Power of Humor

… Come and see, 

… Come worship the Lord with laughter,

… and bring a teenager


Dear Young Life,

Two of my favorite quotes are:

“Laughter is the Holy Spirit.” (Anne LaMott)

“Laughter is the closest to grace.” (Karl Barth)

I love that!  Don’t you? 😊

They both lift up the premise that laughter is serious business in the Young Life mission. I’m so proud that Young Life laughs! Our humor is essential in introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ, and helping them grow in their faith.

In Young Life, our message is Jesus.

Our method is friendship.

One of our many strategies is this simple and beautiful endeavor, and calling; humor.

In the month of April… There is a day we all set aside to take part in a “fool’s day.” We get to focus on the silly, the court jester part of all of us, and the creative ways we might “prank,” or “get” someone.

I don’t think “April Fools Day” is the kind of humor that Young Life is striving for. We should never use humor to “get” anyone. Rather, it is to capture or captivate a teenager to consider the One who created them.

So, it is imperative we take the 364 other days to be “Fools for Christ.”

“We are fools for the sake of Christ.” (Paul)

With our humor and laughter, we take kids from…

Boredom to abundance,

From darkness to light,

From fearful hiding to an appropriate Spot Light.

From resistance to curiosity,

From a life spent in and around turmoil and trauma, to the best week of their life.

The beat down get lifted up… the invisible become seen.

We take kids from death to life with humor, so we must always be careful with it and cherish and nurture it. Laughter in Young Life should never humiliate, degrade, embarrass, or victimize. It should always lead to safety.

We should stand on the “why” of laughter. We should pray over our delivery of humor before we ever take the stage. Our program directors should pray over every skit, every sketch, camp and club… Everything.

The “why” of humor in Young Life is grounded in the idea that we are taking, leading, presenting, and placing kids at the feet of Jesus. Many in the world believe that the “why” or reason is just to be funny. May it never be in Young Life. May we lift up the principle that our programs should be… Godly first; fun second and funny third. (In that order and priority.)

I have seen many funny things that were not godly. I have seen many godly things that weren’t that funny… godly is the goal.

If you can imagine a diamond ring analogy, the diamond is the Gospel message. It is “just Jesus.” Humor and program are the four prongs that lift up, and hold it in place, the beautiful diamond. We lift it to the light so kids can examine its brilliance and experience the amazing love story of Jesus.

On a practical level, may I lift up what I see as the “3 M’s” of humor in Young Life; Movement, Momentum and Message.

Movement

Movement is giving lots of extravagant things to see. It’s “eye candy” that involves them. It’s crazy adventure. It’s using the entire stage and exaggerating our physical movements. It’s over the top uniforms and costumes.

Momentum

Momentum is constantly keeping in mind that we are taking and leading kids somewhere with our laughter. It’s pointing kids to where we want them to go:  the feet of Jesus. We need to keep things moving quickly. Lights and sound;  being unprepared can be momentum killers.

Message

Message is grasping and praying up the idea that everything a kid sees says something about Christ. 

If someone was to receive a pie in the face at club, how would Jesus do that?

  • Shaving cream, not whip cream.

  • Towels available on impact.

  • The person would know in advance they were gonna be part of something fun.

  • There would be cheer for “Let’s hear it for ____!”

In closing, I lift up to you excerpts from 1 Corinthians 15…

“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye… the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed.”

“The perishable puts on imperishable.”

“The mortal puts on immortality.”

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“Thanks be to God, who give us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I have seen this mystery first hand thousands of times in Young Life, especially at camp. You see a kid get off the bus skeptical and resistant. Then, in the twinkling of an eye, you see something different. Perhaps in the middle of a volleyball tournament, square dance, hoe down, ropes course, etc. a kid gets lost in the fun and takes a step towards Jesus.

“The perishable took on imperishable.”

“The mortal took on immortality.”

We are court jesters for Jesus my fellow “fools for Christ.”  Everyday!

Hi Ho Away We Go!

Warmly in Him,  Ash

Written by Mike “Ash” Ashburn

Our Town, Our Kids – Reimagining Your Young Life Area

We collaborated on a book about our ten years together as Area Director and Committee Chair. Initially concluding our difficult experience was unique, we’ve realized our experience is too common, even pervasive.  Young Life Area Directors experience their work with so much hope but, too often, lonesomeness as well. 

Our story hovers around the challenging but ultimately thriving relationship between the Area Director and the Committee Chair. 

So many Area Directors find Committee to be inadequate, inconsequential, or worse, a bother not worth the effort. 

We demonstrated the Area Director/Committee Chair relationship offers Young Life Staff and Areas under appreciated potency.  

Build a Relationship Strong Enough to bear the Weight of the Opportunity! 

“Might be the most important book in Young Life in the last twenty-five years.” 

— Brent Cunningham, Area Developer, rural Alaska

My Gap Year With Young Life

The WHY Behind the WHAT in Young Life

My name is Raquel Moldowan and I am a recent high school graduate. Although I knew I wanted to go to College, through lots of prayer and thought about my future, I decided to take a gap year after graduation. I didn’t want this to be any ordinary gap year of staying home to work or signing up for a gap year program, I wanted one that was curated to my interests. I decided what I wanted to do something with Young Life because Young Life had played a huge role in my life and I wanted to dig deeper into that.

