Relationships Spring 2024

THE RELATE PROJECT:

Knowing and believing in the next generation. A study of Gen Z conducted by Young Life.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Friends,

Jesus was an expert in asking insightful questions: “What do you want me to do for you?” “Who do you say that I am?” “Do you believe I am able to do this?” Through questions like these he gained wisdom into those he loved and came to serve, and in the process helped them learn more about themselves and him.

In Young Life we too want to ask questions, maintaining a posture of learning. If we are to earn the right to be heard by our young friends, then we must walk in humility as we listen and learn from them. That means sitting at the feet, so to speak, of the group we’re ministering to right now, Gen Z.

Generation Z is defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, placing them between the ages of 12 and 27. As you can see, this is Young Life’s sweet spot! Not only are we ministering to Gen Z, we are ministering through Gen Z. Many of Young Life’s more than 50,000 volunteers are themselves young adults and college students, who care for their own generation and the one following them, Gen Alpha.

Because of our love for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, we’ve commissioned The RELATE Project. This study allows us to continue learning about how we can help adolescents flourish — in their lives, relationships, callings, etc. — and empowers our community to share that information with others.

Because we have ministry in more than 100 countries, The RELATE Project is also a global study. Our goal is to learn more about adolescents in various cultures — what is similar between them, and what is unique — so we can better RELATE to them. We plan to repeat this study every few years and continue sharing what we learn.

In this issue, along with sharing the results from the first part of this study (we’ll dig deeper into even more results in our fall issue), we also look at adolescents’ relationships with and through their smartphones. Furthermore, we share about a relationship that warms the heart of any generation — a growing collaboration with a Young Life champion in the Catholic church.

Thank you for taking the time to read this issue. I pray it provides you with answers — and questions to ask the Gen Zers in your life!

Smartphones: Culture War or Conversation?

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK FROM AXIS MINISTRIES

By the end of 2023, school districts in 41 U.S. states had spent $2.5 million on Yondr pouches — devices that magnetically seal up phones until the end of the school day. Students’ responses have been mixed. For some, having to put their device into a magnetically sealed pouch felt like a violation of their rights. When NBC News asked a classroom of students in Montgomery, Alabama, which of them didn’t like using Yondr, practically everyone in the class raised their hand. Still, some students acknowledged that, “We communicate more with each other now that our phones [are] locked up.” Another student in Newburgh, New York, who initially tried

to start a petition against the new policy, now agrees that Yondr pouches were the right move.

Some families may want to try implementing this at home — and having some designated no-phone spaces and times is typically a good idea. But the difference between class and life at home is that the former has a very clear-cut purpose, while the latter is a place of openended formation. Outright bans are often temporary solutions because they don’t solve the underlying problem. Students are still left without the self-control to manage smartphone use on their own. Beyond the practical implications that come with lacking that skill, Galatians 5:22-23 calls

“Asking intentional questions can help the young adults around us figure out how to live wisely in 2024, and how to regulate device usage for themselves.“

us to cultivate self-control as a fruit of the Spirit. So how can we help equip them to develop it — in this, and every other area?

Engaging Culture, Validating Affections

In Acts 17, the apostle Paul finds himself in Athens, surrounded by idols — and an audience of pagan philosophers. In Greece at that time, there was a popular poem about Zeus called Phaenomena. The poem starts, “Let us begin with Zeus, whom we mortals never leave unspoken. For every street, every marketplace is full of Zeus. Even the sea and the harbor are full of this deity. Everywhere everyone is indebted to Zeus. For we are indeed his offspring.”

From Paul’s vantage point, the biggest obstacle to the gospel in that environment was idolatry. But instead of fighting it headon, or trying to ignore it, he decided instead to fearlessly hijack this poem about a pagan god to redirect his audience to the gospel. He told the philosophers, “we are indeed his offspring” in Acts 17:28, before going on to explain the pitfalls of worshipping carved idols. Paul decided to use the culture around him in the service of greater truth, instead of declaring a culture war.

Today, fighting head-on against smartphone and social media culture might feel like the right move, especially when

rising rates of mental health issues and exposure to harmful content seem to be tied to it. But in conversation with people who “live and move and have their being” online, taking the time to ask questions that validate their affections and spark their own thoughts can often take us much further in conversation.

