DASH Report - Thomas 2022

November 2022

Dear Tom and Jan,

From the beginning, you have been among our most ardent, enduring, and faithful supporters, championing the Developing Global Leaders program and consequently blessing lives all over the world

During the Forward campaign especially, your impact is wide and deep you've helped propel ministry on five continents, touching individual lives in 29 countries Most of all, we appreciate how your financial support is undergirded by a personal interest in and understanding of the DGL program. You have vision, insight, and passion for what is possible when formal education is part of a young person's story. You recognize the need for college educated, Jesus following, biblically trained leaders in the world.

Thank you for entrusting DGL with resources to carry out this mission. We are deeply grateful for your support and it is with great joy that we share a few snapshots of how your investment is proving fruitful. Here are just a few of the many lives you have impacted. Enjoy.

With sincere gratitude, Kevin Edelbrock and the DGL Team

AFRICA/ MIDDLE EAST

KENYA

LOISE WANJIKU MURANG'A, KENYA

TITLE: ISTAFF AREA DIRECTOR MURANG'A COUNTY

Loise serves in WyldLife, YoungLife, Campaigners, Univesity Club and community outreach such as when she took her leaders to serve at Children Rescue Centre in Murang'a County in September. She shared, "During the recent (September 2022) Leadership Development Program in my area, 19 new leaders (including 9 females) were trained, commissioned, and awarded certificates." Over 70 young people and leaders participated in July at a Campaigners' Retreat.

NORTH AFRICA

YASSINE

UNDISCLOSED, NORTH AFRICA

ROLE: ISTAFF AREA DIRECTOR

"Hi my name is Yassine. I am a native of the country in North Africa. I have been working with Young Life for six years. I had the blessing to be a part of the DGL program and attend university as the first in my family line After I graduated from university and the DGL program, I immediately joined Young Life on staff as the first native leader in the country

When I first joined staff, there was only ministry in one city. Now after five years, I have been able to expand Young Life into multiple cities throughout North Africa.

Now in 2022, we have four natives on staff running the clubs across the country and now there are currently seven DGL students. All of them have a passion and excitement for ministry and most of them currently lead clubs across the country. These DGL students also help to grow YL and all of us involved in Young Life have a vision for everyone to hear the good news of Jesus Christ "

Your impact here

Kenya Mozambique

Congo (DRC)

Ethiopia

Africa Tanzania Zimbabwe

"...all of us involved in Young Life have a vision for everyone in my country to hear the good news of Jesus Christ."

–

Yassine ISTAFF

ASIA PACIFIC

Your impact here

3 Countries 7 D.A.S.H.

BANGLADESH

TONY UNDISCLOSED CITY, BANGLADESH

ROLE: ISTAFF AREA DIRECTOR YL BAJUA

Tony is an Area leader of the Southern Divison in Bangladesh and is personally leading three clubs. He raised some potential volunteers who were also a great part of ministry and leading ministry. Tony is also involved with Discipleship Journey where he intentionally reaches out to kids and disciples them.

Mongolia Bangladesh Philippines

MONGOLIA

ROSE ANDREI

ULAANBAATA, MONGOLIA

ROLE: ISTAFF YL MONGOLIA

Rose graduated from DGL in 2019 and joined YL staff in Mongolia where she is involved with Young Lives, Capernaum and Bible Study.

“Last summer, we had a 3 day camp with special needs children. Also, the past three months, we started music therapy with disabled children. We have found that music therapy is very useful for these children Some children with disabilities cannot express themselves and are lonely By coming to the youth therapy, it gives them the opportunity to bond together and discover themselves.”

Above: Discipleship is a top priority for Tony and the leaders in his area. Right: Tony and his wife, Christina, have one daughter.

YL Capernaum clubs in Mongolia utilize music therapy to connect with kids with special needs.

IRELAND

EUROPE

Ireland

CONOR MCCRORY KILDARE, IRELAND

ROLE: ISTAFF YL MAYNOOTH

"When I joined the DGL program, there was one Young Life area in Ireland (Greystones) and no full time staff. Through the DGL program, I was able to learn how Young Life worked and how to adapt it to my local culture DGL allowed me to give time to learning and meeting with kids and building a leadership team while going through university

Since joining staff in March 2020, we've gone from one area to launching a second area officially in Maynooth and we're in two local schools. We have held fundraisers, grown our prayer and supporter teams and have hosted local summer camps, joint camps with Greystone’s Young Life and been to the Cairn Brae camp in Scotland.