I wanted to explore what a career in Young Life would look like. I had experienced so much of Young Life as a student and saw all of the fun and simplicity looking from the outside in, However, my eyes were opened to the depth and intentionality that happens in Young Life ministry from what I saw on this trip. 

Here’s what I ended up doing:

I road-tripped around part of the US, spending around two weeks at a time with different Young Life Areas to see the differences in each areas, what each did well, and ultimately if I wanted to go on staff one day. This three-month adventure was on and I dug deep into the big WHY behind Young Life and spent time in places like Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, and more!

The Why to the What. 

On this trip, I ultimately learned the importance of knowing your “why” behind anything you’re doing. In Young Life, this is incredibly important, but I saw it in action on this trip. Through prayer, listening to Brian Summerall teach at the TBLC, and talking to many volunteer leaders as well as staff people, I started to understand why we need a why behind our what. 

The WHAT of Campaigners

I spent time at clubs, campaigners, and even camp with the team in Lubbock, TX, but the thing they take the most pride in is contact work, and rightfully so! Between silly conversations at volleyball games and taking pictures on the field of my first ever Texas football game, I started to see that contact work was more than strategies and numbers, it was the answer to the why behind why they do what they do. 

Young Life is for loving kids. These kids need quality time with their leaders, they need big fun events with raffle prizes that don’t make sense to other areas. Why? Because the kids there respond to that. They feel loved and included by that! 

The WHAT of Club

I continued my journey ending my time in Texas and driving through four states in one day to get to Chattanooga, TN. I spent those two weeks, not only meeting some of my now closest friends, but also seeing their Young Life in huge private schools that have boarding students and look more like Hogwarts than anything else as well as public schools and very low-income schools. 

As I explored this different setup, their ‘what’ was the same as every other place I had gone. Their ‘what’ was showing kids Jesus, bringing kids to the feet of Jesus, and loving kids well. 

Each school, each place, each kid is different. How are you showing that kid that Jesus meets their needs where they’re at?

The WHAT of Camp

On this trip, I had not planned to go to any Young Life camps, just Young Life areas. However, I ended up at not one, not two, not three, but FOUR Young Life Camps. I got to be on work crew at three of those camps and even ended up leading a WyldLife camp trip in Ohio when one of their leaders was too sick to lead. 

You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again, Young Life camp is an incredible tool. 

I have been blessed by growing up in a place where we have a Young Life property close by. It had never even occurred to me that some Areas are too far from a Young Life property to go to for camp, especially for just a weekend camp. I watched as these middle schoolers enjoyed camp at a property that was definitely not a Young Life property. This challenged my idea of camp and humbled me. 

Throughout the weekend, I started to see it: the ‘what’ of camp is different in different places. It might be a Young Life property, it might be a church camp, or it might even be someone’s barn. 

Camp may look different but the WHY of it in this case is the same: bringing kids to the feet of Jesus. 

Three Months, 4,385 (ish) miles driven, and 72 days later, I am so grateful for the experiences I got, the people I met, and the deeper thinking that sprouted from this trip. I am forever grateful for this experience and am so grateful for what it taught me as a leader and a friend. It taught me to dig deeper. 

Don’t just do something just to do it, ask the why behind it. If there is no answer to that question, maybe alter it, change it, or curate it to loving the people around you and showing them Jesus the best you can.

If you know a recent graduate looking to do a gap year experience, and experience the why to the what around Young Life, contact your local Area Director and get involved! 

If you want to contact Raquel and learn more about her trip and how she structured this experience with the help of local staff, reach out to her here: raquel.moldowan@gmail.com

Cultural Theologians at Sundance Film Festival





As a kid, I would often find myself swept up in the adventures that were playing out on the big screen. I imagined that I was Rufio fighting Captain Hook, Henry Rowengartner pitching for the Cubs, or Maximus Aurelius standing before thousands in the Roman Colosseum. 

Not only did I love watching movies, I wanted to make them. I was inspired by directors like Steven Spielberg and M. Night Shyamalan. I got my first video camera in the 5th grade and began writing and directing my own short films. While other kids were playing summer league baseball, I was recreating the Sandlot. Somewhere along the way, I realized that any good movie could stir not only your imagination, but your soul. 

At the heart of any worthy film, is a great story, and the greatest filmmakers are some of the most profound storytellers. Every January for the past 46 years, some of these masterful storytellers have gathered together to explore the depths of the human experience through cinematography.


This past January, I had a front row seat. The Windrider Forum/Sundance Film Festival Experience may be the best kept secret in Young Life. Every January, the YL Community Networks office leads a dozen or so staff, Committee and friends of Young Life out into the mountains of Park City, Utah to attend the renowned festival for independent films. 


For five days we bounced around town attending the premiers of various action films, thrillers, dark comedies, and documentaries. We got a behind the scenes look at filmmaking, sitting at the feet of Oscar winners and Oscar hopefuls, Hollywood stars and no name actors, seasoned directors and first time filmmakers alike. 


