The relationships that changed your life don’t have to end.
Building Lifelong Connections with Young Life
Once you’re part of the Young Life family, you’re family for life.
After more than 80 years of work, we know ministry extends far beyond high school graduation, and we have a vast network of alumni, former staff, and supporters who remain connected to the mission of introducing young people to Jesus Christ. You help make up the Young Life Community Network (YLCN), which is both a community and a team in Young Life dedicated to helping adults connect with Young Life in ways that make sense.
Collecting and Connecting Across Life Stages
At its core, YLCN exists to “collect and connect” individuals who are searching for deeper faith and lasting affinity with Young Life’s mission.
Over 1.1 million people are part of the myYL community portal, representing a global network spanning 88 countries. This isn’t just about maintaining contact information — it’s about nurturing relationships that span decades and life transitions.
We recognize people engage with causes they care about through their “talent, time, and treasure.” By providing meaningful opportunities for involvement at every life stage, YLCN ensures you can experience the community, purpose, and impact you are longing for, whether as a volunteer leader, financial supporter, or advocate for young people.
Bridging Critical Transitions
One of our most strategic initiatives focuses on high school graduates transitioning to college, which is a critical juncture where many young people disconnect from faith communities. Since 2010, we’ve maintained contact with over 250,000 graduates through the “Let’s Stay Connected” campaign, working closely with Young Life College to ensure incoming freshmen find ongoing engagement opportunities on campus.
Know a high school grad still looking to plug in to Young Life locally? Let them know there’s a way to stay connected!
We’re also focusing on the “lost years” of young professionals who often drift away during early career stages. Through Young Professional gatherings and YoPro boards, YLCN creates spaces for this demographic to maintain meaningful connections while navigating the demands of career building.
For more about these opportunities, reach out to our team to get connected locally.
Honoring the Past, Empowering the Future
Former Young Life staff represent a wealth of wisdom, experience, and ongoing commitment to the mission. We’re actively engaging former staff gatherings across the country, creating opportunities for fellowship and continued investment in Young Life. These have been collaborative efforts with regional directors and field staff to help the local ministries connect with key partners locally.
Providing Resources and Opportunities
Beyond maintaining relationships, YLCN serves as a resource hub for the broader Young Life community.
We run hundreds of reports annually to help field ministries connect with local alumni, facilitate collaborative partnerships with organizations like the Windrider Institute and Axis Ministries, and are working on resources to expand our community even broader!
The Community Network is also a natural hub for many events and trips to see and experience not only bucket-list places, but also get to know Young Life in different locations around the globe!
You can learn more about the upcoming trips Young Life has to offer here!
We also coordinate fundraising initiatives, including a volunteer leader subsidy campaign that enabled 762 leaders to attend summer camps with 4,549 campers—a 33% increase in camp attendance. We’ve also supported international efforts, raising funds for summer camps in Ukraine and sending staff to serve there directly.
YLCN is working strategically to find ways to connect adults who have any connection in the Young Life community.
If you have ideas or are looking for ways to get connected, we’d love to hear from you!
We’re getting creative and innovative with how to reach more adults and continue the friendship well beyond adolescence.