The Good, the Bad, and the Biblical At Axis, we often encourage readers to ask three simple questions about events and artifacts in pop culture: what’s good about it, what’s bad about it, and finally, what does the Bible say about it? The order of these questions is crucial. Parents and caring adults who feel overwhelmed and frustrated by smartphones and social media may want to jump right to question number two, or number three. But taking the time to discuss first what our sons and daughters like about their phones can become a way to open the door in conversation.

As Drs. Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen point out in their book Difficult Conversations , “Changes in attitudes and behavior rarely come about because of arguments, facts, and attempts to persuade. How often do you change your values and beliefs — or whom you love or what you want in life — based on something

someone tells you? And how likely are you to do so when the person who is trying to change you doesn’t seem to be aware of the reasons you see things differently in the first place?” For whatever reason, when we believe that others are trying to understand our point of view, our defenses usually go down, and we’re more willing to listen to their point of view. Trying to understand first what teens like about their phone (or whatever the topic is) can go a long way toward helping them feel seen.

Question number two is, “What’s bad about it?” The initial goal with this question is not so much to tell teens what you think the issues are, but to create a space where they can voluntarily acknowledge the issues they see. If you’ve established a safe place with the first question, the answers they give to this question might surprise you. For example, you may find that for many teens, maintaining an online presence can sometimes feel more like an obligation than a delight. It’s not necessarily that teens check social media repeatedly because they think it’s just that amazing; for many, a sense of needing to be online more than a sense of wanting to be online is what motivates them. Even if the internet sometimes leaves them feeling unhappy, it can still feel like the best (or only) way to stay connected to their friends.

Unfortunately, many tech companies with financial incentives are also in what could be described as a parasitic relationship with this natural, Godgiven desire to connect. Explore pages, newsfeeds, and TikTok’s FYP (For You Page) are all designed to siphon more and more time into staring at whatever content the algorithm serves up on any given day. As Professor Sherry Turkle puts it in her book Reclaiming Conversation , “If we feel addicted to our phones, it is not a personal weakness. We are exhibiting a predictable response to a perfectly executed design. Looking at things through this lens might put us halfway to making new choices, needed changes.”

Raising Adults

Question number three is, “What does the Bible say about it?” Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend point out in their book Boundaries , “The Bible and all of psychological research affirm an important reality about healthy, fulfilled, happy people: they have something called ‘self-control.’ Galatians 5 tells us that it is a fruit of the

Spirit, and we are called to develop it.” Smartphones are designed to overwhelm users’ ability to practice self-control, but that doesn’t make responsibility in this area any less important. We’re generally happier in the long term when we can practice moderation — even if that means setting up limits and restrictions on our own devices to help us do so.

The ultimate goal of parenting is not raising children — it’s raising adults. And unless some sort of massive, global change takes place, our relationships will be partially digital for the rest of our lives. Even if some of us wish we could raise our kids like it was 1950, asking intentional questions can help the young adults around us figure out how to live wisely in 2024, and how to regulate device usage for themselves.

At Axis, we translate pop culture to help parents and caring adults understand and disciple their teenagers. For more help understanding your teens’ world, go to axis.org and sign up for our Culture Translator newsletter.

We often encourage readers to ask three simple questions about events and artifacts in pop culture: what’s good about it, what’s bad about it, and finally, what does the Bible say about it?

More Than Their Worries:

An introduction to today’s adolescents

What comes to mind when you think of Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012)?

Technology? They’ve grown up with social media, seem capable of navigating any app, and can multitask better than previous generations.

Maybe you’ve heard them called “the anxious generation.” It’s no secret that 24/7 connectivity and real-time exposure to global events take a toll on mental health. Many of today’s young adults grew up with smartphones at their fingertips. And when the pandemic hit, it exacerbated a spike in depression and anxiety among students of all ages.

But this generation is so much more than those struggles.

What’s on their minds? What are their hopes and goals? How has their culture shaped their values? There’s a big gap in research about Gen Z that explores topics beyond technology and mental health.

This is what The RELATE Project is all about.

