young Life.

This leads me to wonder if as a mission could we possibly pray at every school this school year? I don’t know what this might mean for our international partners but in the US there are roughly 22,000 high schools, 16,000 middle / junior highs and 4,400 colleges. That is 42,400 prayer opportunities for our staff, leaders and committee in the US. 200 down, 42,200 left. Let’s Go!

Oh, the band that released “Turn, Turn, Turn?” The Byrd’s.

Written by: Steve Schmitt (steveschmitt57@gmail.com)

November 2020 Innovation

Volunteer leaders are the backbone of Young Life. Without a leader inviting us to coffee, or club, or camp - and ultimately into a relationship with Jesus - many of us would not be in ministry today.

The leaders we have in Young Life are incredible! They have busy lives, jobs, families, school- and yet they go above and beyond to do something that very few adults do - pursue relationships with kids. 

What if we could make their jobs easier so they could actually spend even more time with kids?

What if we could create one single place, with our best resources and training – so they no longer have to go on internet scavenger hunts to find what they need?

Here’s a picture of what it currently looks like for a leader to try and find resources and training:

• Google searches

• Searching regional and area Dropbox folders

• Checking the Young Life Leader Blog and YLhelp on Mondays at 5pm for last-minute club ideas 

• Logging in to Right Now Media and YL Access training

• Listening to old Young Life podcast episodes

• Signing up for Volunteer 101 training and a Brilliant at the Basics cohort

It’s a ton of voices spread across a lot of platforms… 

But what if we could create a reliable one-stop-shop that brought together our best resources, innovation, training and encouragement for leaders? And what if we had a diverse team, representative of the global mission, that was laser-focused on SERVING THE VOLUNTEER?  

That’s the vision of The Storehouse.

For decades, The Storehouse was a place at Frontier Ranch where leaders could go to get what they needed: t-shirts for kids, songbooks, Campaigner handbooks, or even sunscreen for the hike. Over the years, Storehouse became a camper cabin where kids and leaders had life-changing conversations. 

We need a place in Young Life where leaders can come to get what they need. 

A place where significant conversations can take place and ideas are exchanged. 

A place not to stay, but that equips and sends our volunteers back into the world of kids.

I sensed this need in 2010 and it led me to start The Young Life Leader Blog. At the time I was a middle-aged, white, volunteer leader and youth pastor living smack in the middle of the Bible belt. Over the past decade, I’ve written 1500+ articles and used a dinosaur of a platform called Blogger.

Over the past six months, with the help of your donations and money raised through The Next Big Thing, we’ve rebuilt the site using WordPress. It’s far from done, but it’s a step closer to making the dream of The Storehouse become a reality. 

Over the next year, our plan is to continue to gather the best of the best resources and training into a single one-stop-shop where you can quickly find what you need when you need it. 

In order for this to happen, The Storehouse needs YOU! It can’t be a solo effort. It has to be a chorus of unified voices representing the breadth of the diversity of the mission. 

If you’re willing to help, please fill out this quick 10-question form: The Storehouse Team.   

Written by Drew Hill (yldrew@gmail.com)

Seven Things To Consider As You Strategize A Virtual Club

Wanna get your Region/Division/State all in One Room? (virtually)

Here are seven things we learned doing the All-U.S. Young Life College Club

Here are seven things to consider as you strategize a virtual club for your own state, region, or division. 

1. IDENTIFY THE WHY - Do your kids, leaders and staff need this tool? Have they not been able to have a club? Have they tried and it’s difficult? Would leaders love to have deeper conversations with students? Are they tired and could use a tool like a virtual club? Do they struggle to have the time or resources to put on something like this? Would this help them reach students they know and maybe some they don’t?

2. STRATEGIZE THE TIMING - If yes, then when? When the pandemic hit, many of our staff were asking “how do we finish the semester strong?” We scheduled our All-U.S. Club to provide closure as students transition into summer. Our next club came in August, the most strategic month of the year for meeting new students during “welcome” weeks. Timing is everything!

3. DEFINE YOUR AUDIENCE - Our audience was college students seeking community, adventure, and significance. It was also graduating high school seniors and incoming freshmen all across the country. For you, maybe it’s your state, region, or your entire division? Maybe you engage incoming 6th graders or high school freshmen? While you define a certain audience and direct production accordingly, know that it can also be used to bridge incoming students or even reach donors, adult support, friends, and families.

4. UTILIZE SMALL GROUPS - This was our biggest “why!” The small group post-club discussion is crucial for utilizing virtual clubs to launch relationships! Our videos ended with a prompt for groups and questions on the screen. All our best stories from our two virtual clubs came out of discussion during post-club small group time! Staff and volunteers must be prepared to lead these conversations.

5. PLAN THE PROGRAM - Plan everything (music, humor, games, skits, and talk) with your entire audience in mind including kids that don’t know Young Life or Jesus. Get as many faces and people involved as possible. Think through the use of live interaction through social media, Zoom, commenting, or texting and aim for less than an hour in length.

6. MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE - We pre-recorded the Club and streamed live on YouTube through OneStream.com. We utilized Instagram to provide the direct link and make it easy to access 15 minutes before the start. The video went “live” with pre-recorded “commercials” 15 minutes before advertised start time to allow a window for accessing the direct link.

7. MAKE IT WORTH IT - Create a budget that includes high quality video editing. Prioritize buy-in from staff and leaders. Plan to use the virtual club video after for virtual banquets, newsletters, etc. If you’re going to do a large-scale club, maximize value and excellence!

More questions? We’d love to help! JOIN OUR VIRTUAL CLUB COHORT! 

**We are offering a cohort Limited to  6 teams within a Regional/Divisional/National/International Ministry Models.

Review the criteria below and respond to Bill Reazer (BillReazer@gmail.com) to be included.  We will offer one Zoom training session and upon completion you will receive money to go toward your production! 

