Young Life Is Simple but Not Easy

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(Young Life is simple, not easy)

I want to be a Do-It-Yourself  (DIY) guy, but I’m not. I don’t think I have the gifts, and I am pretty sure I don’t have the patience. So when I do venture into the rough waters of taking on a project, I want it to be “as advertised.” If it looks simple, let’s keep it simple. Nothing is more disruptive to my schedule, and damaging to my ego than having something simple be surprisingly hard. There are countless things in our everyday life that seem simple but are not easy. I’ve listed a few below: 

• Waking up without an alarm 
• Matching socks
• Inserting a USB stick
• Untangling a headphone
• Folding a fitted sheet
• Replacing tiny screws on reading glasses
• Investing in the stock market
• Putting a dollar bill in a vending machine 
• Using the motion sensor on a bathroom faucet
• Replacing windshield wipers 
• Getting the last bit of dust in a dustpan
• Asking someone out on a date
• Remembering a grocery list
• Studying online

On paper, they look doable, but a few moments later there isn’t an instruction manual, YouTube tutorial, or step-by-step process that seems to help. I’ve been a Young Life leader for decades on all types of teams and contexts, and several times a year I reach the same conclusion. Doing good Young Life is simple, but not easy!   

Now, when I say Young Life is simple, I mean elegantly simple! After 80 years as a mission, we have refined the elements of the Young Life mission down to a fine point. We know three things: 

1. We know CHRIST 
2. We know KIDS 
3. We know HOW TO PUT THEM TOGETHER! 

And our methods seem reasonable too!

• We PRAY for them 
• We GO where they are 
• We EARN the right to be heard
• We PROVIDE opportunities to experience Christ
• We INVITE them to respond
• We EQUIP them for a life of faith
• We WORK alongside a mission community

Expanding on the Core Principles:

1. PRAY for them: Prayer is the foundation of our efforts, seeking divine guidance, wisdom, and intervention in the lives of those we aim to reach.
2. GO where they are: We actively engage with people in their environments, demonstrating a genuine interest in their lives and building relationships based on trust and understanding.
3. EARN the right to be heard: We build credibility through consistent actions and genuine care, demonstrating that our message is rooted in love and a desire for their well-being.
4. PROVIDE opportunities to experience Christ: We create environments and experiences where individuals can encounter the love, grace, and transformative power of Christ in tangible ways.
5. INVITE them to respond: We extend a clear and compelling invitation to embrace a relationship with Christ and become part of a faith community.
6. EQUIP them for a life of faith: We provide ongoing support, resources, and discipleship to nurture spiritual growth and empower individuals to live out their faith in their daily lives.
7. WORK alongside a mission community: We collaborate with others who share a common vision, pooling resources, talents, and expertise to maximize our collective impact.

Additional Considerations and Elaborations:

• Cultural Sensitivity: We approach individuals and communities with respect for their unique cultural backgrounds, values, and traditions, adapting our methods to be relevant and meaningful.
• Meeting Practical Needs: We recognize that spiritual growth often goes hand-in-hand with addressing practical needs, such as hunger, poverty, and social injustice.
• Authenticity and Transparency: We strive to be genuine and transparent in our interactions, building trust through honest communication and consistent actions.
• Empowerment and Ownership: We encourage individuals to take ownership of their faith journey, fostering leadership development and empowering them to become agents of change within their communities.
• Long-Term Commitment: We recognize that transformation takes time and are committed to long-term engagement, providing ongoing support and encouragement.
• Celebration and Encouragement: We celebrate milestones, both big and small, and provide ongoing encouragement to individuals as they grow in their faith.

Overall, these principles represent a holistic approach to sharing faith, emphasizing relationship-building, genuine care, and empowering individuals to experience the transformative power of Christ in their lives.

So what’s the problem? Why does a goal that seems simple not seem easy? I think it is because we are in the business of relationships, faithfulness, transformation, brokenness, forgiveness, and people! This work of Young Life is not like tying your shoes. It is hard, costly, slow, and will change you and anyone with whom you come in contact. We are talking about the long journey from repentance to belief. 

It makes sense to me that the most common phrase from the mouth of Jesus is “follow me.” Simple. In the Gospel of Mark, you can find that phrase 17 times. Up to Mark chapter eight, “follow me” means one thing: “Give me your presence.” After Mark 8:34, “follow me” means something totally different: “Give me your life.”

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”  
— Mark 8:34

Now that is not easy! Through the 16 chapters in Mark, I think Jesus might be saying, “I told you it (faith) was simple, but it (discipleship) is going to be hard.” Basically:

The simplicity of the gospel makes it attainable.

The challenge of embracing a faith for a lifetime makes it valuable.   

So, let’s do something hard. Let’s share the gospel with our presence and our whole lives today! I would love to hear your thoughts!

 “Following Jesus is simple, but not easy, love until it hurts and then go love more.” — Mother Teresa