How can we help young adults use the positive traits that define their generation — like their enthusiasm for social issues and eagerness to engage in the world — to help them mature into confident, secure adults, eager to make a positive contribution to the future?

Gen Z faces some unique challenges. The cost of starter homes is higher than ever, college tuition is leaving millions in debt, and now that they can “do anything and be anything,” they’re overwhelmed with choice. But these challenges aren’t slowing them down. Gen Z is stronger, more creative, and more invested in the world because of the hurdles they’re experiencing.

In The RELATE Project, we’re moving the conversation from anxiety to resilience and possibility.

How can we invest in adolescents so they’ll flourish now and in the future? Our goal is to bring Gen Z’s

aspirations and opportunities into the conversation. Adolescents today face a unique set of expectations. They feel like they need to be kind, but also authentic. They’re open-minded of others, but also care deeply what their peers think of them.

How can older generations — parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, and faith leaders — help young adults grow emotionally and spiritually during this crucial phase of their lives? What do they need from us? In this issue we feature the first part of the study, where we’ll share some surprising results that we hope will encourage you about Gen Z!

ABOUT THE STUDY

The RELATE Project examined the relationships, attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of adolescents ages 13 through 24 — across five countries and/or regions around the globe. To achieve broad and diverse representation, a total of 7,261 adolescents were surveyed, including:

• 1,994 in the United States (U.S.)

• 1,004 in the United Kingdom (UK)

• 1,768 in Mexico

• 997 in India

• 1,498 in Eastern Africa (627 in Kenya, 447 in Uganda, 413 in Ethiopia, 11 in Tanzania)

This research was conducted by Young Life’s Research and Practice Group in collaboration with Pinkston, a strategic communications firm. Advisory team members came from a diverse group of organizations, including: Princeton Theological Seminary, Fuller Youth Institute, National Catholic Educational Association, American Bible Society, OneHope, and Gordon Conwell Seminary.

For full details about the research, please visit relate.younglife.org.

I have at least one adult outside my family I can count on when I need them

Gen Z who strongly agree: 8, 9, or 10 out of 10.

Showing Up –Relationships Matter

It’s not surprising that parents and family have the most important influence on how today’s young adults grow up. Family impacts how they face challenges, find emotional balance, and form spiritual and religious beliefs.

But many people don’t realize how much the relationships with adults outside of family — safeguarded by the right protective factors — also make a strong difference in Gen Z’s overall development.

A vast majority of teens — seven out of 10 ages 13 to 17 — say they have at least one non-family adult who cares about them

Most say they have at least one adult outside their family whom they can count on when they need them. And more than half have an adult confidant — someone they can talk to about matters of significance to them.

This is promising, right? Yes — but notice

how these numbers drop as teens age . By the time young adults reach ages 22 to 24, only 56% say they have a non-family adult they can count on.

What’s happening to these relationships? Why are college-aged students feeling more detached from older adults?

Here’s one thing to consider: As they move into adulthood, young adults with more education are more likely to have an older adult they can count on. Pursuing education beyond high school — whether that’s college, vocational training, or something similar —

Percentage of Gen Zers who feel they have at least one non-family adult who cares about them

56% | Ages 22-24

58% | Ages 19-21

62% | Ages 18

69% | Ages 16-17

74% | Ages 13-15

expands people’s relational support network, providing them with an additional safety net and sense of security beyond family.

Here’s something else to think about: When it comes to helping Gen Z flourish, it’s not just the quantity but also the quality of relationships that matter. Having many people in their lives is great, but it’s not as important as having a non-family-member adult “who really listens to them.” Young adults with fewer but deeper relationships may feel more secure than those with many superficial relationships.

WAYS TO HELP: One way we can help teens keep strong relationships outside of family is by encouraging them to continue learning. It doesn’t matter how. Pursuing a certification, applying to a university, signing up for a trade school, or doing an apprenticeship may help them find mentors and older friends who can keep them from feeling isolated or lost during those critical years.

The Toll of Transitions

Sometimes we idealize the teen years — those lazy summers, the Friday night lights, the excitement of all that lies ahead. But we can also forget how those years are also full of insecurities, uncertainties, and selfdoubt. You’re trying to fit in, worrying about the future, and wanting freedom without all the accompanying burdens.

