What We’ve Gained
(Besides An 83rd Candle on the Cake)
When it comes to being born in 1941, we’re in good company. Did you know Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Cheerios (its birth name was CheeriOats), Wonder Woman, and Captain America are also celebrating their 83rd birthdays this year? Each began in humble origins, and over time their influence has grown to global proportions.
Young Life, too, began in a quiet way, and today, because of the Father’s kindness, we’re also global in scope and influence. We thank God for how he has sought fit to use this mission for his glory and honor, lovingly teaching us important lessons along the way. As with many octogenarians, we’ve gained some valuable attributes over time. Here’s just three to consider …
1. Wisdom and Perspective
While most staff and volunteers themselves are not 83(!), the mission itself has gathered collective wisdom and perspective over the past eight-plus decades. Like any person, Young Life wasn’t completely formed at birth (and we’re still not by the way!). In our formative years, it took time to understand the importance of the hows and whys of contact work, club talk progressions, and intentionality in our camping program. Similarly, it took discernment and courage to tweak these and other methods when they weren’t best serving our gospel message to kids. (Of course, some of these changes should have been obvious — did you know in the early days of camp we had mandatory afternoon nap times for campers?!?)
Collectively or individually, we’ll never “arrive” when it comes to having complete wisdom. Knowing this should humble us and drive us to our knees, seeking the face of the One who delights in answering our prayers for direction.
Lord, thank you for all you have taught us. May we seek to be teachable in the years to come.
2. Generational Legacy
How many kids today can trace their spiritual lineage back to their “grandparents” (or further) through this life-on-life mission? How many conversations over the years have gone something like this: my Young Life leader “Jenny” introduced me to Christ, and Jenny’s Young Life leader “Betsy” introduced her to Christ, and Betsy’s Young Life leader …? Undoubtedly, there are some in Young Life who can trace their “line” all the way back to our founder, Jim Rayburn!
It’s awe inspiring to see how our Lord uses one caring generation of men and women to reach the next. Consider the evangelism/discipleship tool we call The Leadership Tree. It’s a beautiful picture of God working from one generation to the next generation to the next generation, and so on, as we take the message we’ve learned from our spiritual elders and pass it along to those the Lord has entrusted to us. What a privilege to be part of this great spiritual chain!
Lord, thank you for the countless souls You’ve touched through this mission. May we further the legacy of introducing new generations to you.
3. Adaptability
Young Life was incorporated on October 16, 1941, in the midst of World War II, just 52 days before the attack upon Pearl Harbor. We were immediately thrust into ministering to teenagers preparing to go off and serve their country. Pivoting and being nimble — two of today’s hottest buzzwords — have always been a part of our DNA.
Wars are just one of many developments we’ve witnessed. Like all 83-year-olds we’ve seen some things — social revolutions, technological breakthroughs, and yes, even pandemics.
Through all this and so much more, our calling has always been clear: Christ and kids. In those times when we’ve veered off into peripheral issues, God has graciously recalibrated us back to his Son, and the fact that so many kids need to hear about him.
Happy Birthday, Young Life. Here’s to the next, God willing, 83 years!
Lord, thank you for guiding us through the twists and turns of our history. May you alone be our focus, as we continue taking your love to kids around the world.
By Jeff Chesemore, Managing Editor