Cohort Criteria

1. Virtual Club must be Metro/Region/State-wide or larger geographic context. (US or International) 

2. Completion of the Club is overseen by the supervising National office (Regional or above)

3. Virtual Club must be launched before February 1, 2021. 

4. Team members must attend 90 minute zoom cohort training. 

5. Additional ‘input’ or coaching dependent on teaching team availability.

6. $1000 transfer to designated MU to help offset expenses after launch of virtual club

THE PERSON YOU MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED IN THE CROWD: TEACHERS

Background:  Within every school, there are teachers who love Jesus and who have chosen their career (at least in part) because education allows them to impact students in the name of the Lord.  Teaching, coaching, etc. giveS them daily opportunities to spread the gospel through their actions.  They have an active ministry in their classrooms. Some venture out into outreach ministries and some choose to simply live out their ministry daily as a part of their job. We, as Young Life staff and volunteers, can grow our ministry team and exponentially increase the impact of our ministries by acknowledging and supporting these missionaries. Our gospel outreach efforts are not novel nor foremost in the schools we enter. There are teachers attempting it every day.  We must listen, learn, and invest first before we ever invite them to take part in the pieces of ministry we implement. Our tools (Club, Campaigners, and Camp) might indeed be a blessing to their personal ministries, but that should be a secondary goal. Our primary goal should be to help grow a community of believers set on reaching each kid with the gospel of Jesus.

Avengers Unite

I have a confession to make. I wasn’t comfortable crying until my daughters were born. My oldest is one of the 2020 graduates who tires of being told that COVID-19 will make her stronger one day, so my acceptance of public personal tears turned eighteen this year. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not moved to tears every day, however, I consistently cry in front of others weekly.  

Needless to say, I’m okay with it.

However, there is one time of tears that somewhat shames me. I took my twins (now sophomores in high school) to a midnight showing of Avengers: Infinity War, and during the iconic scene where Captain America, Tony Stark, and their team of failing heroes is about to fall at the hand of Thanos and his cohorts and the sky opens in seemingly countless spinning time portals of hope and all of the heroes, once thought dead, came back to life . . . I lost it. Openly. Loudly. Bawling. Ugly crying.

That vision of the entire team, united, back together moved me.

Fast forward to March of 2020. The reality of COVID-19 quickly spread from the coasts to the plains, and my state, Kansas, made a firm and decisive decision to close schools for the rest of the year. I was shocked, stunned, and saddened. And yes, I ugly cried - numerous times. Having taught in the same district for almost twenty years, my routine, my friends, my way of life were all hurting, almost as bad as the Captain, Tony, and the gang in Infinity War. I needed rescue, a group of heroes to save me.

This was our unlikely team.

A retiring high school librarian.

Two tired high school counselors.

A weary special education teacher.

Three reenergized middle school math, science, and history teachers.

Five veteran high school English and history teachers.

A second-year band teacher.

A first-year PE teacher.

A displaced paraprofessional.

And a newly valued online technology director.

Not quite the appearing Avengers coming to the rescue in the climactic scene of Infinity War. But we were ready for battle.  Our battle plan was prayer. No swords, no superheroes. A Friday morning Zoom call to pray was our weapon against the undefinable effects of the COVID-19 shutdown.

Somewhat skeptical of corporate prayer over Zoom, I was joyful after our first meeting. Grace, faith, passion, and transparency ruled the day with this group of Jesus-loving-kid-loving (JLKL) educators.  I knew (or at least knew of) all team members. However, I didn’t anticipate the impact of the volume of our resounding cry to the Lord.

Entering school buildings across our Young Life region for the last decade, recruiting teacher staff and volunteers, my defined goal was to headhunt the educators who were willing and able to fill a role. While success stories abound, this consumer-mindedness blew right past this treasured team of educators, and others like them. Besides myself, none on our team is on Young Life staff, yet each has a powerful ministry, alive and active, in his or her classroom.  

Our Friday Zoom calls revealed that JLKL educators have a profound personal, daily impact on every student in our school district - over 5,000 students. Every student is prayed for by an educator who loves them in the name of Jesus.

Do you, as Young Life staff, realize that in every school across your city resides teachers who chose education to impact kids in the name of Jesus?  

Not all of them will choose to partner with Young Life to reach them; however, we can choose to partner with them to reach kids.

I’m sure you’re aware that next year could be overwhelmingly complicated for those in education.  Pour into them as they pour into their students, families, and community. Like the returning Avengers, step into their world and engage in battle with them.  Clouds of uncertainty envelope the fall of 2020. Schools may not allow any outsiders inside. JLKL educators may very well be the only points of contact with daily access to the very kids we’re trying to reach. 

May we, all who love Jesus and seek to love students in His name, come together to create a ministry community, a team, of heroes.

Resources and Tips for Talking to JLKL Teachers:

First - Pray for all teachers

Always - Spend time doing contact work with teachers

Regularly - Offer to partner with them in their personal ministry

When/If right - Offer Young Life as a vehicle to further their mission

Want to continue the conversation?  Contact your regional Young Life Teacher Champion or contact Tanya Huber at tanyahuber76@gmail.com or Mark Fleske at markfleske@gmail.com.

Written by: Mark Fleske

IS YOUR AREA TOO STAFF-CENTRIC ?

All throughout scripture God works within a community. People that relate to him through  trust and each other through love. In Young Life, we realized very early on that “It takes a community to reach a community - because when you do that, everyone is changed!”  By its very nature, Young Life is a call to live ‘on mission’ in your town. So what does that look like? 

A missional community (MC) is a group of people who are committed to living out the vision and values of the local YL area by taking ACTION. When the values and vision are shared, a vibrant ministry presence is born. When the local ministry is not owned by the MC it can make the local ministry staff-centric. Simply stated, a group of people committed to a common vision and serving in their gifting will outperform a lone staff person every time! Who are the red-hot vision holders in your context? If it’s just you –then it is time to start sharing the vision with others. Over the past few months, I have been involved as a YL +1 volunteer pilot. The goal of the pilot is to double the # of volunteers in a local area. It is a painfully simple exercise of discipline, ownership, and invitation. To be honest, fostering community ownership has been one of YL’s area’s of brilliance for decades.

Here is what we did:

1. Created a Matthew 9:38 List of potential volunteers.

2. Faithfully prayed for that list of people daily! 

3. Broadened  the ownership of the list to the larger Mission community. (team leaders, stakeholders, Committee, leaders, etc.) 