We know emotional connection can do wonders for anyone, but what kinds of emotional connections does Gen Z

experience? How does that change with age? When do they have the strongest feelings of insecurity?

As you might expect, the social aspects of school can be hard for teens. Half say they have a hard time making friends. And girls especially tend to say they feel like they don’t “belong” at school.

We found that young people go through their most vulnerable period during transition phases . This seems to start around 16 and continues through many important transitions that occur in the late teenage years: greater independence with driving, graduating high school, going to college, starting a job, or getting married. These transitions often mean moving out

Gen Zers who say they “feel like they belong at school”

There are people I can talk to about things that really matter

Gen Z who strongly agree: rated 8, 9, or 10 out of 10.

More 16- to 18-year-olds feel disconnected and alone.

of their parents’ home, and leaving behind friends, teachers, coaches, and neighbors. It also means the daunting task of having to build new relationships — which can be exciting, but also intimidating.

We found that most teens, before age 16, can confidently say “there are people in my life whom I love very much.” And most also say they have people they can talk to about “things that really matter.”

But between the ages of 16 to 18, the percentage of teens who answer these questions confidently drops. It begins to

recover around age 19 — meaning we have to be especially aware of teens’ well-being during those two-to-three years when they’re feeling most disconnected.

During transitions, Gen Zers can struggle with loneliness and loss of identity. They might grieve what they’ve left behind. The emotional toll can be significant. Even if, on the outside, they seem eager to pursue independence and autonomy, behind it all, they’re also craving deeper connections and missing the old feelings of “being known.”

WAYS TO HELP: Sometimes smiles can mask deep feelings of heartache. Talk to the young adults in your life and help them sort out what they’re feeling. Assure them that feeling happy, scared, and anxious all at the same time is completely normal. If they’re feeling lonely after a transition, brainstorm some concrete ways they can seek out new connections.

Before age 16, most report feeling content with their friendships. But this number drops around age 16, and interestingly, does not begin to recover until their 20s . And their sense of “belonging” with their friends holds steady until about 19 years old. Then it drops and doesn’t recover until age 22.

Why is this important? Because it tells us as teens age, it takes longer for them to build trust and cement strong relationships. As trusted adults in their lives, we need to be vigilant about being a steady presence beside them and supporting them as they establish these relationships. And don’t be alarmed if it takes a few years — not a few months — for them to find their footing.

So, up to this point, we’ve established that while many teens struggle to belong during their high school years, they need the most support during times of transition. They need secure adult relationships to help them through those times when everything feels unfamiliar and uncertain.

But here’s one of our most important findings: Gen Z really needs to know they are loved. More than a third of all Gen Zers are not confident they are “worthy of being loved” (rated 0-7 out of 10). From ages 16 to 21, adolescents show the lowest confidence that they are worthy of receiving love. Not

“I am worthy of being loved”

What Leads to Flourishing?

One of this study’s biggest surprises is what leads to flourishing in a young person’s life.

We discovered a construct we are calling self-concept (someone’s identity and agency). Identity is strongly related to a person’s sense of being worthy of being loved, while agency refers to the impact they believe they can make. Of course, we believe all people are worthy of being loved because they are made in the image of God, and that everyone has value to add to this world. That is part of the message of love and hope we share about Jesus.

A high or low self-concept directly impacts flourishing. A young person’s self-concept is also strongly correlated with their sense of belonging and their close relationships. This means that if one of those variables increases, the other two will likely also increase, which will lead to an increase in flourishing.

Faith also is reciprocally related to the triangle of self-concept, belonging, and close relationships. Faith acts as a framing story for

how we live our lives, offering meaning and understanding. As self-concept, belonging, and close relationships increase, so does faith. The reverse is also true. If any of the constructs of self-concept, belonging, or close relationships decreases, faith also decreases. Likewise, an increase in faith will “grow” the triangle of self-concept, belonging, and close relationships, leading to a rise in flourishing.

Everyone has a framing story, and if it doesn’t support a positive self-concept, belonging, and close relationships, it won’t lead to flourishing. We found that those without a faith-framing story for their lives, those who identified as atheists, agnostics, and “nones,” experienced lower flourishing scores.