At the end of each day, our little Young Life fellowship would gather at a lodge just outside of town, and wade into the shallows of the existential questions being explored by some of the world’s most influential independent filmmakers. By the end of  each night, we were all tired. But something had been awakened in me. 


My biggest take-away came from the festival within the festival.


The Windrider Summit hosts a large group of people of faith from a variety of backgrounds  from all over the country, who gather at Sundance to discuss faith and film. Every morning, before embarking on our movie marathon, we would gather in a chapel turned theater to thoughtfully engage culture through a uniquely spiritual lens. 


The summit hosts and awards various filmmakers, both Christian and non-Christian, who are impacting culture through their art. The distinct emphasis of Windrider is on the power of storytelling, through the medium of film. It is that spirit of Windrider that captivated and inspired me.

As we took the time to engage film through a distinctly theological lens, I was reminded that every film is theological in its nature. Filmmakers are in essence cultural theologians, offering unique perspectives on faith, meaning, redemption, suffering, and the human condition. 


A common theme that kept coming up this year was fatherhood. Films like To My Father, We Were Meant To, Super/man: The Christopher Reeve Story, Exhibiting Forgiveness, and Daughters all grapple in their own unique way with the complexities of fatherhood and a father's impact in the lives of their children.

If the cultural theologians are noticing the importance of fatherhood to the human experience, who better to enter the conversation than Christian filmmakers who are able to communicate the extravagant love of a heavenly father for whom we know the world is searching. 


As Young Life staff, we have been commissioned to communicate the greatest story ever told. Why would we not engage a world longing for hope with one of the most powerful mediums available to us? 


I left the Sundance Experience more assured of my calling and more inspired to continue to use film to communicate the transformative power of the gospel through the stories of staff, leaders, kids, and friends of Young Life. In some ways, I’m still that 5th grade kid, discovering over and over again the wonder of making movies. But, now I have a greater purpose and endless stories to tell.


Written by: Bryan Spillman

___

THE LAST REPAIR SHOP

This short film just one an Oscar as was co-directed by two of the artists we met at Windrider (Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers) 



YL One

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?

Matthew 18:12 (NIV)

Breaking Barriers: YL One's Mission to Empower Marginalized Youth

In a world where 25 million young lives face the challenges of incarceration, homelessness, trafficking, or foster care, Young Life One (YL ONE) serves as a beacon of hope. Inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:12, YL ONE is dedicated to delivering the gospel and fostering meaningful connections, making a significant impact on the lives of those often overlooked.

Meet Rachel Karman - Visionary National Director of YL ONE

Rachel Karman, the National Director of YL ONE, brings a unique blend of Young Life leadership and social work experience to the forefront. Rachel spent 10 years as a social worker in Los Angeles. Later, in 2015 she was hired to work for a school in San Diego for a school with students experiencing homelessness. A compassionate advocate for youth, Rachel responded to the call when an Area Director asked her to spearhead a ministry for marginalized students. Her commitment didn't stop at the local level; she envisioned YL One as a nationwide initiative. With a grant and a devoted team, what began as four ministries in 2019 has now blossomed into 40 thriving programs by 2022.

Central to YL ONE’s Mission: Building Trust, Bridges, Belonging, Casting Vision, and Impacting Futures

  • Building Trust: YL ONE collaborates with local agencies to establish connections with incarcerated, homeless, trafficked, and foster youth, recognizing the paramount importance of trust in fostering meaningful relationships.

  • Building Bridges: Addressing fundamental needs such as meals, clothing, shelter, and job coaching, YL ONE aims to bridge the gap for vulnerable youth, providing them with the essential building blocks for a brighter future.

  • Fostering Belonging: Through 1:1 mentorship and engaging weekly group events, YL ONE creates a secure environment where vulnerable youth can experience a sense of belonging and family.

  • Casting Vision: YL ONE shares the transformative message of Jesus, speaking truth into the identities of vulnerable youth and helping them discover purpose and hope.

  • Impacting Futures: YL ONE’s mentorship programs empower vulnerable youth to grow in faith and transition into self-sustaining adulthood, offering holistic support for various aspects of their lives.

YL ONE’s Impact: A Nationwide Movement Transforming Lives

  • 40 active ministries spanning the U.S.

  • 1,500 vulnerable kids known by name.

  • 150 mentors providing 1:1 mentorship and comprehensive support services.

  • 250 YL ONE participants attending Summer Camp.

  • 25 former Young Life ONE kids serving through work crew and summer staff discipleship programs.

How You Can Contribute: Making a Difference Together

To further YL ONE's mission, consider the following avenues for involvement:

  • Join the Prayer Team: Become an official prayer partner, believing in the transformative power of prayer.

  • Initiate YL ONE in Your Area: Extend the reach of YL ONE by bringing it to your community, impacting marginalized youth locally. 

  • Explore Employment Opportunities: Identify companies or internships in your area that could offer job opportunities for these youth.

  • Volunteer for Club Activities: Dedicate your time and skills to support YL ONE’s local events.

  • Financial Support: YL ONE seeks funding for expanding training, resources, leadership, local investment, and sustainability. Learn more here. 

If you feel led to support this ministry, please email ylone@sc.younglife.org.