4. Personally invited others into volunteer service and living out their calling. 

Guess what? It worked! When Jesus asked the disciples to ‘Follow Me’ he not only required their presence, he implied a deeper and more compelling cost. As a global mission we are inviting people into the high calling of leadership. Where is your bar when it comes to volunteer leaders? Are you inviting people to a ‘come die with us’ type of community? Or are you setting the bar to the lowest common denominators? A transformative community requires a deep investment from the volunteers as well as those tasked with training, supporting and caring for the group. In Matthew 9:38 (MSG) Jesus says, “What a huge harvest!” Jesus said to the disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!” Matthew 9:38 msg. Each missional community begins with this realization – the NEED is huge & the workers are FEW. Jesus tells his disciples the key is PRAYER. May we begin with making a list of potential harvest hands and commit to praying for them?! We are called to have workers, not just one worker!

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF AND YOUR TEAM- 

Q.  Are we staff-centric as a YL Area? Who owns the vision? Who does the work? Who carries the message? Your answer to these questions will give you a clear sense of the broad ownership of the local ministry. 

Q.  What is our vision? Is it Clear? Compelling? God-sized? Comprehensive? Broadly owned? If not, what changes need to occur?

Q.  What are some ‘today’ changes we could make to foster ownership?  Who could we engage for input? How can we empower? What skills do we lack? Who do we need to invite into the room?

Q.  Who is on your Matthew 9:38 List?  Have one list that is kept by everyone. Pivotal moments occur in response to vision. Add to the list, pray, reference it constantly, and give God’s spirit room to move in your community. 

Lastly, we know that a missional community isn’t born overnight but you were never meant to do it alone. It can take years to build a team, catch a vision or shift a culture. Give yourself grace in the process. Write down the  wins along the way so that you  see God’s hand in the midst. When done well, you will have a mission that is Staff/Committee led, Community owned and  Christ-o-centric. 

Written by:

• Jayme Eichler  jayme.eichler@gmail.com

• Ken Tankersley Kenbtank@gmail.com

THE FRIEND-RAISER

THE FRIEND-RAISER  OVERVIEW :  A Funding Option in lieu of a Large Group Banquet this Fall.  With many Large Group Gatherings being banned, let’s see this as opportunity. A Small Group Friend-Raiser may be exactly what our area needs right now. As we’ve been separated, this format will bring people together as well as be...more:

• RELATIONSHIP-CENTERED:  Guests are relaxed, and comfortable being in a friend’s home.

• ENGAGING:  Without the normal event fanfare, guests arrive with their hearts open to Young Life.

• CONVERSATIONAL:  There can be questions asked and clarity given.

• EFFECTIVE:  We have found more people are inclined to partner & gifts tend to be larger.

WHAT:

friend-rais-er /frend/räzer/

noun

an event that increases the amount, or strength, of friendships; i.e. individuals who act as supporters of a cause, by giving financial or other help.

WHY:  There are individuals in our communities who will never join us at a large group banquet  or as an adult guest at camp. Maybe it’s the size of the event, or misconceptions they have about Young Life, but the event may seem too big.

They may, however, agree to a small dinner party with friends, where they’ll experience Young Life in a new way. Imagine the potential leaders, committee members, donors and prayer warriors your area can develop by simply gathering around a table, sharing a meal while explaining your local vision for this mission. [See image below]

Large group meetings (e.g. camp or club) aren’t our only means of connecting with kids, so why are we okay with our Banquet being our one and only means of connecting with and sharing vision to adults?  Imagine - we wouldn’t dream of hosting Campaigners with 250 kids without breaking down into small groups and connecting kids with a leader.

We aren’t asking you to learn something new, simply we want you to see that what you do extremely well with kids, you can do extremely well with Adults. (… grown-up Kids)

Did you hear that? It’s the SECRET! We can do ministry with adults in the same way we do ministry with kids, all while multiplying our kid impact! From Inviting In to Sharing the Gospel to Celebrating Growth in Christ. It’s simply the same. So, perhaps, this fall will be the year when our Volunteer Teams grow, Committees grow.

HOW:  Begin with a host from your Committee and follow these simple steps:

1. Find a Date - identify a person or couple who will Host “Friendraiser Dinner Party” in their home. (You may wish to plan a Friendraiser every other month, or perhaps they will be quarterly, but start with one.)

2. Create a  List - Who should your host invite? How many? Your guest list should be friends of the host or your committee members who will be familiar with each other. *Note: you want to keep this dinner intimate, so invite no more than 8-12 people.

3. Personally Invite - Your host should invite, by phone, then followed with a text with pertinent information, and then a follow up phone call as the day approaches.

4. Order of Events - Partner with your Committee to create an order for the evening that includes good food, family time, storytelling, vision-casting, with an invitation to partner.

5. Follow Up - After sharing the Young Life story, sharing your vision, (& needs), and personally invite your guests to partner with you and your team! It is imperative to follow through with these relationships.

& (Another) WHY:  The reason we break down large groups of kids at camp (cabin time) or club (campaigners or small groups) into smaller groups, or even a one on one meeting is for relational investment as well as clarity in communication. We have seen, as we continue to develop Young Life’s Relational Centered Engagement [RCE], that the same is true with our work with adults in our community. The smaller the group, the more personal and relational the time is, has generally helped provide more Yes’s with greater impact.

This “Scale of Effectiveness in Asking” is from the Relationship Centered Engagement (RCE) training from Young Life’s Field Development team. It shows us that the more intimate the group, more people are saying yes with increased gift sizes.

The “Friendraiser” small group gathering may be exactly what your Area needs to add to your Financial Strategy to take your Area to the next level; especially in the aftermath of the recent pandemic.

Written by: Kent Williams

INCREASING THE AMPLITUDE, AND ADJUSTING THE FREQUENCY OF YOUR CLUB MINISTRY

INCREASING THE AMPLITUDE, AND ADJUSTING THE FREQUENCY OF YOUR CLUB MINISTRY 

Young Life’s mission statement is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith. Too often we equate the motion of planning/prepping/running clubs with the achievement toward our ultimate goal of kids coming into a saving relationship with Jesus! There is freedom within this mission to modify the methods of ministry while still fulfilling the mission statement. 

AM/FM waves modulate their amplitude and frequency, and similarly we can modulate the AM/FM of our programmatic events. Modifying clubs in both their energetic feel (AM) and frequency (FM) can free leaders up to achieve our mission more effectively and broadly.

Amplitude Modulation:  Changing how amped up club feels. Three modulations can be Pep-Rally, Hang Out, and Service.

1. Pep-Rally - Traditional clubs feel like pep-rallies (lots of energy, loud, laughter, cheering) and they usually require a large crowd to feel right.  

