Relationships Fall 2012

Fall 2012

SCULPTING GENERATIONS Young life college at The OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

HEALING

HEARTS

at TRAIL WEST

DREW and ELLIE HOLCOMB ON A BETTER LOVE

contents FALL 2012

5 7 9 17 19 21 11 A BETTER LOVE HONORING THE GOSPEL

ABOUT THE COVER

Two communities win in the Syracuse-El Salvador connection.

This issue’s “About the Cover” is also “about the magazine”! We hope you enjoy the redesign of Relationships as well as new features like “Young Life Spoken Here” on page 20. While the look may be changing, we’ll continue to bring you quality pieces on what God is doing around the world through the mission. One such corner is Columbus, Ga., where these two girls are having a great time at their local Young Life club.

(Photo by Kathy Jones)

HEALING HEARTS AT TRAIL WEST A week at camp provides hope for kids with cancer and their families.

Lake champion celebrates 25 years

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

IN EVERY RELATIONSHIPS

Young Life College at The Ohio State University.

God saved me twice

A young man shares about second chances.

WINNING WAYS

Four decades in, Brad Jackson continues to embody Young Life’s vision on and off the court.

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2 3 4 14 15 20 22

From the President In Your Own Words Young Life Lite Mission NEWS From the Grapevine Young Life spoken here Parting Shots

Drew and Ellie Holcomb: Sharing marriage, mission and music.

fromthepresident UNDER GREAT PRESSURE

... these stages of life are intensified by the spiritual battle all of us face as we love and serve Jesus.

Everyone in Young Life — volunteers, staff, friends of the mission — is engaged in this great, holy war.”

— Denny Rydberg

“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”

— 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

All of us face pressure in our lives. It doesn’t matter how old we are; it doesn’t matter what we do vocationally. It doesn’t matter whether we’re married or not or whether we have kids. We’re all under pressure. Remember the intensity of the middle-school years? Want to repeat those days? How about high school: competing for teams, grades, looks, romance. Facing the temptations so readily available. Trying to fit in. Then we roll into adulthood.

Making ends meet. Raising kids. Facing health issues. Trying to succeed professionally and still be a good spouse and parent. Living in the sandwich generation between college kids and aging parents. Then we move into our senior years and there is the pressure of making constant adjustments as we sense our bodies and our situations changing. And all these stages of life are intensified by the spiritual battle all of us face as we love and serve Jesus.

Everyone in Young Life — volunteers, staff, friends of the mission — is engaged in this great, holy war.

The Apostle Paul was not immune. In 2 Corinthians he talks about the incredible pressure he faced as a leader in the early church. He didn’t get a pass on pressure because he was such a dedicated believer and follower of Christ. He says words like “under great pressure … far beyond our ability to endure … despaired of life itself … we felt we had received the sentence of death.” Ever feel that way? Be honest. I have had times like that and, my guess is, you’ve felt beyond your ability to endure as well.

So what did Paul do in this extreme situation? Did he “suck it up” (like that old coach used to say) and try harder? No. He realized he wasn’t going to be able to rise above the pressure on his own. And he wrote, “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” He knew he had no chance on his own. But he also knew the same God who raised Jesus from the dead could raise Paul above the fray. “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again.” Instead of turning to self, he turned to the Lord. He had a track record with Him. But there is one more truth in this passage that I don’t want us to miss. “He will continue to deliver us, AS YOU HELP US BY YOUR PRAYERS.” Somehow, in the midst of excruciating pressure, we can be helped by others interceding for us. What we need is a band of brothers and sisters who will pray.

Some of us reading this article are so far beyond our ability to endure that we despair of life itself. We don’t know how we can get out of bed and keep it going. In the midst of our discouragement, we need to ask some people to pray for us. PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE. And with our friends engaging in prayer, we rely on the Lord instead of ourselves and wait for His deliverance.

Denny Rydberg Young Life President

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inyourownwords our readers share their thoughts

Fifteen years ago, my Young Life leaders showed up at my high-school softball games. Sometimes, they were my only supporters. It was the first time I’d seen Christ in the flesh — these people showing up to say “good job” or “better luck next time” were really stating something I needed to hear much more: “You matter.” Because of my schedule, I couldn’t make Young Life club, so I’d meet up with the crew afterward to socialize. I’d miss the songs, games and message. Yet, I got the message loud and clear.

