The heartbeat of Young Life’s ministry pulses through its volunteer leaders. While undoubtedly staff play a huge role in our ministry, it’s the volunteer leaders who ultimately make Young Life happen. We literally could not do ministry without them and reach the millions of adolescents we’ve reached so far since 1941. These volunteers — whether college students, young professionals, or adults from various walks of life — create the relational fabric that draws young people into meaningful community.
BUILDING TRUST
Young Life’s culture is built on genuine relationships, and volunteers are the primary architects of these connections. This voluntary commitment resonates deeply with adolescents, who often question adults’ motives and authenticity. When young people realize that leaders are investing their free time simply because they care, it creates an environment of trust and openness that’s essential to Young Life’s mission.
YOUNG LIFE CULTURE MOVES AT THE PACE OF STUDENTS
“The heart of what we do in Young Life is not efficient.” — Allen Hampton
We want to know them, and that takes time and intentionality. That being said, sometimes it’s the right move to invite someone to something immediately, while other times we’re not quite there yet. This means our volunteers rely heavily on the Holy Spirit’s discernment on how fast to move in their friendships with Young Life students.
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GENERATIONS OF YOUNG LIFE LEADERS
“Adults who live in the community (non-college kids) have an exponential reach. Our staff may define culture in an area, but our volunteers are the “carriers” of culture within teams. Their commitment to the work often dictates how far-stretching our impact can be.” — Jacque Abadie, regional director, Front Range Region
For some reason, many think a Young Life leader must be a college student, or someone just out of college. However, some of the richest volunteer leaders we’ve seen are adults who are much older. They come from various professional backgrounds, life stages, and experiences, offering adolescents multiple perspectives on how faith intersects with real life. Adults of all ages can make great Young Life leaders and when there’s a variety, it’s a pretty sweet mix!
Volunteer leaders can look different:
- A local teacher who brings educational insight and school connections
- A business professional who models workplace integrity
- A college student who relates closely to adolescents’ current experiences
- A parent whose own children have grown, offering mature wisdom and perspective
- A retiree
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THE POWER OF SHOWING UP
“Adults who show up in the lives of kids who need them are Young Life, because that’s exactly what Jesus did for us.” — Sam Scott, associate area director, Charleston
One of the most significant ways volunteers shape culture is through their consistent presence in everyday moments. They show up at:
- School sporting events to cheer from the sidelines
- Musical performances to support artistic endeavors
- Coffee shops for casual conversations
- Local hangout spots where adolescents naturally gather
- Weekly club meetings to create fun and belonging
This regular presence establishes a culture of genuine care and interest in the lives of young people. It communicates that adolescents matter not just during structured program times, but in all aspects of their lives.
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CREATING A CULTURE OF BELONGING
“Every kid is craving something deeper. Every kid wants to be known, loved, and accepted.” — Becca Covington, Young Life staff, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Volunteers play a crucial role in establishing Young Life’s welcoming atmosphere. Because they often represent different segments of the local community, they help create multiple entry points for adolescents to feel connected. By sheer numbers, our leaders have the broadest reach to create this culture of belonging. And, if you spend any time near an adolescent, you realize quickly how much belonging runs through their mind all day long!
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RELATIONSHIPS MATTER
“The true reality is that the world our volunteers and kids live in is an accelerated world. The needs of kids and volunteers globally is changing at a rapid pace. However, the love of God and the gift of his Son Jesus is relevant and does not change.” — Lyn TenBrink, vice president of Learning and Leadership
The volunteer model allows Young Life to create a rich network of relationships that would be impossible with staff alone. When multiple volunteers invest in the ministry, it creates:
- More opportunities for one-on-one mentoring
- Deeper connections with different social groups
- Broader reach into various school communities
- Stronger links to local churches and organizations
- Greater capacity for meeting diverse needs
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MODELING CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
Volunteers demonstrate authentic Christian community in action. If you haven’t figured it out by now, teenagers are watching! They don’t miss a thing. So, when they see a bunch of adults interacting and sharing life together as volunteers, it makes a big imprint. Then, when they see those same adults showing up in their own life, it makes an even bigger imprint!
What they see:
- Sacrificing their time to serve others
- Building friendships across age groups
- Living out their faith in various contexts
- Supporting one another in ministry
- Maintaining joy and purpose in service
They witness a compelling picture of Christian life that goes beyond religious duties and obligation; they see love in action!
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SHAPING MINISTRY DNA
“I think every person needs someone who loves us enough to make us cookies and ask us about life on a regular basis. Not only do we need that, but how wild would it be if we could be that person for someone else.” — David Moore, area director, Nicholas County
Volunteers significantly influence the personality and character of local Young Life ministries. Their unique gifts, passions, and approaches to relationship-building create distinctive cultural markers that make each club special. This organic development ensures that Young Life remains culturally relevant and genuinely connected to its local context.
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FOSTERING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY
“It takes a community to reach a community and when that happens, everyone is changed!” — Ken Tankersley, senior vice president, Community Networks
We said it before, and we’ll say it as much as we need to: we simply can’t do Young Life without volunteer leaders! The volunteer-driven culture of Young Life creates sustainability in several ways:
Local Roots: Volunteers often have deep community connections that help embed the ministry in the local context.
Leadership Pipeline: Today’s Young Life kids often become tomorrow’s volunteer leaders, creating a natural cycle of growth and continuation.
Community Investment: When multiple volunteers are invested, the ministry becomes less dependent on any single individual, including staff members.
Resource Multiplication: Volunteers expand the ministry’s capacity far beyond what paid staff alone could accomplish.
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CREATING SPACE FOR GROWTH
Volunteers help establish a culture of growth and development within Young Life. As they progress in their own faith journeys and leadership capabilities, they create pathways for adolescents to envision their own growth. This creates a dynamic where young people can see themselves potentially stepping into leadership roles in the future.
And let’s not forget the fellowship and personal spiritual growth that happens among our leaders and staff when they serve together. From leader meetings, to retreats, to text messages throughout the week, there’s a special camaraderie that comes from being a leader!
LOOKING FORWARD
The future of Young Life’s ministry effectiveness continues to depend heavily on volunteers who create and sustain its unique culture. Their commitment, authenticity, and diverse contributions ensure that Young Life remains a place where adolescents can:
- Experience genuine acceptance and belonging
- Witness authentic Christian faith in action
- Build meaningful friendships with caring adults
- Explore and grow in their own faith journey
While Young Life relies heavily on our area directors and local staff for direction and structure in so many ways, our volunteers are actually the backbone of our local ministry. There’s no way we could reach over two million kids worldwide without the exponential reach we get through local volunteer leaders. And those leaders far outweigh our staffing! That’s why we know the value of pouring into our leaders. They’re setting the tone for Young Life around the globe!