2. Hang Out - This can be anything that best fits kids in your school (3-on-3 basketball tournament, fishing expedition, or a backyard bonfire with an unplugged guitar set). Any platform that offers a gospel proclamation can aid in reaching varying types of kids so that they can hear about Jesus in a more conducive setting.

3. Service - This has the least energetic feel but can work on occasion. Post-Christian European Young Life does this often and has had great success in their specific ministry field. This can also work for affluent highly entertained kids who are hard to impress, but service is universally agreed upon in culture as altruistic and good.

Frequency Modulation: Changing how often club occurs. Three modulations can be Weekly, Bi-Weekly, and Monthly.

1. Weekly - The traditional way in which most areas have run club. This works best when kids have easy access to transportation and the population is dense, so they can get to club in within 15-20 minutes. 

2. Bi-Weekly - This rhythm has benefits when transportation is a strain. In rural settings, kids face large geographical distances to get to a central club location.  Modulating the frequency of programmatic events might also help busy non-college volunteers. Areas can run a pattern of alternating weeks between Campaigners and Club to free volunteers to invest their time more wisely in the heartbeat of Young Life, incarnational evangelism.

3. Monthly - Once a month clubs become a don’t miss event. This might be longer than the typical club and can include food. This is for more extreme circumstances based on kids and leaders. For example, busy young professional leaders with families or kids in rural settings with huge distance obstacles.

This idea of modulating the amplitude and/or frequency of programmatic events can help achieve our mission better! Our goal is not to run the most pristine events, but it is to give kids a chance to hear the gospel and respond. 

Gospel proclamation should never be relegated solely to club talks and AM/FM modulation gives the power of evangelism to more of the one-on-one/small group settings between leaders and kids. By modifying the amplitude and frequency of clubs frees leaders to increase time to meet more kids and deepen already existing relationships. With this freedom to change the AM/FM of events the leaders can then intensify intentional gospel conversation in their contact work.   

Truly, the best Young Life is yet to be done!

-Mountain State Region

GOING AFTER THE ONE

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” Luke 15:4-7

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It’s one many if not all of us have read, given Young Life Club talks on and shared with kids one-on-one. But recently it’s begun to take on an even more practical meaning for me.

I get to lead a ministry for kids who are or have formerly been homeless. They all live far below the poverty line, which means technology is spotty, at best, so when our current pandemic hit, our ministry initially all but disappeared. I was at a loss. I’d watch friends post about their Zoom clubs or campaigners with tears in my eyes, feeling like we’d lost all of our kids, and truthfully I wanted to give up. 

And then one morning I came across these words again. I started asking myself what it would mean to look for us to look for our lost sheep. As a team, we started 

• Making countless calls and texts. 

• Driving around to the various locations that have served as ‘home’ for a night. 

• Buying food and other essential supplies. 

• Filling in the gaps that were missing when the aid that they previously depended on became over-burdened and under-resourced. 

One afternoon I got into my car and just started to drive. It felt a little rebellious as we sheltered in place, but my heart wouldn’t let me sit still. I went to a store and bought food, drove to the area that some of our kids stay and sent a text to the team I work with. “I’m in Lemon Grove,” I texted, “Who lives near here?” One of my leaders responded with a name and address and I went there.

I knocked on the door and was greeted by ten family members. I told them I was there to bring them a present, after awkwardly explaining to them who I was and how I knew Jeremiah. They responded by all filing outside, into the courtyard of the apartment complex and we sat on the grass and talked. It was a little uncomfortable. And so sweet.

I was reminded that while the circumstances are strikingly different.  We may all be lost sheep.  I know that I was that lost sheep. I went through years of being all over the dang map; struggling with faith, doubts in that faith, and deep-seated insecurities that led me to make some very poor and dangerous choices in my earlier years.

But God never gave up.

He never stopped coming after me, showing me His face when finding me curled up behind life’s dumpsters and ditches. He never said, “Well shoot, looks like I lost her—but whatever, look at all these other wonderful children I have!”

I don’t know if anyone would have blamed Him if He had.

But He didn’t.

He kept looking for His lost sheep until He found her. She was messy and dirty and full of shame, but He didn’t care, he was just happy she was coming home where she belonged.  And because of that, we too are called to keep going, we get to keep looking for the lost ones who need comfort and hope in the name of Jesus. 

And the amazing thing is, we get to do the same. With the strength of our sweet Shephard, we too are equipped to go out, find, and care for the lost ones. To those who have been shunned or forgotten by many. To bring them into our arms and show them the goodness and grace of our Father.

It’s not easy work, this journey we are called to, but it’s precious and holy. Keep going.

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14

Written by Rachel Karman

IT’S TIME TO LEARN HOW TO LEAD FROM A DISTANCE!

William Wallace is ‘da man!!  You know, half his face painted blue, big ole stallion, Goliath sized sword in hand, riding back and forth in front of the troops, leading a scared rag-tag collection of misfits, yelling “give me one chance, just one chance,…to tell them, they may take our lives…but they will never take (say it with me…) our freedom!!!”

We all learned to do Young Life this way, on the ground, in the game, at the school, walking the barrio, building teams, having meals, Bible studies at a kids house, picking up kids, and driving them to club.  We all learned leadership the “incarnational” way, being with, living life together, on the front lines, shoulder to shoulder.

But what happens when you have to lead people you don’t live near?  What happens when a Global Pandemic ‘socially distances’ us from one another?  What kind of leadership adaptations must you make to lead from a distance, be it down the street or across the Pacific Ocean?  How can you learn Apostolic Leadership like the apostle Paul? 

When I took over as the SVP for Latin America, it became very clear, very quickly, that the Lord was going to need to teach me a new way to lead…from a distance.  The truth is, when I was the Regional Director for parts of Colorado, New Mexico, and El Paso, TX, living in Colorado Springs, I had to muddle my way through the early stages of Apostolic Leadership.  The challenge was, there was no RD school class on the necessity of morphing leadership for RD’s. I initially tried to lead the way I had always led, and soon became frustrated, confused and discouraged.  Can I get an “AMEN?!”