These people cared about kids.

My Young Life leaders were the most influential people in my life.

They were influential because they continued to show up and, in doing so, say “you matter” enough times for me to believe it. They were influential because they held up a mirror and said, “You were made in the image of God.” They were influential because they were consistent.

[Years later,] I began teaching and coaching. We have very low parent attendance at our games. During one game in particular, I was reminded of all the times we played for empty stands. I had to swallow the lump in my throat when I saw my Young Life leader standing behind the dugout. All these years later. This is what Young Life does: it steps into lives and it does not step out. Young Life represents the resurrected Christ in our midst, standing beside us, picking us up when we fall, and cheering us on when we can’t take another step. Whether you’re 15 or 30, Young Life shows up and says, “You matter.”

— Jes Steinberg, Martinez, Calif.

My Young Life story begins at West Point, where I met my fellow classmate and good friend David Fraser. Unlike me, Dave was a very active Young Life member in high school, and a volunteer leader while we attended the academy.

Upon graduation, Dave and I reported to Fort Hood, Texas, where we both deployed to Iraq. While deployed, we vowed to get involved in service with Young Life upon our return. Like any good Young Life vet, Dave noted it would be the time of my life. Dave never returned from the deployment. Only a few months after making that vow, Dave’s life was cut short by a roadside bomb. I thank God for Dave, for his testimony, his friendship, and his prompting me to serve kids in our community — it truly has been the time of my life.

— Jon Norquist, Fircrest, Wash.

is a publication of Young Life, a mission devoted to introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. younglife.org P.O. Box 520 Colorado Springs, CO 80901

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If you’re receiving duplicate copies of Relationships or would like to switch over to the electronic version, please contact the Young Life Mission Assistance team at (877) 438-9572. We can also help you with the change of address or giving information.

Publisher /President Denny Rydberg

Copy Editor Jessica Williams

Executive Editor Terry Swenson

Lead Designer Jason O’Hara

Lead Editor Jeff Chesemore

Contributing Photographers Jason O’Hara Kellie WarrenUnderwood

Coordinator Donna McKenzie

Young Life is a Charter Member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

younglifelite

BY STACY WINDAHL

the role of a lifetime

Jillian Jainga (center) feels the love from co-stars, Livvy and Seaera.

I hate to say no to kids,” she said.

“Especially if it only embarrasses me.

That’s in my job description.”

— Jillian Jainga, volunteer leader in Conway, Ark.

Drama. There can be a lot of it in high school. And sometimes Young Life leaders walk into the middle of it — but they don’t usually visit hair and wardrobe first.

Last April, Jillian Jainga, a leader in Conway, Ark., entered into a teenage drama when she became a cast member of Conway High School’s production of the musical Hairspray. She learned the music and choreography between the opening and closing numbers of the final performance. She wasn’t an understudy.

She was a quick study.

Young Life leaders are welcomed to the school’s productions by drama teacher and director Mr. A.J. Spiridigliozzi. (For obvious reasons, everyone calls him Mr. S.) Leaders hang out backstage and help with everything from costume changes to moving sets.

Mostly they hang out with student actors while they await their cues. Jainga was standing offstage with Livvy Pierce just before the opening number, “Good Morning, Baltimore.” The scene calls for cast members to cross the stage throughout the song as though walking the streets of the city. Just before her entrance, Livvy, dressed as a nun, grabbed Jainga’s hand and said, “Walk across with me!” As Jainga protested, Mr. S walked by and quickly gave his consent to her appearance in a later scene — provided she could be properly costumed in 1960s attire.

If the request is legal, moral and no one gets hurt, Jainga’s game. “I hate to say no to kids,” she said. “Especially if it only embarrasses me. That’s in my job description.”

In no time, eight girls were choosing Jainga’s costume, applying her makeup and shellacking her hair with — what else? Hairspray. A few guys joined the group to teach Jainga choreography for the finale. Thirty minutes after the opening number, Jainga was ready. She appeared in four scenes that night and checked #13 — “Be in a play” — off her bucket list at the same time.