Read a Personal Story: Making a Difference, One Life at a Time

Click here to read a heartwarming personal story from the life of a young individual whose journey was transformed by YL ONE. Discover firsthand the impact of YL ONE in the real-life experiences of these kids and how it has made a lasting difference.

Together, we can break barriers and be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of marginalized youth nationwide. Join the transformative journey with YL ONE as we strive to make a lasting impact—one relationship at a time.

_________

Learn even more about YL One


Written by: Meghan Scheer

BETTER TO GIVE ANSWERS OR ASK QUESTIONS?

POWERFUL QUESTIONS

How curiosity is more effective than advice 

Be honest, would you rather give advice or ask a question?

For most of us, the answer is that we would much rather give advice! Or at least, that is what we tend to do. Our ultimate aspiration is to become experts in our field and then share our wisdom with others. That being said, it seems most of us are opposed to taking advice. This pattern can be observed in society, in faith, and even within our own families. We are determined individuals who prefer to find our own path rather than follow advice or accept answers from others. Our desires and egos hinder us, and despite the abundance of freely given advice, very little is actually put into practice.

Arguably the only person in history qualified to give advice was Jesus. However, as we take a look into the Gospels, we see that Jesus was much more inclined to ask questions than to give answers. Jesus asked 307 questions, 128 of which appear in more than one Gospel, while he only gave 8 answers. JESUS ASKED QUESTIONS NEARLY 40 TIMES MORE OFTEN THAN HE GAVE ANSWERS.

As we look deeper, we find the most amazing observation — Jesus only directly answered three specific questions:

  1. “Are you the Son of God?” (John 18:37)

  2. “Which is the greatest commandment?” (Matthew. 22 36-37)

  3. “Teach us to pray?” (Luke 11:1)

Clearly, Jesus knew it was more effective to ask questions than to give advice. In general, he asked six kinds of questions:

  • QUESTIONS OF INVITATION: Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. (Matthew 20:32) 

  • QUESTIONS OF IDENTITY: Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” (Luke 9:18) 

  • QUESTIONS OF INTENT: “What do you think?” (Matthew 21:28)

  • QUESTIONS OF HEALING/COMPASSION: “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” (Matthew 9: 5-8)

  • QUESTIONS OF LIFE/FAITH: “Are your hearts hardened?” (Mark 8:17)

  • QUESTIONS OF LOVE: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” (Luke 6:32 )

By asking thought-provoking questions, Jesus actively engaged those around him by offending the mind, engaging the heart, and creating meaningful conversations. Most importantly, Jesus asked the questions people wanted to be asked. A well-crafted question can slow down the conversation, change perspective, and challenge one’s thinking. In a society lacking in respectful dialogue, it seems logical to begin with a question that can open up dialogue instead of giving advice that risks shutting it down. It seems to me in a world where civil discourse is in short supply,  it makes sense to start with a good question. Voltaire may have been right. “It’s not the answers you give, but the questions you ask.” 


The design of a powerful question can be simple:

  • SHORT:  Seven words or less

  • OPEN-ENDED: “What, How, Where, and When” more than “Why”

  • CURIOUS: Come from a place of learning

  • DISRUPTIVE: Stimulate fresh thinking and self-awareness


What is your most profound question?  Send it to me and we will share it in the next IN THE KNOW! 


Written by:

Ken B. Tank. - SVP, Young Life Community Networks. 


Summer Staff Experience

We’ve all read the passage describing the early church and have aspired to be like them to some degree. However, with the current busyness, individualism and transience, I wonder, “Is this even possible today?” However, in my time as a Summer Staff Coordinator, I saw this lifestyle lived out.

During one session, my co-workers and I led 12 teachings in 25 days geared towards various topics of scripture: How to Read Your Bible, How to Pray, The Holy Spirit, Hearing God’s Voice, etc. You’d think 12 sessions would be plenty, but they wanted more! These Summer Staffers were on fire for the Lord and hungry for His word! When we weren’t reading scripture, we were talking about scripture (amongst other things!). I found myself hanging out with two lifeguards as they asked questions about the Holy Spirit, shared their own insights with me and told me stories of how they experienced His voice that week. Truly, we were devoted to the teachings of the apostles.

Summer staff is hard and exhausting. You will run out of energy and sin will show its face. It’s scary, but it forces you to be vulnerable and known. I had a very long day of 1on1s and felt completely out of gas. As their supervisor, I tried my best to maintain my composure and be an encouraging presence… But I couldn’t. I was tired and it showed. One student, named Blake, walked up to me while I was sitting by myself and asked, “Hey Ryan, are you okay? You seem exhausted.” I shared with him my exhaustion and he shared with me how much of a blessing I had been for him! It was needed. It’s my tendency to act like I have it together in leadership but Summer Staff won’t allow it… and I am glad it doesn’t. True fellowship can’t be one sided and God helped me see that. Truly, we were devoted to fellowship.

Summer Staff is a beautiful example of God’s intention for mission. Everyone knows their role and works hard towards the common goal of seeing students begin a relationship with Jesus. At the end of each week, Young Life gives campers a moment to declare whether or not they decided to follow Jesus  right before they head home. During this time, Summer Staffers take a break from cleaning camp and gather in the dining hall to watch a live feed of this event. During our 25 day session, we saw around 450 students begin a life with Jesus!!!  All the hard work paid off! God did something big and He let us in on the action. Truly, the Lord truly added to His numbers daily

During my time on Summer Staff,  I got to live in a community with students who were dedicated to prayer, the scriptures, each other and had a common mission. What’s even better is we got to see God use our work in big ways. Living life like the early church is hard but it's not impossible. For those looking to try, Summer Staff is a great opportunity to experience it. 

