Celebrating our 2025 Community Network Award Recipients
Regardless of age and generation, whether Boomer, Gen X, or Gen Y, the impact of a “Quiet Yes” over decades cannot be underestimated. Young Life is a mission that’s been blessed for over eight decades by countless individuals who have said “Yes.” “Yes” to Jesus. “Yes” to kids. “Yes” to a life of faithful, distinguished, and often, sacrificial service. Annually, our community network awards are a focused reminder of these “quiet yeses.” Though only a few are chosen as recipients, all are representative of the many who have gone before and will follow.
A Distinguished “Yes” – Bill and Crissy Haslam
In a 2015 Relationships Magazine article titled “Governing with Gratitude,” Jeff Chesemore wrote, “In 1974, while attending the Webb School of Knoxville, Bill Haslam was a wanted man. ‘I had a Young Life leader, Jimmy Dean, who was doing everything he could to get me to go to a weekend camp at Windy Gap,’ Haslam said, ‘and I came up with every excuse in the world not to go. My ultimate excuse was that we were having a family portrait made that Friday afternoon after the bus left. Unfortunately, my mother happened to run into Jimmy at the store the next day and he said how sorry he was that I couldn’t go. She said, “No, we’re doing that the day before. Bill can go.” I was literally the last kid who got on the bus going to Windy Gap.’ Haslam was 15 years old at that weekend camp. While sitting on the steps of the gym at Windy Gap, he decided the claims were true and began a relationship with Jesus. Bill Haslam was caught once again.” Though it could not be known at that time, this first “yes,” led to a lifetime of saying “yes” to God and to the opportunities that he placed in Bill’s (and Crissy’s) path. Among these?
- Saying “yes” to being a volunteer Young Life leader for four years while attending Emory University in Atlanta.
- Saying “yes” to marriage with Crissy Garrett of Memphis, a Young Life alum herself, and joining together in training local leaders and serving on committee for two decades.
- Saying “yes” to serving as interim area director of Knoxville Young Life in 2001, as his dear friend and local staff person, Steve Chesney, was asked to serve as regional director.
- Saying “yes” to public service and serving as two-term mayor of Knoxville from 2003 to 2011.
- Saying “yes” to serving as two-term governor of the state of Tennessee from 2011 to 2019.
- Saying “yes” to serving on the Young Life Board of Trustees.
- And, in all of these things, daily saying “yes” to Jesus in marriage, parenting, business, leadership, and so much more!
The online dictionary defines “distinguished” as “successful, authoritative, and commanding great respect.” There are few better words that capture the Haslams’ many decades of “yeses” to and through Young Life. Bill and Crissy, we’re so thankful that many years ago you got caught by Jesus and caught up in Young Life. Know that we consider it a privilege to honor you as our 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.
Six Decades of Saying “Yes” to Service – Harry and Jill Rumohr
Sixty-five years ago, in 1960, Jill Rumohr’s parents received a request from Jim Rayburn to take a look at Young Life and consider helping to get things started in Jill’s hometown of Rockford, Illinois. Jill’s dad was a dentist and, after helping to launch Young Life in Rockford, he adjusted his schedule to accommodate giving more time to leading club, Campaigners, and taking kids to camp. This was the environment Jill was raised in. An environment saturated with service in and through Young Life. An environment Jill would one day re-create with her own husband, in their own city.
Harry encountered Young Life when he met Jill at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. In Harry’s words, “I was invited to serve as a junior counselor at Frontier Ranch. Bob Mitchell was the camp speaker and that’s where I heard the gospel for the very first time. I gave my life to Christ that summer; it was the summer of 1968.” Then, after two more years of college, Harry and Jill married in August of 1970. Having accepted an opportunity to join Young Life staff, the two honeymooned at Jill’s family’s chalet at Trail West, in Buena Vista, Colorado, and immediately attended new staff training at Star Ranch. Then, for two years, under the supervision and tutelage of Stan Voth, the two helped develop the Young Life work in Flint, Michigan.
Harry and Jill arrived in Mason, Michigan, in 1976 as Harry began working in his family’s business. They began praying for Mason; however, it wasn’t until Ken Knipp showed up at their door in 1989 as a new regional director and Ken and Vickie moved to Mason, that things really began to take off! By 1992, there was enough Young Life momentum in the Greater Lansing area that Harry and Jill were able to fill the adult guest lodge at Young Life’s Castaway Club with adults from Mason. In Harry’s words, “It was a great week! We all agreed it would be great to have Young Life in our town and, before we knew it, we were interviewing our first area director, James Granger.”