“Jillian’s just goofy enough to do the musical,” said Livvy. The leader has been a presence in Livvy and her friends’ lives since Jainga moved from Oregon to Arkansas. She shows up at lunch, sits in the student section at games and just hangs out. “I think she’s even in the yearbook,” said Livvy. She went on to say, “It’s so nice to have someone who’s been there before to talk to. At the same time, she’s someone who can just goof off with us.”

Jainga is happy to play a role in Hairspray in order to win a part in girls’ lives. “These are great girls,” she said. And as much as Young Life seeks to reach the “furthest-out kid,” Jainga often spends time with kids who “don’t have that look.” Sometimes it’s the kids with the starring roles, the grades, popularity, and all the accolades who most need a friend. Jainga said, “The superhigh-achieving students are under pressure. They’re stressed out.” And in Conway where churches out-number gas stations by a factor of four, and faith is commonly expressed, Jainga “gets even more excited when a girl knows the truth and is ready to go deeper — to make faith her own.”

That’s the role of a lifetime for a Young Life leader. To walk into the drama of high school and help kids discover the story the master playwright has scripted uniquely for them.

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Syracuse

Two communities win in the Syracuse-El Salvador connection

BY BETHANY bradsher

El Salvador

There are people in Nathan Gunn’s Syracuse neighborhood who don’t know he works for Young Life. They just think he’s the guy who takes close to 100 people to El Salvador every winter.

Gunn, the area director in Syracuse, loves the conversations that grow out of his area’s El Salvador connection, but make no mistake: This annual mission trip is all about Syracuse high-school students encountering and following Jesus.

“We really do share the Gospel there, but my mission is to teenagers in Syracuse,” said Gunn. “If we continue to send kids into the world who don’t know or believe that having a significant relationship with the poor is part of following Christ, then we’re dishonoring the Gospel.”

Since 2006, Syracuse Young Life kids and leaders have spent a week in the village of Rancho Grande, El Salvador. A relationship that started because a former Syracuse staff member came from El Salvador has become a transformative experience for 80 teenagers a year, some of whom only sign up because Latin America sounds much warmer than upstate New York in the winter.

The tradition started as an outreach and service opportunity for a small group of kids and has become part of the fabric of the mission in Syracuse.

Before groups started going south, Syracuse was undergoing typical area struggles — behind financially, camp spots were hard to fill and the community was less in tune with the mission than Gunn would have liked. Since the birth of the El Salvador trip, it’s like a different area.

“Our area has exploded — financially, ministry-wise, camping, everything,” he said. “I really attribute it to the fact that my friends in one of the poorest places of the world are praying for us.”

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Together in 2012.

A “prom”-ise of help Taylor Hornstein spent three and a half years on Young Life staff in Syracuse, and she started making annual trips to El Salvador six years ago as a college student. Now she can’t imagine a winter without a visit to the El Salvadorians she considers brothers and sisters.

“It is as though I’m going to visit my friends, and not only do I have the opportunity to help them but I also have the opportunity to see high-school kids’ lives change down there,” said Hornstein. “It’s been our experience that when you take kids away and take them someplace completely new, not only do their walls fall down but they actually start to engage with the fact that there’s something bigger than themselves.”

Hornstein cherishes the times her high-school friends have been prompted to action by the relationships they formed in El Salvador, like last spring when the group learned their friends in Rancho Grande weren’t going to have enough food to last the year because of severe flooding. The highschool kids wanted to do something to help their friends when they got home, so they organized an initiative in partnership with the Young Life group in nearby Rochester. They solicited donations from friends and family and put on a used prom dress sale, and the result was $40,000 raised in three weeks – a result that shattered their original goal of $25,000.

New trajectories Prom shopping isn’t the only thing altered by exposure to the people of El Salvador. In more than a few cases, these shortterm missionaries have set a new career trajectory because of their trip. Matt Sherwood first traveled to El Salvador as a high-school student, and it changed his way of thinking about a potential major when he enrolled at the University of Vermont. He learned that Vermont offered a program called Community and International Development, and the material in the classes resonated with him.

Before long, Sherwood was making contact with engineers from a group called Living Water so that they could install new wells that would provide clean water for his El Salvadoran friends. He has since graduated from Vermont, and is working alongside a non-profit organization called Hopeprint that serves his city’s large refugee population.

“The idea of service to the poor started to build in my life,” he said.