Written by Ryan McSwane

The History-Making Hot Dog

The History-Making Hot Dog
How God Uses Camp Food and DGL Scholarships to Change Countries

“The food at Young Life camp was marvelous; I had never eaten a hot dog in my whole life. Experiencing it was history-making for me.”

Hot dogs aren’t typically a history-making event. For Sharon Intauno (DGL 2014), it was more than the hot dog … the whole Young Life camp experience was a significant turning point in her life. Sharon recalls the laughter, the fun, the joy she experienced at camp – a welcome relief from grieving the loss of her mother, the only parent she had known, when she was only 11 years old. “To be around a group of people who were so caring, I felt like a child. It was the most amazing time of my life.”

Little did she know that week at camp what the Lord had planned for her life. Recently named Regional Vice President, Young Life Africa South, Sharon, a 2014 DGL graduate, exemplifies how God can use Young Life’s Developing Global Leaders program to radically change the trajectory of someone’s life. 

As a young teenager, Sharon was thrust into the role of head of the home – cooking, cleaning, and caring for cousins, nieces and nephews in her charge. She worked selling popsicles at a bus stop to help make ends meet and attended school when she could. She did well academically, but struggled to pay her tuition. She confessed, "When school fees would run out, I would be sent out of class but I would sneak back in so I didn't miss too much." 

Sharon was invited to Young Life when she was in high school and it was there she grew in her Christian faith. "In spite of the challenges in my life, I had faith that I would one day be the first person in my family to earn a university degree." 

Upon high school graduation, Sharon was accepted by two colleges. "Unfortunately, I had no means whatsoever to afford to register for even one semester but that's when I was offered a DGL scholarship and my life changed."

Thanks to her DGL scholarship, Sharon was able to lead Young Life and attend the University of Zimbabwe where she earned a Bachelor of Science, Development Studies and graduated with honors.   

Like nearly one third of DGL graduates, Sharon went directly to full-time Young Life staff; she quickly became an area director and in 2016 pioneered Zimbabwe Young Life College. Eventually she was promoted to Senior Regional Director for Zimbabwe, Eswatini, and South Africa and in 2023 was named Regional Vice President for Young Life Africa South.

 "By God's grace I went on staff ten years ago and I've never looked back." 

Sharon and her husband, Moses, recently had their first child, a daughter. Sharon delights in her roles as wife, mother, leader, friend, and most significantly, a daughter of the King. 

Through sponsorship, Developing Global Leaders (DGL) offers Young Life leaders in the world's poorest developing countries a pathway to a future they never thought possible – the opportunity to attend university in their own country and impact their community with the Gospel.  To find out more about DGL and what it takes to sponsor a student go to dgl.younglife.org or reach out to Andy Morman at amorman@intl.younglife.org


Written by Toni Morse 



Annual Examen

Below is a previously written article around doing a DAILY EXAMEN. Many of these same principles apply to the idea around evaluating and examining your year as well.

You may also find value from this article by Stephen W. Smith: The Great Annual Examen

The first time I heard the phrase was from my parents. The second time, it was a teacher.  Later, crossing guards and others burned it into my memory. The instruction was simple -look both ways before crossing the street. Lastly, I learned the song!   

“Look both ways when you cross the street, 

Left and right, what do you see?

 If no cars are coming, you're safe as can be. 

Look both ways, look both ways.”           

                                                       ~~ Geof Johnson 

The safety message was to ‘take a moment before you move forward.’ Recently I have considered how valuable it would be to apply this simple principle that we learned as children into my adult life today.

  • Awareness of your surroundings

  • Ponder the destination you just left as well as where you are headed

  • Notice the unexpected in the ordinary

“Looking both ways'' is a life lesson that translates. It affirms awareness more than caution. Embedded in the statement is the intent to move forward. A child who is encouraged to look both ways does not intend to stay on the curb, but more so intends to head toward a new destination. As believers, we are people who see, reflect, take note, and change. MOMENTS happen daily and may be forgotten, but MOVEMENTS need to be noticed, acknowledged, and fostered.

The DAILY EXAMEN is an ancient spiritual practice adopted by the early church and exists in many forms today. Simply it is a prayerful reflection over the events of each day. If there is an element that is distinctive of the ‘Examen’ it may be the PACE. In a world of sound-bytes, video clips, and cultural attention deficit, the Examen is a stroll that moves through the last 24 hours and then slowly crosses into the next day. No moment is too small and if our theology is correct, God is in all of them. In summary, you are looking for God's presence in your past and His direction as you go forward. 

As believers our relationship with Jesus is to be current, dynamic, and noticeable. Our interaction with him should be similar to how we talk with a friend, familiar, safe, and vulnerable. For me, to have a consistent practice that allows me to see God’s hand in my whole life has been invaluable and pivotal to my faith.  