It was clear people trusted the Rumohrs and seven out of eight of those couples joined them in Mason’s first “Young Life Mission Community.” Since that time, Harry and Jill have seen more than 60 couples go to Young Life camp as adult guests. Additionally, they’ve served as area board members in Greater Lansing; Mission Community facilitators for many years in Mason; mentors to men and women leaders and staff; volunteer work staff at Timber Wolf Lake, Trail West Lodge, and multiple Young Life staff conferences. In fact, in the summer of 2025, Midwestern Young Life College Coordinator Brigit Mustaine invited the Rumohrs to serve on summer staff at Castaway Club. In Jill’s words, “It was so much fun to serve in the kitchen, morning to night, for two weeks!” But, perhaps the couple’s most enjoyable service has been leading the effort to raise funds for kids to go to Young Life camp via managing a food booth at Michigan State athletic events for many years!
Both Harry and Jill point to “the impact we’ve seen in Mason, Greater Lansing, and worldwide” for their long involvement with Young Life. In Jill’s words, “The approach and clarity of the gospel is so significant. I can’t think of anything that is more exciting; and to see that happening worldwide!”
Harry and Jill, it is equally as exciting to see a couple like you serving this mission and those in your community so well for so many decades! We’re grateful for the two of you and privileged to honor you as our 2025 “Service to Young Life Award” recipients.
Gen “Yes” – Matt Villalobos
Matt (far right) and friends at Malibu
Those born between 1981 and 1996 are among the Millennial generation, otherwise known as “Gen Y.” Clearly, the intention behind labeling this incredible generation “Gen Y” was simply because they followed “Gen X;” however, in the case of Matt Villalobos, it also represents the many “yeses” that Matt has and is saying on behalf of Christ and kids.
Matt first heard of Young Life through Randy Jackson, Young Life Northern California regional director, who attended the same church in Sacramento, California. Though Matt’s introduction to Young Life was unique, as it wasn’t through an invitation to club or camp, he said “yes” to being a WyldLife leader his senior year in high school. Then, as a student at Point Loma Nazarene University, Matt not only said “yes” to Young Life College, but also to being a leader at Mission Bay High School in San Diego. Then, in 2016, Matt was invited onto the South Coast Regional Board, to which he responded with a resounding, “Yes!” Since that time, the “yeses” have only multiplied and the impact magnified! In fact, many people say, “Matt is Young Life.” A few of Matt’s “yeses” include …
- The South Coast Young Life committee in SoCal
- Helping steer the Young Life “California Plan”
- Being a long-time encourager and supporter of Young Life staff
- Being an adult guest at Malibu in 2024, which led him to becoming a leader
- Volunteering as a Young Life leader in Park City, Utah, where he lives
- Doing a Camp Tour in 2025: Crooked Creek, Lost Canyon, Malibu, and Woodleaf
- Helping with Young Life’s NASCAR collaboration and new racetrack at Woodleaf
- And many, many more …
As President and COO of Grandview Communities, Matt has a full plate. When asked why he’s said “yes” to Young Life in so many ways, Matt is quick to respond, “There is no greater investment. The ripple effects of Young Life are amazing and ROI (Return on Investment) is so strong!” He goes on to say, “Because Young Life is primarily volunteer led, it really changes the impact of a small donation. I’ve seen a relatively small investment change an entire city.”
On a more personal note, as a Young Life leader in Park City, Matt sees the impact of Young Life firsthand. “Connecting with kids and having fun together makes such a big difference in their lives!” When asked what he might say to others considering involvement with Young Life, Matt responded, “It doesn’t matter whether you are 30, 70, or older; just showing up matters. And, Young Life offers a lot of ways for a person to ‘show up.’”
Matt, thanks for saying “yes” to Christ, kids, and Young Life! As for Young Life, we’re overjoyed and privileged to say “yes” to you being our 2025 Young Life Young Professional of the Year!
The goal of our annual Young Life Community Network Awards is to glorify God, honor people, and encourage others to join the fun! Though we have only three awards to give annually, the heart of this effort can be lived out daily and across the globe. Do you know people saying “yes” to Christ and kids that you could encourage? Do you have stories like those above that you might want to share with us? If so, send them our way at ylcommunity@sc.younglife.org.
