Young Life’s Resources for Rest and Intimacy in Him Most would agree, we live in precarious times. It turns out that the word “precarious” and the word “prayer” share the same Latin root. As we seek to navigate an increasingly unstable world, it’s fitting we draw near to God and pour out our hearts to…

At Young Life, we’ve spent decades showing up in adolescents’ lives: at their games, in their cafeterias, at the coffee shop, because we believe every kid deserves at least one adult who’s really listening. So when we set out to update our RELATE Project research this year, we wanted to understand something that’s changed dramatically…

When you think of a mission trip what do you picture? Maybe sports clinics, construction projects, and other hands-on service? What about a medical clinic with a limited budget or a complex public health project in rural Tanzania? Well, for thousands of families in the Maasai community, God has used these unexpected forms of service…

Young Life is all about reaching kids with the gospel — the next kid, the furthest out kid, the kid who would probably never step foot in a church. It’s the heartbeat that has driven our mission for over 85 years. But none of it would be possible without our volunteer leaders.  Our volunteers are…

What does the latest research from our Global RELATE project tell us about the lives, faith, and experiences of the kids we serve? In part 1 of this conversation, we sit down with Kimberly Nollan, Young Life’s director of Research and Evaluation, and Tiffani Hutton, Young Life’s research analyst, for what we’re calling The Science…

When wildfires forced evacuations and canceled the five remaining summer camp weeks between the two camps at Washington Family Ranch (WFR) in Central Oregon, Young Life leaders were faced with unexpected questions: The answer to all of the above was consistent with what Young Life leaders do every day ― We keep showing up because…

What’s a generation and why does it matter? “Boomers can’t use technology.” “Gen Xers are just cynical.” “Millennials are so entitled.” “Gen Zers have no attention span.” Maybe you’ve heard these generational stereotypes. Perhaps you’ve even said one or two of them yourself! Tellingly, these complaints are typically uttered by someone outside of that generation….

For nearly a decade, a remarkable thing has been happening across the country. Women gather, sometimes a dozen around a kitchen table, sometimes hundreds in a hotel ballroom, and they give. Not alone, not quietly, but together. They pool their resources, they hear the stories behind the need, and they watch their combined gifts multiply…

On any given Monday night, say, in the Midwest, the cars start arriving on the suburban street as the streetlamps turn on. Olivia Rodrigo belts out breakup lyrics from one car; Zach Bryan with his gritty country twang emanates from another. Teenagers pile out in ones and twos, sometimes a group of four, and do…

Ask most people what a “volunteer” does, and they’ll picture someone showing up occasionally, doing a task, and going home. That word doesn’t come close to describing what happens inside Young Life. A Young Life volunteer (more specifically, a Young Life leader) is an adult who intentionally builds real, lasting friendships with adolescents, without being…

James Cottrell had made up his mind. The high school graduate was going to Grand Canyon University in the fall! It was close to his home in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and GCU provided a familiar, and comfortable, community. The decision was made.  Or, was it? James’ parents opted to take him on one final…

Young Life has been a “leader-centered” ministry since 1941. It’s one of the marks of the mission and one of the elements that sets us apart from other organizations. Today, we’re in a culture where identifying faithful volunteer leadership is increasingly more difficult. That’s why we desire to elevate the role so we’re able to…