Many have developed techniques for a Daily Examen. Saint Ignatius Loyola championed its practice early on and encouraged the Jesuits to practice it 2x a day (noon and the end of the day). He viewed it as a gift from God directly and wanted it shared widely. Below are the simple steps of the Daily Examen and a way that you can look both ways, your past and your future, in a posture of gratitude and sensitivity to Christ. 

  1. SETTLE -  Become aware of God’s presence. Slow your breathing. Try putting your feet on the floor (get settled). Set aside distractions and be expectant to receive from the Lord. The day could feel chaotic or busy, but ask God to bring clarity as you reflect. 

  2. LOOK BACK - Review the day in gratitude. Note the joys, delights, and gifts of the day. Slowly, purposefully, and intentionally, notice the significant and seemingly minor moments of your day (food, sights, people, work, etc). As you reflect on the previous 24 hours, pick one event that stands out to you.

  3. NOTICE - Pay attention to your emotions. Ignatius thought God was easily found in our emotions. What were they? What is God saying through them to you? Not shame, but awareness. Is there a prompt in the midst? Someone to reach out to or contact? Anyone you need to apologize to? Anything bother you? What can you do to take care of it? Has this distracted you from anything? (try to sit and listen) 

  4. FOCUS -  Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. A vivid moment that could be good or bad. Look at it from all angles. Allow prayer to spring up to it. Praise, petition, lament, intercession, and gratitude. 

  5. TOMORROW -  Now go forward! What are your feelings about tomorrow? Any changes, convictions, hopes?

As you look both ways and foster a sensitivity to notice God’s hand in your past and your future, you will understand in a deeper way that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” - Hebrews 13:8

A CHALLENGE: If you want to join me in practicing the Examen everyday for a month, together send ME a short email so we can encourage one another! 

Written by Ken Tankersley (kenbtank@gmail.com)

Isaiah 53


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

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

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

HIS ANSWER: ISAIAH 53

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

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

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

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

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

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

TRY THIS: Take this season of Advent to dive deeply into these 31 verses of servant substitution and see what it does to your inspiration to get out there and go down into the world. (The Season of Advent is November 27 to December 24, 2022)




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




Daniel Bonnell

Daniel Bonnell is an amazing artist, any around the Young Life community have come to appreciate. His works open the door for conversation, engagement, fellowship with others, and communion with God. Daniel is also a special artist in that all of his work is centered around his faith and drawing others to a deeper communion with God. He refers to his art as a “visual sermon.” He also makes his works available for free download, making it a great resource for anyone to engage deeper with God through art.

We encourage you to check out his works, especially those around the Incarnation here in the season of Advent. He also has a video on his home page where you can dig deeper into his approach to these works to understand the Incarnation and the pieces more.

“(…)There is an inexpressible reality beyond words that comes from the divine, a unified field, a holy river, a reality paradoxically found in the beauty of unknowing. It reveals a grounded truth, that the mystery of seeing is seeing the mystery. When we receive a glimpse of this mystery, we have glimpsed eternity, and even the inverted Kingdom of God itself.”

-Daniel Bonnell

Finding a Way 2023

This coming week, we are excited to share a few of the ways we are engaging adults through resources and opportunities to serve. Each day we’ll highlight an initiative, share brief article, and a video or two that show ways we are Finding a Way to reach more kids in ministry. Additionally, you will have a chance to participate in our matching gift funding campaign aimed toward strengthening the mission community of adults committed to students hearing the message of God’s great love for them. The short video below will give you an overview.

My hope is that you will be inspired and encouraged by the work that YOU make happen through your support our department.  

Young Life for Life!

Listen to Your Day

Paul Angone is one of the leading voices in the nation on getting generations to work better together. He is a Young Life kid and grew up around Young Life.

He is the best-selling author of the new book 101 Questions You Need to Ask in Your Twenties: (and let’s be honest, your thirties too),  101 Secrets For Your Twenties and All Groan Up: Searching For Self, Faith, and a Freaking Job!, a sought-after national keynote speaker for corporations and keynote speaker for colleges and universities, and the creator of AllGroanUp.com, which has been read by millions of people in 190 countries.

Paul is also an organizational consultant, trainer, and Millennial influencer who specializes in helping companies attract, retain, develop, and harness the best strengths of the Millennial and Gen Z generations. Paul has been honored to work with amazing companies like Intel Security, Wells Fargo, and Aflac through speaking engagements and Millennial influencer branding and awareness campaigns.

Paul also has created a cutting-edge proprietary process to assist organizations in attracting, retaining, and motivating the younger workforce, called “Millennial Mapping”.

Listen to Your Day

What are you supposed to do with your life? What deserves your limited reserve of energy, attention, and time? What's making you anxious or frustrated right now? What would make you happy and fulfilled?

The world is shouting its answers to these questions, but the real answers are quieter--and right in front of you. They are in the details of your day, every day. But we usually look right past them. Or we are simply so distracted we've lost the ability to see and hear the life going on right in front of us. If we're not intentional about changing this trend, this "inattentional blindness" can rob us of years of joyful productivity. But when we learn to observe the details of our days, we discover new lenses through which to see and new practices of paying attention that add meaning to life.