Sean Haley was a Young Life kid in Syracuse and later a volunteer leader during his college years, but he resisted the El Salvador trip until his senior year at Syracuse, when his

excuses ran out. By the time he returned home to Upstate New York, Haley’s vision of his future as a doctor looked completely different than it once had. Now he is a medical student, also pouring into the refugees in Syracuse and figuring out what it means to provide medical care to the least of these.

“It completely changed me,” Haley said. “It changed where I was going in life. I knew I wanted to go to medical school but I had the Lord move in my heart and tell me that it was more than just being a doctor and healing people, that I could be a voice for Him somehow.”

Great transformations The purpose of the annual mission trips, which now typically have a waiting list of 20 or more high-school kids, is threefold, Gunn said: First, they support ongoing ‘quality of life’ initiatives like regular medical clinics, consistent clean water supply, access to education and stabilizing the food supply through irrigation. Secondly, they assist in major infrastructure projects like building fences, chapels, schools, and large-scale irrigation systems. Finally, they partner with Young Life Central American staff as staff and leaders have started to reach kids in the gang neighborhoods of San Salvador.

Moreover, the partnership has also birthed a new Young Life ministry in El Salvador. Because of the impact made by this group of young Americans, Enrique Martinez felt called to start Young Life among his own people in 2011, and Gunn and his friends have supported the new work financially and through their prayers and guidance.

Now, nearby Young Life areas, inspired by the lasting effects of Syracuse’s international partnership, have started taking trips of their own to different villages in El Salvador and pouring into the people they meet.

Gunn loves to tell stories about the first time his El Salvadoran friends tasted clean water from their village’s well, or the difference in their food supply because of better irrigation or different planting schedules. But while he would never deny the good the Young Life teams have been able to do, Gunn and other project leaders know that the greatest transformations happen not in natives, but in middle-class suburban kids who are seeing Christ in new ways.

“Their walls are already broken down because they have left home, and they meet people who love them unconditionally, people who have nothing,” said Sean Haley.

“It’s like the best camp trip you could ever take with kids.”

In 2011, Young Life Expeditions conducted 99 trips, taking more than 40 Young Life areas to 26 countries, including underserved areas of the U.S. Would your area be interested in partnering with a country around the world? It all starts with GOING. So contact Young Life Expeditions Director Michele Sbrana (micheleylx@gmail.com) today to discuss the first step … planning your trip.

Smiles abound.

Left to right: Dan Ormond (Young Life staff in Rochester), Nathan Gunn and Enrique Martinez in El Salvador.

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By JEFF CHESEMORE

A week at camp provides hope for kids with cancer and their families As the buses pull in to camp, road weary, but happy faces emerge to the cheers of enthusiastic work crew and summer staff. All week long these campers will look upon the magnificent mountains, shriek on the rides, splash in the pool, laugh uproariously, sing unabashedly and lean in attentively as they hear about Jesus. By week’s end, there will be many lives changed for eternity.

Just another unbelievable week at Young Life camp?

In many ways, yes. But there is a marked difference in this week’s campers. This trip is filled with families who have something special in common: each family has a child fighting cancer. The parents, the siblings and the children undergoing this harsh reality have all endured more than most families ever will.

So, for the second straight year at Trail West, one of Young Life’s camps in Colorado, families basked in the encouragement and joy that lately have been so scarce in their lives.

A gift The gift of a week at Trail West for these families, most of whom hail from the Dallas–Fort Worth area, is the vision of Jean Marie Alpert. For 14 years, Alpert served as caretaker to her mother, who was battling leukemia. “I’d live with my mom for months at a time in the hospital,” Alpert said. “I’d be around all these children and their families and see what they’re going through. I thought, ‘If I’m ever in the position to give back to these families — I don’t know how — but I’d like to.’” The week at Trail West, in fact, is nicknamed

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“Camp Mati” in honor of Alpert’s mom, who passed away in 2003.

In the summer of 2010, Alpert was driving home from a week spent at Trail West with her family (“We just fell in love with it!”) when an idea began to take shape in her mind. “I felt the Holy Spirit talking to me, asking me to do this. I thought, ‘Lord, you’re asking the wrong person.

There’s no way I’m going to pull this off.’ But I returned from the trip, called Trail West and asked, ‘Is this possible?’ And the whole time I had to have confidence the Lord was not going to let me fail.”