Poland Portugal

Czech Republic

Your impact here

4 Countries 10 D.A.S.H.

POLAND

ZOFIA NOWAKOWSKA POZNAN, POLAND

ROLE: ISTAFF YL POZNAN

"Since I graduated from the DGL program, my ministry in YL has expanded significantly During the summer, I had the privilege to serve at summer camp as an assistant camp director In September, I started working at YL in Poznan, as an assistant area director and currently co lead the Young Life and WyldLife ministry there.

We have a strong growing team of leaders and volunteers that I am tasked with taking care of. I'm very happy to be able to serve God in this way, and see how He really changes a lot in the lives of these young people."

Conor helped launch YL Maynooth where ministry is thriving.

Zophia's ministry continues to expand since being hired on staff in YL Poznań

FORMER SOVIET UNION

UKRAINE

TONY TORTOSA-KUZNIETSOV ZAPORIZHZHIA, UKRAINE

TITLE: ISTAFF YL KHARKIV

Antonio is the area director of his city, and this summer he was responsible for one of the camps His city, Zaporizhzhia, is located in the east and is currently under daily attack.

“At the moment, I am forced to leave due to the constant shelling of our city, Unfortunately, the apartment where I live was slightly damaged by the shelling, and for security reasons, I decided to leave for a while.

I am getting married on October 22nd, 2022 Unfortunately, due to the situation in the country, the wedding will be for a small number of people Pray for my city, for our teams, our leaders and help for those of them who are in need. All but one of our clubs are suspended for security reasons, but we continue to keep in touch with the teams, captains and kids, wherever we are.”

RUSSIA

VLAD RUSSIA

TITLE: ISTAFF DIRECT MINISTRY

Tony and Sonya were married on Oct. 22, 2022

Tony's apartment suffered damage in a recent bombing

"...what I do, I do not do it alone. I have a wonderful team..."

– Vlad ISTAFF, Russia

I am married to my wife, Eva, who is pregnant with a baby girl. I serve on Young Life staff and my ministry focus is the development of the Krasnodar Territory. The region consists of 19 teams that I am responsible for and am privileged to attend to and care for We love serving teenagers, because we believe that every teenager has the right to hear about Jesus Christ This is what we do We love teenagers and show them Christ through our lives Why do I say WE? Because what I do, I do not do it alone I have a wonderful team, and we try to act according to the principle described in the Gospel of John 13:35, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Kyrgyzstan

Kazakhstan Armenia

Ukraine

Russia

LATIN AMERICA & CARRIBBEAN

Your impact here

NICARAGUA

BYRON CASTRO LAGUNA MATAGALPA, NICARAGUA

TITLE

: ISTAFF AREA DIRECTOR

A recent graduate, Byron Castro, has already joined local volunteers to begin club in a new Young Life area in Rio Blanco, Nicaragua. He is settling in to his new city which is located two hours away from his home town and family, and is currently looking for a house to move into as a missionary there

Byron jumped whole heartedly into ministry this summer and took kids from Rio Blanco to camp, spring boarding his relationships with teens in this new area ... and he took kids for the first time ever from Rio Blanco to Young Life camp

NICARAGUA

CARLOSESPINOZACORTEZ GRANADA,NICARAGUA

TITLE:ISTAFFMETRODIRECTOR

Carlos received a DGL scholarship in 2011 and graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 2015.

"God blessed my life to be able to study the career I always dreamed of I was the first and only college graduate in my family and I thank the DGL program and Young Life for giving me that opportunity In 2014 I helped start Young Life in southern Nicaragua and God continues to call me to reach the next young person. Currently I'm a Metro Area Supervisor and oversee 10 areas, 31 clubs, 91 leaders, and 3 DGL students. I am blessed to be a part of what God is doing in my country."

7 Countries 11 D.A.S.H.

Carlos and his wife, Jennifer Duarte, (also on staff) have two children, Jariette (4) and Carlos Jafet (2)

Belize Columbia

First-ever campers from Rio Blanco attend camp at La Finca.

Byron and leaders with their map, tree, list.

In Poland, Zofia graduated September 2022 with a degree in Social KCounseling enya YL camp continues to be a place for leaders to connect with kids on a deeper level

THOMAS FAMILY

These are just few snapshots (sent by the graduates represented in this report) of what is happening around the world every day thanks to your investment

Your generosity matters. It is fuel for Developing Global Leaders both students and graduates to keep sharing the good news of Jesus to a world that desperately needs Him.

Thank you for choosing Young Life to be blessed by your giving.

We are truly grateful,

Bethany Genus pioneered YL ministry in Belize