Stop drifting. Stop worrying. Stop living distracted. Walk purposefully through life with a firm grasp on what's important to you and what you're working toward--all by listening to the details of your day.

THE ONE QUESTION WE NEED TO ANSWER

A QUESTION I ANSWER EVERY YEAR! 

This year marks my 33rd year on Young Life staff! The memories, laughter, challenges and transformation that I have witnessed are some of the great blessings of my life. That being said, this week I was asked a question that stumped me. A good question can do that, and this one, perhaps, we should all answer. It was simple, straightforward, and considering all that we are navigating as a mission, it was good for me to stop, pause, and then respond.

QUESTION: “KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW, WOULD YOU COME ON YOUNG LIFE STAFF IN 2024?” Immediately, I noted the challenges of the past few years. 

  • A Global Pandemic

  • Racial tension

  • Political unrest / fiscal uncertainty

  • # Movements

  • Climate change, floods and wildfires

  • Adolescent Bullying, Depression,Self Harm

  • Cultural shifts regarding sexuality and LGBTQ+ 

  • “Rising inflation”; “Food supply crisis” and “Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure

Then I thought about my first few years leading a YL Area. Here were the challenges then: 

  • The Gulf War begins in the Middle East

  • The World Wide Web debuted

  • H5N1 influenza pandemic threat

  • The Cold War ended / USSR dissolved

  • 1990 - 1,000,000 Cell phones / 1991 - 8,000,000

  • Adolescent Bullying, Depression, Self Harm

  • LA riots in response to the Rodney King beating

  • Hurricane Andrew in the Southeastern US

  • Bill Clinton replaced George Bush as President

It’s true, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” It seems like every year is ‘unprecedented’ in the challenges they present. Then I had my answer. “YES, I WOULD COME ON YL STAFF TODAY! WHERE WOULD I RATHER BE?.” Jesus seemed to always embrace ‘messy.’ He entered tough rooms, hard conversations and complex situations armed with good questions. The Gospel message itself is disruptive and believers are charged with sharing that message while being comfortable in the mess. Listening well, and being present is at the core of our ‘calling’ and what YL leaders, staff and Committee are made for! Simply, this is when Ministers, minister! 

Frederick Buechner said it best:

“The first ministers were the twelve disciples. There is no evidence that Jesus chose them because they were brighter or nicer than other people...Their sole qualification seems to have been their intentional willingness to rise to their feet when Jesus said, “Follow me.” When Jesus sent the twelve out into the world, his instructions were simple. He told them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal (Luke (9:2), with the implication that to do either right was in effect to do both. Fortunately for the world in general and the church in particular, the ability to do them is not dependent on either moral character or I.Q. To do them in the name of Christ is to be a minister. “  -Wishful Thinking, Buechner

Maybe it is true, ‘The best Young Life is yet to be done,’ and maybe it is going to happen during this season, if we take this semester to focus, reset, simplify and preach the gospel and provide healing. Why don’t we (Staff, Volunteers, and Committee) do three things-

  1. Enter the mess that is the adolescent world with the MESSAGE of the Gospel. 

  2. Ask good QUESTIONS.

  3. Listen, then respond and watch the HEALING begin. 

Those three steps make me hopeful. The world needs a community of believers that lean toward hope right now. I am ready for 2024 and I don’t want to miss the opportunity in 2023. The question may be complex but the answer may be simple. 

 -Ken B. Tank. 


Savannah Bananas

Written by: Brian Summerall

You belong here.  

That’s the message I received loud and clear at my first Savannah Bananas baseball game my wife, Michele, and I attended not long ago. And it started with the break-dancing first base coach. 

A break-dancing first base coach? Yep. 

Throughout the game I could not take my eyes off of him.  

He had routines to everything from soundtrack to “Titanic”  

to Micheal Jackson. Michele, a dancer herself, stood in line with all of the 10 year old kids just to get a picture with him. Turns out he is classically trained in ballet. 

At the end of the evening, outside the stadium on the plaza, we circled up. And by we I mean the fans, the players, the, the ushers, concession workers, and the owner. In the middle of the circle was the dancing first base coach and a Tuba player. They lead us all in a sing-a-long of the song, “Stand By Me.” 

Old, young, black, white, hispanic, male, female, Democrat, Republican, gay, straight, Pro-Life, and Pro-Choice all linked arms, swayed and sang every word to the song at the top of their lungs. 

“If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall 

Or the mountains should crumble to the sea 

I won't cry, I won't cry, no, I won't shed a tear  

Just as long as you stand, stand by me”  

In a world of school shootings, the war in Ukraine, racial tension, and political parties  screaming at each other, a diverse group of people linked arms for just a moment in Savannah,  Georgia and sang. 

“Whenever you’re in trouble, won’t you stand by me…”  

In that moment, we knew we all belonged. We knew we were a part of a community and a  bigger story. 

I did not want it to end.  

I couldn’t wait to go back. (and I’ve been back 3 times now!)  

I began to ask myself on the way back to the hotel, “Is that the experience kids get when they  come to Young Life or that most people get Sunday mornings at Church?”  

Do they get the message, “YOU BELONG HERE?”  