Think about it - Paul led differently than Jesus.  Jesus had the twelve with him 24/7 for three years, day in and day out, much like an excellent YL leader living in the community where they do YL.  But after Paul’s conversion, his home base was Antioch. From here he was deployed on at least three different journeys, walking, sailing, riding some 10,000 miles to lead the New Testament church spreading throughout Asia Minor and into Europe.  Some places he stayed a day or two, some like Corinthians and Ephesus he stayed longer. Sometimes Paul was in charge of his movement and sometimes a Roman prison controlled his schedule. The truth is, whether he was on the go, or locked in chains, Paul’s ministry was going forth in power and strength, with or without physical presence.

There is not much room to elaborate on this here, but I will give five basic principles of Apostolic Leadership to chew on…pre and post COVID 19.  

1.  Realize your calling.  If you are leading more than one ministry you must learn to lead in an Apostolic fashion.  If you are an RD, VP, SVP, GSVP, or the President, all you do is apostolic leadership, and it the Lord who has chosen you!!

2. Set clear expectations with your team.  Many are frustrated by their supervisor because they see them so little.  Perhaps your “sup” needs to get off their tail and spend some time with you in your turf!  Just sayin.’ Or, perhaps they need to align expectations so the team knows the realities of apostolic leadership.

3.  Be more organized and more intentional – set your travel and communication strategy and share it with your team.  This takes exceptional planning and execution, but is critical for fruit-bearing distance leadership.  Write letters…really, write them. Seemed to work for Paul.

4.  Take people with you.  The disciples and apostles rarely traveled alone.  Might be something to learn here. Not only are we better together, you will be equipping someone (or a bunch of people) to take your place one day.

5.  Find your joy.  Yes, this is a different way to lead.  If you can’t find joy in this type of leadership then take another job.  Oh that our RD’s, all the way up the chain, would be known for their joy and courage IN THEIR WORK.  This is a different way to lead, it’s a good way. Truth be known, the days of our being Braveheart are behind us.  We now are inspiring, equipping, motivating others to paint the face and get after the next kid, leader or staff!

Yes, apostolic leadership can be learned, can be joyful, can be fruitful, and is exactly what many of us in this mission have been called to.  I am fairly sure this is some of what the Apostle Paul was talking about in Eph 2:10!! 

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Adelante!!

Dan Jessup

djessup@sc.younglife.org

THE UPSIDE OF THE NEW NORMAL

“WOW!  What a couple of weeks!”   That is how most emails, texts, calls and virtual conversations start now.  

All of us have been affected by CV-19.  Our families, our schedule, our work, our finances, and health are all in flux.  We have even had to adjust to a new lexicon of words as well: ‘Contagion,’ ‘Pandemic,’ ‘Social Distance,’ ‘Shelter in Place,’ are a few.  Those words have disrupted our natural routine, made us pivot as a ministry, inclined us toward the Lord and given us fodder for animated ‘kitchen table’ conversations with family.  Some vocabulary that we have had to familiarize ourselves with are below. 

VOCABULARY SURROUNDING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

• ASYMPTOMATIC (adjective): showing no symptoms of a particular disease 

• CARRIER (noun): a person  that transmits a disease to others, whether suffering from it themselves or not 

• COVID-19 (noun): official name for the novel coronavirus disease  COVID-19 = COronaVIrus Disease-2019 

• EPIDEMIC (noun): occurrence of a particular disease in a large number of people in a particular area

• INCUBATION PERIOD (noun): the time from  first exposure to a disease to the time when symptoms develop 

• INFECTIOUS (adjective): describing a disease that can be transmitted through the environment

• ISOLATION (noun): separation of infected people from healthy people for serious contagious diseases

• NOVEL (noun): the word novel means “new”

• OUTBREAK (noun): a sudden occurrence of a disease (or other unpleasant thing)

• QUARANTINE (noun): isolation of people exposed to an infectious disease to see if they develop symptoms 

• SHELTER IN PLACE (verb): isolate oneself; put oneself in quarantine, away from other people  

• SOCIAL DISTANCING (noun): practice of minimizing contact, by banning large or small groups/meetings 

• SYMPTOMATIC (adjective): showing symptoms of a particular disease

• VACCINE (noun): a substance used to protect humans and animals from a disease 

• VIRUS (noun): a living thing, too small to be seen without a microscope, that causes infectious disease

How does a relational ministry thrive in a social distancing world. All of us have pondered, “how will we reach more kids when we can’t even be in a room with them?” But maybe there is another perspective that we can embrace?  The phrase I have heard this week is “new normal.” I’ve been told we need to accept it, acknowledge it, get used to it, and adjust to it. The new normal could be a world with 6 feet of personal space, masks, essential travel, and governmental directives but here is the part of the new normal that I think could be helpful.  

• A new normal where our rhythm is slower

• A new normal where our families are closer 

• A new normal where rich conversations are daily                                           

• A new normal where relationships are deeper

• A new normal where hope and peace resurface

• A new normal where every day we are finding new ways to meet more kids    

• A new normal where a hunger for God’s will grows -- globally    

• A new normal where we are as comfortable being ‘together and with’ as ‘off and alone’          

You see, Social Distance by its definition is exclusively PHYSICAL, but YL’s  model of ministry is way more comprehensive.   There is a closeness that is physical but also, RELATIONAL, SPIRITUAL, AND EMOTIONAL.  Those connections can still happen with a potency and intentionality that hasn’t been experienced recently.  As we all are aware, if we take away one faculty, other capabilities have the opportunity to become more acute.  

The world has been forced to stop and it is not over. What if we saw our current situation  as an opportunity to stop, assess, talk, train, listen, and learn. In short-RESET. As we go forward in  slow motion, the adjustment in speed may give us a window to see in detail. With restrictions we face - we will find a way.  There is nothing more innovative and GOSPEL-centered than that! This global crisis could be one of the greatest opportunities for the  mission and for that hope to spring from this tragedy has precedent all throughout the Bible- let's not miss it. 

In the early days of COVID 19’s  growing presence in the US, Lynn Unger penned a simple poem about a virus that went viral on social media.  It catches the tension of socially distancing and relationally connecting.  Maybe we could adopt her words in our prayers. 

PANDEMIC

What if you thought of it

as the Jews consider the Sabbath —

the most sacred of times?


Cease from travel.


Cease from buying and selling.


Give up, just for now,

on trying to make the world


different than it is.

Sing. Pray. Touch only those


to whom you commit your life.


Center down.

.

And when your body has become still,


reach out with your heart.


Know that we are connected


in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.


(You could hardly deny it now.)


Know that our lives

are in one another’s hands.