This dynamic model reminds us that the gospel is not a set of truth claims, but a lived reality. The gospel is incarnated again and again in our staff and volunteers as they create spaces of belonging where adolescents can be themselves, build close relationships, reinforce that we are made in God’s image, we are worthy of love, and we invite adolescents to make a difference in the world — all within the framing story of Jesus.

FLOURISHING

FAITH

SELF-CONCEPT CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS BELONGING

WAYS TO HELP: If you take away only one thing from this study, please let it be this: TELL THE TEEN IN YOUR LIFE THEY’RE WORTHY OF LOVE. Not just your love, but God’s love, and their friends’ love, and romantic love, and so much more. And they don’t need to do anything to deserve it. They’re innately and uniquely important, no matter who they are. They’re needed in this world.

The way teens most often communicate with their closest friends

WAYS TO HELP:

Research has shown that more screen time is connected to more loneliness and anxiety. One powerful way to combat the loneliness and anxiety epidemic is more face-to-face relational time, and shared in-person experiences, which create breaks from social media and screen time.

Communicating Person to Person Still Matters

Studies following the pandemic found that moving to virtual-only communication negatively impacted teens’ mental health. So is technology bad for teens? Or just the amount? Or just certain kinds?

Have Gen Z’s friendships and relationship-building abilities been affected by their exposure to digital devices at an early age? They do experience anxiety, especially in their digital interactions. Part of this involves their fear of being judged, and the intense pressure to create and stand out online.

But person-to-person contact still matters to adolescents — a lot.

Over half most often communicate with their closest friends in person.

Another 20% connect through phone calls, FaceTime, or WhatsApp.

The remaining 25% most often use texts, emails, DMs, etc., to communicate with friends.

As teens get older, their access to devices changes too. More have access to smartphones at 16 or 17 than at 13 or 14. The result? In-person communication

declines, while texts and calls increase.

This shift is most noticeable around age 16. Remember what we said on page 14 about teens’ self-confidence and contentment with their relationships dropping at 16? It seems likely that as adolescents stop seeing their friends in person as much — texting instead of hanging out — their feelings of security and community decline too.

Like every generation before them, Gen Z is facing the intimidating transition of moving from childhood to adulthood — from dependence to independence. What makes them different from generations before them is doing it in a world that’s overwhelmed by more digital access than their minds can process.

When teens can’t understand or cope with these feelings, they can develop anxiety, self-doubt, loneliness, or unhealthy coping behaviors. That’s why it’s so important for them to have adults in their lives who will lean in during this period and help them navigate unfamiliar territory.

Family, Friends, Faith Leaders — You Are Trusted

Who are the people Gen Z goes to when they’re feeling overwhelmed or need to talk? Friends and family are the primary sources adolescents turn to for help. Particularly, about two-thirds of teens and young adults say their mother or their spouse/partner is their primary trusted confidant, far surpassing any other adult.

Good news, moms! We found that as your kids age, you continue to remain strong confidants. About half turn to their fathers or siblings to talk about important matters, followed by roommates and faith leaders.

Who are the people you can talk to about things that really matter?

MOTHER — 69%

SPOUSE OR ROMANTIC INTEREST — 64%

FATHER — 50%

SIBLING — 48%

GRANDPARENT — 26%

RELIGIOUS LEADER — 22%

TEACHER — 16%

COACH — 14%

COWORKER — 15%

Spouses, partners, roommates, and coworkers play a greater role as Gen Zers move into their early 20s. Some neurological research has shown that as kids move out of their teen years, their brains change to help them form connections with people outside of their families. But don’t worry, parents — this doesn’t mean your role diminishes. Parents remain an extremely important part of young adults’ development.

Follow The RELATE Project, watch videos, and sign up to get more data as it’s released in May!

SOME THOUGHTS FROM A

GEN Zer

In conducting The RELATE Project surveys, interviewers spent many hours meeting with focus groups of Gen Zers, to help give context to the study’s results. In one such focus group a Young Life College student, Jacob*, shared what’s on his heart.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES GEN Z DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS GENERATIONS?

We’re the first generation to grow up with phones and social media. So we’ve gone through a different experience than our parents or even people who are just a little older than us. We spend a lot of time on our phones whereas older people seem to do less of that.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE OLDER GENERATIONS?