The task was a tall one. Alpert knew it would involve recruitment, vision casting and fundraising — three incredibly challenging obstacles. She contacted doctors, hospitals and churches to locate families whose children had cancer but were in remission and healthy enough to experience a week at camp.

Alpert said, “The first year was really hard because nobody knew who I was or what I was doing. It was hard finding cancer patients because of HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which protects individuals’ privacy and health records), because no one can give you information. So, it was just word of mouth.”

Prayerfully, Alpert continued to spread the vision and her persistence gradually began paying dividends. Financial backers for the vision came on board. “My friends were taking a leap of faith with me. They were entrusting me with their money and I didn’t know if I was going to pull it off.” Alpert eventually raised more than $100,000 to help

bring the families to camp. In the meantime, families also began to sign on for the trip.

A relief The first family to sign up was also the first one Alpert approached.

William White, while attending church with his daughters, Stella and Ivy, was sitting in front of Alpert, whom he had never met. “Jean Marie tapped my shoulder,” he said, “and asked if she could talk to me. She told me about this camp trip she was trying to put together and I was all for it.”

White’s daughter Stella, now 10, was diagnosed with cancer of the retina two years ago. The cancer had taken the sight in her left eye, which surgeons removed to prevent the cancer from spreading further down her optic nerve. Chemotherapy treatments followed and Stella has been clear of the cancer ever since.

The time at Trail West gave kids like Stella a welcome relief from dealing with the effects of cancer. “At the end of the day,” White said, “I like seeing all these kids not think about sickness, but just having the time of their lives.”

Nate Oxford is another camper thrilled with his time at Trail West. Nate, 6, has medulloblastoma, cancer of the brain and spine.

His dad, Wes, shared the highlight of Nate’s week: “Nate uses a walker to get around, but he wanted so badly to ride the zip line. It’s hard to do without going through the ropes course, but they bent over backwards yesterday to make it happen. Joe, who’s running the ropes course, harnessed himself in with Nate to one zip line and my wife to the other. That ride just made his week.”

While the week means the world to kids enduring sickness, it’s a healing time for their parents and siblings, too. Camp speaker Brian Summerall witnessed firsthand what the men’s time together meant. “A father shared last night that he’d never been in a group of dads where they could just talk. He said they pass each other in the hallways of the hospital and don’t say anything, but here they felt safe telling their story.

“I watched dads say their kids are their heroes and how cancer kids are tougher than any kid you’ll meet; how their kids have gone through more by age 9 than any other kid they’ve been around. They talked about how their kids are happier than them and how they’ve been able to find joy in their circumstances.”

Top: The Oxford family: Jackie, Jake, Nate, Luke and Wes. Middle: Stella, Ivy and William White.

Bottom: Jean Marie Alpert

A window The week is another opportunity for Trail West to do what it does best: serve as a window into Young Life. Every summer, Trail West helps families enjoy the best week of their lives by experiencing Young Life firsthand. Many of these families have been involved locally, but have never considered the depth and breadth of the mission. While at camp many find themselves drawn into the ministry at a deeper level and return to their hometowns committed to making an impact on reaching kids with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Wes Oxford said, “The Young Life work crew is so great because you’re around some of the most respectful kids you’ll ever meet.

They have a great spirit for God and serving. I’m already excited for when my boys are old enough to be campers or participate as work crew.”

As with every Young Life camp, the goal is to introduce guests to the person of Jesus, and this week bore this out. William White said, “I’m just hearing story after story of many people who have come on this trip, and if they didn’t have any kind of faith in God before, they do now.”

To learn more about Trail West, go to younglife.org and click on the Trail West ad at the bottom of the page.

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This spring Young Life’s Lake Champion in Glen Spey, N.Y., celebrated its “silver anniversary.” The gift for such an occasion?

The sheer joy of knowing thousands of kids have met Jesus here, and a recommitment to even more kids beginning relationships with Him in the decades to come. What follows are pictures and thoughts from some who have served at this great camp through the years …

Lake C

Lake Champion was where we raised our family and where I learned tremendous life lessons. One of the greatest joys of working here was the myriad of relationships — with suburban staff, urban staff, the Service Center and other camp staff. One of the greatest thrills was watching campers become work crew, work crew become summer staff, summer staff become volunteer leaders and watching volunteer leaders become staff.”