(Surely, that has come clear.)


Do not reach out your hands.


Reach out your heart.


Reach out your words.


Reach out all the tendrils


of compassion that move, invisibly,


where we cannot touch.

.

Promise this world your love —


for better or for worse,


in sickness and in health,


so long as we all shall live.

— Lynn Ungar 3/11/20

As the YL mission has wrapped its collective heart around Psalm 91, it may be helpful to remember that in the back and forth rhythm of  “He will” and “You will” in the 16 verses of that passage, the Lord’s role is action and our role is to not fear and observe. We were made for this!  Let’s wash our hands and get to work if this is going to be THE NEW NORMAL!

Written by Ken Tankersley

Global Innovation February 2020

HOW TO MAKE INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS

This sketch video gives a teaser and overview of the book Little Bets, which analyzes how innovative companies, like Pixar, do amazing new things. It’s an approach we can all take toward innovation, even in ministry. Are there “little bets” you could be making to help you reach the next kid?

December 2019 Global Innovation

MEET THE DISNEY CHURCH

Cast Member Church is an innovative church plant that is doing life together, with people from all walks of life, and sharing faith in a way we haven’t seen before. This church plant focuses on cast members at the Florida Walt Disney theme parks (but check out their vision for where they are planting more churches!). If it sounds fun…it is. If it sounds innovative…you’re sure right. If it excites you too, well, just read ahead!

“We are an innovative movement of Disney Cast Members---most having never been part of a church before---exploring what it means to know and follow Jesus. We are not about the mouse, the magic, or the make-believe. We are about those behind the mouse, the magic, and the make-believe, who, like you, ponder the issues of life, faith, purpose. We are a diverse family (multi-ethnic, multi-national, and multi-lingual), deeply committed to each other no matter what. We are agents, hidden in plain sight, on a mission to introduce a Kingdom influence (Jesus' love, truth, mercy, and grace) to the world around us.”

• Learn more about Cast Member Church.

• Read the recent Christianity Today article on Cast Member Church.

• Read the EFCA article on Cast Member Church.

• See a preview of Life Beyond Imagination - an innovative disciple making tool.

November 2019 Global Innovation

”ARE YOU OPEN TO AN IDEA?”

I was described by a friend last month as an ‘early adopter.’ I understood the term but hadn’t really thought about it much. I asked why he would describe me that way and he said, “because every time we try to solve a problem you always say  phrases like ‘what if?,’ ‘let’s try it,’ and ‘why not?’ I guess that’s true and I probably have at least one person to thank. You see, for more than 20 years I’ve had the privilege of being mentored by Ted Johnson, former interim President of Young Life and “encourager-in-chief” for the mission. There have been many times in that 20 years when I needed advice. Sometimes the situation was work-related and sometimes personal. Most of the time, upon approaching Ted for help, he started his thoughts by asking me a question – “are you open to an idea?” My response to that simple question would change everything. Because of my respect for Ted, I almost always said ‘yes’ and that response changed the course of the conversation to a new approach, plan or path.  

YL is full of early adopters who are open to ideas. 

I am thankful that we embraced the list below:

Contact work

The ‘Clubble’ and the Big Cookie 

Summer Camp obstacle course and Real Life 

Multi-Ethnic Student Staff

The Local Committee model

WyldLife

Capernaum

YoungLives

Young Life College

...And the list goes on and on, ideas that gain traction and become part of the fabric of the mission. I guess we all have benefited from someone who was open to an idea. It seems like early adopters are always trying to find a new way... see a way... or make a way to get things accomplished. We need that creativity now more than ever in the mission of YL. We are in a time where more and more is asked of everyone on staff, and our openness to ideas becomes increasingly relevant to our individual and corporate success. A humility, flexibility and teachable spirit, need to continue to  be the mark of the culture of YL. 

One of the great attractions to being on Young Life staff is that often our entrepreneurial spirit is able to shine through. We get to make decisions about how we function in the day to day. Busy ministry entrepreneurs must  always be looking for an opportunity to create, innovate, and improve. If we don’t, we miss out on game-changing ideas simply because someone else invented them or we didn’t take the time to educate ourselves.  

For the last few years I have been a member of YL’s Innovation Team. I have been impressed that we are surrounded by game-changing ideas in this mission. In a time where building relationships with kids is more difficult than ever, we create ‘Brilliant at the Basics’ and see dozens of Regions benefit from this cohort training. During a time of unprecedented growth in the mission, Volunteer 101 gets developed so that we are able to give every leader in the mission- core and principled training. With camp costs and transportation costs rising, ideas like the Campership Legacy Fund are developed with currently over 25,000 kids to camp. Lastly, in a time where the priority of discipleship is paramount, tools like The Good Way, the Rooted Devotional, and Summer Staff training arrive. 

Adopting new ideas is hard work. The process can feel a bit like leaning backwards off the cliff at Frontier Ranch with your first repel alongside kids. It can be scary! However, if we can become an ‘idea culture’ that looks for the very best of what other people are inventing and incorporate those great ideas into the way we operate as a mission we can potentially become even more fruitful that we already are. Ultimately, God is the Lord of the harvest. But we can and should work to do our part as thoughtfully, prayerfully, and efficiently as possible. That may mean looking outside ourselves for the very best of ideas that others have to offer. Together!  

So if you are open to new ideas - we have them. Currently there are dozens of initiatives around the mission that range from ministry models to funding structures and from volunteer leader recruitment to staff development and spiritual growth. 

 ‘Are you open to an idea?’ Let’s talk - Jeff Rudder (JRudder@sc.younglife.org) Executive Director, The Young Life Foundation 

October 2019 Global Innovation

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF HAD  $$$$$ TO REACH MORE KIDS?

Ok, made you ‘click!’  We may have gotten your attention with the title, but it’s going to be worth it.

Now let’s give you the big vision: YOUNG LIFE INNOVATION SHARK TANK! In a mission full of ENTREPRENEURS we are hoping to identify The Next Big Thing.  It could be a new ministry model, game-changing idea, or training approach that will go viral across the mission. In our- close to 80 years of history as a mission, the list of innovations is impressive: Young Life College, YoungLives, 15 minutes of silence, The Crud War, The Big Cookie, ‘Got milk?’ Club, Capernaum, Oct-a-Ball, YL Connect, Deaf YL, ...and the list just goes on and on. 