Can they say at the end of weekly Young Life club or the church service, “We knew we all  belonged. We knew we were a part of a community and a bigger story. We did not want it to  end. We can’t wait to go back.”

My good friend once told me, “Brian, I grew up in an East Texas Church. At the end of the  service we would invite people to walk the aisle while we sang the words ‘Just As I Am’… but  we didn’t mean it.” 

It was not a true message of, “You belong here.”  

Reminds me of Luke 19. 

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down  immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him  gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a `sinner.’" 

The Pharisees probably weren’t big on the hymn, “Just As I Am.” 

I think we would all do good to remember the words of author Brennan Manning. 

“Here is revelation bright as the evening star: Jesus comes for sinners, for those as outcast as tax collectors and for those caught up in squalid choices and failed dreams. He comes for corporate executives, street people, superstars, farmers, hookers, addicts, IRS agents, AIDS victims, and even used-car salesmen. Jesus not only talks with these people but dines with them—fully aware that His table fellowship with sinners will raise the eyebrows of religious bureaucrats who hold up the robes and insignia of their authority to justify their condemnation of the truth and their rejection of the gospel of grace.”  

In other words, you belong here. 

If it’s good enough for the Bananas, then surely it’s good enough for our Young Life clubs  around the world and Sunday mornings. 

Want to learn more about the Savannah Bananas and what they can teach us all about both  our work and ministry culture? Join Brian Summerall, Director of the Tod Bush Leadership  Center, for a free, live webinar called “6 Keys to Peeling the Bananas” on November 15 at  2:00 CT. Register for the free webinar HERE. 

Better yet, would you like to experience the Savannah Bananas live and in person??? Join us for our 3-Day Savannah Banana Experience, February 22-25, in Savannah, Georgia. You’ll dive in deep to their hospitality, customer experience, and core values as we  learn the “Fans First” way of the Bananas. To learn more about this once in a lifetime experience, click HERE.


THE MORE THINGS CHANGE

Watch this OnE minute video from Eric Scofield:

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE…THE MORE ADOLESCENTS STAY THE SAME!

Since the Young Life mission started in 1941,  there has been change! We’ve seen lots of change culturally, politically, globally, and theologically. Many believe that our current ‘season’ represents more change than ever! Hand-written notes have been taken over by texting and social media platforms have replaced in-person relationships creating an artificial closeness while fostering distance. Young Life staff and leaders are cultural observers and pride themselves on being informed about these shifts and prepared to address them.

I’ve been leading Bible Studies and Campaigner groups with our Young Life kids for over 30 years and have seen so many things that change. Recently I have been encouraged, though, by what has stayed the same! 

In the midst of constant pivots and adjustments, let’s take a look at how adolescents and the Young Life ministry have stayed the same.

Over the last three decades, I have been leading various breakfast Bible studies for high school boys. We all come from different schools, zip codes, and generations. Pancakes, syrup, bacon, laughter and a simple thought about the person of Jesus Christ are on the menu each week. I relish the early morning conversations in the middle of the week because they make me hopeful. 

While surrounded by constant change, there are a few things that I can count on in the world of teenagers: They are funny, curious, thoughtful and have questions about life, God and what life with God could look like. 

Here are FOUR observations that I have regarding Young Life and adolescents from my perspective across the breakfast table.

PRESENCE

Every year I wonder, will kids show up? Moreso, I am reminded that WE should show up too! Time is the currency of today and good Young Life work costs a lot of time. 

Last week I showed up for a three-set tennis match. As I walked up, there was a ‘double take’ from the student I came to visit as he yelled “Thanks for coming!” Young Life leaders show up; it’s what we have always done and it is a constant in determining the health of the local YL Club. Presence speaks loudly!

RELATIONSHIPS

The favorite word in an adolescent’s vocabulary is their own name! Knowing kids, their interests, the cars they drive, the sports they play and all aspects of their life lead to a conversation. When those interactions find a home in a lifelong relationship it is a beautiful part of God’s design “We loved you so much we not only shared the Gospel but our very LIVES.” (1 Thess. 2:8). It is encouraging to me that we are built for relationships, community, and being known. 

ACCEPTANCE

Kids today need to be heard, seen, and accepted. This year, I am watching 11th graders navigate life. It is different than it was a few years ago when they were in junior high. As I have grown older, I have been reminded of a simple truth: the need to belong. They are going to make mistakes, have break-ups, not make the team, have fender-benders, and struggle with grades. Being the person that shows love, acceptance, and grace highlights a quality of the person of Jesus that is compelling and sorely needed today. 

JESUS

The focus on the person of Jesus is foundational to the mission of Young Life. It is both a guiding principle and a core value. Even a student who may be minimally involved with their local faith community can’t help but be drawn to the person of Jesus. The things He said, and the things He did paint a picture of God that is….different. We remind ourselves constantly that sharing Jesus isn’t just part of what we do… it is all we do. The ability to talk about Jesus with ease may be the most attractive quality of the Young Life ministry. 

Change is transformation, and changing (transforming) lives is the goal of the Young Life mission. What teenagers around the globe desire today is exactly what the Young Life ministry has been known for over the years. 

Here’s to staying the course and focusing on the list above. Now, more than ever! 

-Eric Scofield, Principal Gifts Officer, Young Life