I think that it’s a little unfair to describe a whole generation with one generalization. My grandparents on one side of my family think completely different than the ones on the other side. As for Gen Z, we say our generation is more open-minded to trying new things or hearing new opinions, but while we’re super aware of how others perceive us, we can still be oblivious to when we’re judging others. I feel like we put on this “cape” of being super open-minded, but in a lot of ways we can be just like how we perceive older generations — stuck in our own ways.

WHY DO YOU THINK THERE’S OFTEN A DISCONNECT BETWEEN GEN Z AND OLDER GENERATIONS?

People don’t like change. It makes us uncomfortable. Just because we’re different, though, doesn’t mean we’re wrong. But if I grew up with the life my

grandpa did, I’d probably think just like him. We’ve had completely different experiences, and while that’s not an excuse for someone to be close-minded, it’s something to be aware of.

Sometimes people make such a big deal of someone being younger. We’re just like everybody else. It’s like, yeah, we live our lives a little different, but we’re just normal people like you!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE BELONGING?

A place where you’re known and loved, not just one or the other. Someone could like you, but if they don’t know you, it can be superficial.

WHAT DREAMS DO YOU HAVE?

Having a tight-knit family and community of people. If I have those then other stuff isn’t as important. I used to be success-oriented, wanting to make a lot of money and have a lot of stuff. But as I’ve gone through college, the value of that has decreased and the value of family has increased.

WHAT WORRIES DO YOU HAVE?

Being lonely or not having places where I feel like I belong. As for politics, it feels like people are just getting more and more divided, and I personally don’t see a way for people to come together and agree on things, which will probably be a problem in the future.

WHAT WOULD THE WORLD LOOK LIKE IF IT WERE RUN BY GEN Z?

My first thought is, “It would be a mess!” Gen Z might be a little bit more willing to agree on things, but probably nothing will change, because change just comes so slowly.

HOW DO YOU COPE IN STRESSFUL TIMES?

In the context of school or work, it’s always, “Put your head down and do it.” But for more personal things, just being around my parents or friends always fills me back up and eases my mind. And my faith helps me put the stress in perspective, to say, “This doesn’t define my life.”

WHAT MOTIVATES GEN Z TO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Many of us worry about things like the future, safety, our government, and how that’s all going to look. So we feel like we need to make a change out of necessity. Maybe the hopeful answer is based on how many of us want to be seen as kind. I think kindness and making a difference go hand in hand.

*Name has been changed.

STRIVING SIDE BY SIDE

FOR THE GOSPEL

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”

— Philippians 1:27 (ESV)

On a rainy Friday afternoon in the fall of 2022, Father Patrick Neary put his suitcase in the trunk, settled into the front passenger seat with an excited smile, and we headed out of Portland, Oregon, toward Young Life’s Washington Family Ranch.

Along the way, Fr. Pat described how the students at his school needed a personal encounter with Christ. He said students at Holy Redeemer were learning about the sacraments, the Bible, and the Catholic faith, but many were not being “evangelized” at home. A growing number were coming to the school with no faith background. And some who had inherited the faith hadn’t yet “internalized” it.

I assured him the WyldLife camp where we were heading would provide some inspiration, and he was eager to experience all of it. At camp, Fr. Pat ate meals with the camp speaker and camp directors and rose early to attend the leader meetings. He spent the weekend observing and marveling at how WyldLife leaders cared for their students

Sherri Nee

and how the gospel was proclaimed.

“There was music and dancing, games and skits,” Fr. Pat said. “It was humility and humor, and when the gospel was presented, you could have heard a pin drop. To hear the gospel preached with such clarity and connection and enthusiasm — the message really spoke to my heart.”

FROM ONE TO 121!

Fr. Pat returned to Portland a Young Life advocate and began meeting with Young Life staff, gathering parents and teachers. But three weeks into his effort to launch WyldLife, he heard from the Vatican. Pope Francis wanted Fr. Pat to become a bishop in Minnesota. Instead of overseeing one parish and one school in Portland, he would soon be shepherding 121 parishes and 26 schools in the Diocese of St. Cloud.