So, if you have an idea that could be a game-changer as we endeavor to reach more kids than ever, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE! If you can dream it, then we can help you build it!  So here are the details: 

• INNOVATION SHARK TANK -  All across the mission, staff are submitting ideas that will help us reach more kids then ever and we will help the most compelling ideas scale across contexts, Regions, and Divisions. We are essentially creating a YL version of SHARK TANK! 

• GOAL- Identify some the next innovations that could be a game changer in ‘reaching more kids” than ever before.

• WHO CAN WIN?  Anyone! Just have a well-thought-through model in your local context that can be scaled. 

• WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO? The first step of the process is a simple email to TANK (kenbtank@gmail.com) and answer the following questions.  .  

  • 1.  Your Name, email, and contact phone #.

  • 2.  Division, Region, Area name

  • 3.  Brief description of the idea. (2-3 Sentences)

• WHAT KIND OF IDEAS DO WE WANT? We want well thought out, compelling, scalable project ideas. We want something that you have been doing locally would be the best. If you win, you will get coaching and design support, as well as possible funding to help scale your project. Some SAMPLE IDEAS  that others have suggested are: 

  • A new ministry model 

  • Student leadership initiative

  • A camping model, tweak, or new design

  • Volunteer Team Leader training

  • A contact work initiative 

  • Creative club ministry (lunch, school or community based etc.) 

  • Ministry cohort training for a Region or Division

  • A volunteer leader recruitment/training or development idea

  • Contact Work initiative within a Division or Region 

  • Campaigner vision initiative tied to evangelism and discipleship

  • Creative core ministry/specialized ministry growth initiative

  • Student Staff Pilot (new model or curriculum) 

  • Teacher/Coach volunteer initiative 

You get the idea?   

What we know for sure is that... 

A good  IDEA, can become a MOVEMENT,  

MOVEMENTS help design PILOTS,

PILOTS that work, become MODELS and,

MODELS can then become a MINISTRY,

And a good MINISTRY could be THE NEXT BIG THING! 

Come with your best, game changing, exponential, leveraged effect idea!  Help us reach the next kid through the next big thing and change the world! We will wait for your email! 

- Young Life, Global Innovation and Growth Office

(kenbtank@gmail.com)

September 2019 Global Innovation

Did you know?

• The hardest question for a military teen is “where are you from?”

• 1 of 5 Military teens has made a plan to end their own life (USC survey)

• Military teens move 10 times more often than civilian families -  on average every 2-3 years. every 18- to 30-months, and start all over again…

• Since 2001, more than 2 million American children have had a parent deployed at least once.

• More than 900,000 children have experienced the deployment of one or both parents multiple times.

• Young Life has focused on military teens since 1959

Young Life has been working to reach military teens since 1959 when Jim Rayburn identified the teen-aged children of U.S. Military Families stationed in Europe as a unique demographic that Young Life needed to reach, reporting to the YL Board of Trustees that, “…these kids are stranded. If we don’t go after them, no one will.”

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. Military has endured the longest period of sustained armed conflict in the history of our nation, according to the Department of Defense. The current generation of teenagers has known only a post-9/11 world, which has been characterized by the frequent extended deployments of their military parents. 

As the “Did you know?” opening statements share, military teens face unique challenges, but the broadening experiences of military life and the military community values of resiliency, service, and sacrifice give these teens high potential to become leaders and world-changers. Helping these teens find faith can help them avoid the negative factors of their high-risk profile and can help them fulfill their full God-given potential.

Young Life Military is authorized to bring the Club Beyond ministry on-installation, “inside the gate,” at individual military installations around the world, and conducts ministry to military teens at these installations in close coordination with Military Chaplains and Installation Commanders.  Young Life Military has staff openings at installations in the United States and around the globe, and filling these openings to keep up with the military’s demand for Club Beyond ministry is YL Military’s #1 challenge. Perhaps you are hearing the “call of duty” to serve in ministry to military teens, or you know someone who is hearing that call. If so, please contact Phil Alfrey at palfrey@military.youmglife.org

Please see this month’s survey question, which asks you about personal connections you may have to the Military.  We’d love to hear your story!

Written by Marty McCarty, VP YL Military (mmccarty@military.younglife.org)

Global Innovation August 2019

SHAKING UP THE YOUNG LIFE CAMPING MODEL!

I have the privilege of hearing incredible stories from around the globe of leaders and staff using camping activities with friends of every age. There have been some amazing sightings of innovation in action, as we all strive to maximize every opportunity to share the Good News! Let me share with you just a few…

Did you hear the one about…?

1. 217 young men and 40 of their leaders attended Young Life’s Basketball Camp in Erie, PA.

2. “Fowling” became a new free time activity at Timber Wolf Lake. It was a big hit!

3. Escape Rooms have been a great cabin unity game at Cairn Brae.

4. Kids of all ages and abilities went Adventure Camping this summer with their leaders! Of note,

   • WyldLife kids went backcountry hut camping, a brand new trip option with Adventures RMR Backcountry this summer.

   • Capernaum kids went Adventure Camping at Pioneer Plunge, Adventures Northbound, and Adventures Wild Ridge.

1. Young Life College students helped 17 camps prepare for summer by serving at “Work Week.” All combined, they performed over 50,000 hours of labor to help prepare an extraordinary environment for kids to encounter Jesus!

2. 360 families experienced camp and heard the Good News together at Trail West this summer. They came from 26 states and 79 of those families have a spouse serving in the military!

3. 202 kids came to camp in the U.S. from overseas this summer. And, 1,321 Americans have traveled to 28 countries so far this year with YL Expeditions. YL kids, leaders, adults and families are connecting around the world!

4. Macedonia hosted its first summer Young Life camp ever! There were 63 campers and over half chose to receive a Bible.

5. 58 Capernaum friends and 23 YoungLives teen moms served on either Work Crew, Summer Staff, or Assignment Team this summer. That is the most ever in one summer!

6. Over 9,500 volunteers and staff shared a common daily devotional this summer – Rooted, by Crystal Kirgiss.

7. This school season, our camps are planning to serve around 230 YL weekends. All combined, at our camps and through the other creative ways you are camping with kids, we will exceed 103,000 Young Life guests in the U.S. this school year! 

What a privilege it is to work together to extend appealing and meaningful invitations to kids to encounter Jesus and grow in their faith. Thank you for striving after the best ways to reach kids in your community. I can’t wait to see what we say yes to next, as we continue to serve Christ together and set leaders free to minister to every kind of kid!

With Gratitude,

Chad Sievert

VP of Camping 

csievert@sc.younglife.org

Global Innovation July 2019 - ARE WE THERE YET?

Time to plan your Summer 2020 Discipleship Adventure Camp

“Are we there yet” echoes through the forest up the mountain, across the glacier, up the inlets on a daily even hourly basis on our Beyond Malibu trips. The answer is often “no” followed by ”it’s just around the corner,” “it’s when we get out of the forest,” or “it’s not long now.” These responses are more describing the journey rather than the end.

Adventure camping experiences are a great opportunity to turn the “Are we there Yet?” question into a conversation about how the  journey we are on can translate to our journey of faith and our journey in life. 

Adventure camping experiences are in large part about the journey. On adventure experiences you do the best you can with what you’ve got, from where you are, right now. You are focused in the moment on solving the next step. Soliciting help from those around. You are embracing the moment and journey.

These are tangible experiences that serve as a great metaphor for our lives and faith. 

Young Life Beyond Malibu seeks to change lives through adventure ministry. Week-long challenging sea kayaking and mountain adventures in British Columbia, Canada are designed to challenge high school and college students, and adults of all ages to explore who they are in Jesus Christ and their relationship to God.

Looking for an adventure of a lifetime? 

We have 8 National Young Life Adventure camps that are designed to help you encourage your high school friends in their journey with Jesus Christ.  They range from camp based adventures to Pioneer experiences to hiking on islands in Lake Superior, or in the San Juan mountains of Colorado or the coastal mountains of British Columbia Canada to sea kayaking on Lake Powell and the inlets of the coast of British Columbia. There is something for everyone.

Considering going Beyond your regular camping plan? As you contemplate the journey that you are taking your Young Life friends on whether students, leader or committees and you think of Going Deeper in your area, consider including one of these adventure camps, which are focused on providing discipleship experiences for your participants, in your camping strategy. Start planning now! Consider a graduating senior trip or a student leader trip as they go into their senior year, or a milestone trip as students move from accepting to walking with Christ.

Young Life Adventure Camps:

YL Adventures Baja

Scotts Valley, CA

530.448.6026

info@adventures.younglife.org

Yl Adventures Beyond Malibu

Seattle, WA

206.525.0791

beyondmalibu@beyondmalibu.younglife.org

Yl Adventures Northbound

Lake City, MI

231.839.7552

bsharp@twl.younglife.org

Yl Adventures RMR Backcountry

Fraser, CO

970.726.6690

admin@rmr.younglife.org

Yl Adventures Santa Cruz

Scotts Valley, CA

530.448.6026

info@adventures.younglife.org

Yl Adventures Wild Ridge

Mt. Nebo, WV

304.404.2005

dbaumann@awr.younglife.org

Yl Adventures Wilderness Ranch

Creede, CO

719.395.6602

wilderness@wilderness.younglife.org

YL Adventures Pioneer Plunge.

Weaverville, NC

828.645.7187

kfarren@wg.younglife.org

Adventure Camp Pilot

Written by Rob Duyker (rduyker@beyondmalibu.younglife.org)

A SIMPLE PLAN TO ENGAGE ONE OF THE MOST ISOLATED COMMUNITIES IN THE WORLD

Around the world, it is estimated that anywhere from 0.2%-2% of Deaf people say they know Jesus. In the USA, that statistic is slightly higher at 2%-4%, but when you consider that 96% of Deaf people would say they DON’T know Jesus, that makes the Deaf community one of the most unreached people groups in our communities. That’s what makes Deaf Young Life so special and so needed.

I’m honored to be part of this unique and special ministry. As a senior in high school, I found myself on a soccer bus with a Deaf freshman who had made the team. My school had a mainstream program, so I went to school with Deaf students right in my own classrooms for years. As I got to know this girl, I invited her to come to Young Life and eventually she started bringing a few other Deaf friends to club too.

I felt a distinct tug from God to start a club just for this community, so in 1997, we started the first club at the Oregon School for the Deaf in Salem, Oregon. A few years later I stumbled upon a club happening at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont. We started collaborating with the California club for camp and other club ideas.

Deaf Young Life club looks a lot like any other Young Life club you’d walk into on a Monday night. It’s the same everywhere, but different everywhere at the same time!

The logistics of an all-Deaf club is where it starts to look a little different. Deaf kids often live further away from the actual school they attend because school districts will often place all Deaf kids in one school to help meet their needs. Travel to club can be a little tricky. Music sounds a little different sometimes with mainly a drum beat that kids can feel, and it’s really loud. Physical touch (tap on the shoulder) or flashing lights is how we get everyone’s attention.

Theater, improv and story is important in Deaf culture, and we incorporate that into club. Deaf culture is highly interactive and interrupting with questions is not uncommon at an all-Deaf club.

I remember being just shocked to learn one of my girls didn’t know what the cross meant. Around Easter, one of the girls finally heard the gospel through sign language and said “THAT’S what the cross is about? I had no idea.” She had been going to church with her family for years and never fully understood it because English was not her first language, and no one had ever shared it with her in her main language.

I’ve learned so much more about this community over the years. Deaf people are so unreached, and starting down this path raised that awareness tenfold. My eyes were opened to the fact there simply are not many resources focused on reaching Deaf teens.

In a lot of ways, we’re building something new here. There’s a lot of potential, with 100 Deaf schools in the United States and only a handful of ministries. Young Life has four active Deaf Young Life ministries and countless clubs around the world who have Deaf students popping in. 

But, we can do so much more!

Where to start?

Do you want to plug into Young Life ministry to the Deaf? Do you want to help start a club specifically for Deaf teens? I’d love to help you find a way to plug in.

Be aware. For Deaf students, being Deaf is how they identify culturally. The culturally correct term is Deaf or hard-of-hearing, not “hearing impaired.” If you aren’t sure, use what term they use or use “Deaf.”

Remember that visual cues are vitally important for anyone with hearing loss. Don’t assume everyone can read lips, or even if they do, that they understood 100% of the message.

Pray for our Deaf teens. Be aware of the needs in your own town and ask God if there are ways He wants you to get involved.

Written by Araya Williams (info@sonshineinterpreting.com)