Fr. Pat became Bishop Pat in early 2023, and when he was connected in Minnesota with Young Life Regional Director Angie Polejewski, he learned she was Catholic.

“This is a sign!” he said over the phone. “It’s a sign that I need to continue my relationship with Young Life and see where it leads.”

In October, Bishop Pat came to the Young Life Catholic Summit at the University of Notre Dame and brought some of his staff with him. He spoke to the crowd, describing his time at Washington Family Ranch and urging other Catholic clergy to work with Young Life. And when he returned from the summit, he gathered his staff and Angie for a series of meetings. He asked the group to pilot WyldLife in the diocese.

“His desire is to someday offer Young Life ministries as an option for all the parishes in the diocese,” Angie said.

In the city of Alexandria, Minnesota, where a Young Life club has existed for almost five years, a WyldLife club is expected to be added this spring with Catholic and Protestant leaders using the local YMCA for the club space. The second Minnesota pilot involves four Catholic parishes located in the adjoining towns of Sauk Rapids and Sartell. Young Life has no presence in these towns yet, but the parish priests are excited, and adults from the parish are currently gathering volunteers to form a Young Life committee and to serve as WyldLife leaders.

“WyldLife is an outreach tool outside of the parish to evangelize youth and train adults on how to accompany them,” Angie said. “For some students, WyldLife will reignite their faith. For others, it will introduce them to Christ for the first time.”

SHARING WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT

An increasing number of U.S. Young Life staff are reaching out to their Catholic communities, inviting them to come and see and casting a vision for ministry together. As more friendships are built, more Catholics are collaborating with Young Life — in states like New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Tennessee, Colorado, Texas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Louisiana.

Bishop Pat is under no illusion that Catholic and Protestant church doctrines are in complete alignment. But he appreciates how Protestants and Catholics — who share the most important tenets of the Christian faith — can work side by side, sharing the love of Jesus with every kid.

He said his own faith formation was shaped by Catholics and Protestants in love with Jesus.

“My Boy Scout group leader was a devout Baptist,” Bishop Pat said, “but on our monthly weekend camping trips, he would take us Catholic kids to Mass on Saturday night. His influence in my life made me open to any kind of ecumenical Christian movement that could bring us together.”

Learn more about Young Life Catholic Relations.

Seeking the Seeker

Jeff Chesemore

L“For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.”

— Luke 19:10 (NIV)

ooking at the results of The RELATE Project, we can make many observations, but there’s a truth we know beyond a doubt: Adolescents without Jesus (like adults without Jesus) are lost.

Remember the last time you were lost? How did you feel? Disoriented, fearful, confused, uncertain, out of place, possibly even in danger?

Now imagine these feelings in the life of an adolescent. Kids have always been searching for connection, meaning, and purpose. Sadly, we know firsthand far too many who’ve looked for these in the wrong places.

The joy of every Young Life leader is to point kids to the One who’s pursuing them. The above verse comes from Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus, a short man who is short on friends due to his profession as a tax collector. Working for the despised Romans, he charges extra money from his fellow Jews to line his personal pockets. Zacchaeus has heard of Jesus and wants to get a look at him, so he climbs a tree (literally goes out on a limb!) to see him. Here’s what happens next:

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly” (Luke 9:5-6).

How does Jesus respond to the one the townspeople call “a sinner”? He …

1) Stops and initiates the encounter. He doesn’t make Zacchaeus run after him.

2) Looks up — no one ever looks up (in any sense of the word!) to Zacchaeus, only down.

3) Calls him by name — Jesus knows about the man’s reputation, but is warm anyway!

4) Invites himself to Zacchaeus’s home — a sign of friendship.

5) Says he must stay at his house today — implying this encounter has God’s fingerprints on it.

Up until now Zacchaeus believed he’d been chasing Jesus; really, it’s the Savior who’s been the pursuer all along. The lonely tax collector has never felt such joy, and as a result, acknowledges Jesus as Lord. He vows to make things right with those he’s cheated. He’s been found.

In Young Life, we take our cues from Jesus. We initiate with kids, see them, call them by name, build friendships, and share Jesus with them.

We can say without reservation that Jesus is the hope of every adolescent. And it’s our privilege to walk alongside each generation as they seek the One who is already seeking them.

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