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— Steve Fisher Lake Champion camp manager, 1987-1998

Champion

Celebrating 25 Years

I remember flying to Lake Champion as a new trainee to look at the property in 1986. I felt like I was part of a historic occasion. As we walked the property, I felt I was watching God’s plan unfolding in front of me. When Champion opened, we had no dining hall, gym, landscaping, etc. Without all the “stuff” people still had the greatest week of their lives, the love of Christ was modeled, and the Gospel proclaimed. We learned it’s not buildings, programs and blobs that changes lives. The only one who takes people from death to life is Jesus.”

— Randy Nickel Young Life Scotland Developer

Debbie and I were the camp leaders at the first assignment in June of 1986. It was pretty much a veteran team because there weren’t a lot of bells and whistles. I remember we brought in four-wheelers because of that and put together a go-cart-type track. But kids met the Lord — it was sweet at the end of that first week when about 50 stood up at Say-So. I thought to myself — these are the first of many thousands who will stand up for Jesus on these hallowed grounds. What a thrill!”

— Doug Burleigh Young Life president, 1987-1992

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By JEFF CHESEMORE

Drew and Ellie Holcomb: sharing marriage, mission and music The last few years have been sweet ones for Drew and Ellie Holcomb. Their band, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, which also includes Rich Brinsfield, Nathan Dugger and Jon Radford, has enjoyed the kind of success other musicians dream about. They regularly sell out shows in venues around the country, their latest album “Chasing Someday” debuted on the Billboard 200, their single “Live Forever” was used in the NBA’s kickoff commercial, and their music has been featured in shows like Parenthood, House and Oprah. Furthermore, Ellie’s ep “Magnolia” reached #1 on the iTunes Christian/Gospel charts.

While this commercial success brings the Holcombs tremendous satisfaction, they reserve words like “honor” and “privilege” for their work in Young Life. With strong ties to the mission through Drew’s family history (see sidebar), the couple has played on more than 40 weekends and nine camp assignments in the last six years. They also stay involved with their local Young Life area in Nashville, while constantly traveling with the band.

Last year, that travel consisted of more than 240 days. Drew and Ellie take it in stride, joking that life on the road is like the movie Groundhog Day. Ellie said, “You’re just eating at a different Chick-fil-A each day.”

In one such Chick-fil-A in College Station, Texas, the Holcombs recognized one of their fans (an increasingly common occurrence these days). “She was a Capernaum friend named Wendy,” Drew said. “We saw her and said, ‘Wendy?’ and she screamed, ‘Drew and Ellie! Come to our club! Stay with us!’” It was a touching reminder to the Holcombs of how their influence continues to spread.

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“Live Forever” “The Valley”

Every summer Drew and Ellie open their hearts to the thousands of kids they see at camp. Just like Young Life leaders, the Holcombs earn the right to be heard with kids they don’t know. They build much of this trust through their music.

“Music is something that speaks to a lot of different people and, like humor, it can cross great divides and break down walls,” Ellie said. “I was amazed that kids who didn’t really know us would come up and say, ‘This is my story.’ What an honor to be on the receiving end of hearing kids’ brokenness. It’s then we can speak of Jesus, who handles brokenness better than anyone.”

As with the talk progression at camp, where the speaker leads kids through the Gospel over the course of the week, the Holcombs also use a musical progression to help kids experience the good news through song. “It’s a marriage of the music and the speaker,” Drew said. “It’s not about us, but about our place on the team.”

Ellie said, “Each week Drew and I sing ‘The Valley’ after the sin talk — it’s a place of crying out to God for rescue. The next night after the cross talk we all sing it in club, and I can’t get through it without crying — ever. Seeing kids singing, ‘Come and find me in the darkest night of my soul.’ It’s a pretty holy and humbling and beautiful moment ...

It’s such an honor to be a little part of a kid’s story.”

The impact of the music doesn’t end at camp, however. “Kids associate their camp experience with our music,” Drew explained. “Ellie always says our music becomes the soundtrack to their salvation.

Because of that, the music has a lot of personal meaning to kids and also to leaders, who see their kids go home listening to the CDs they’ve bought at camp and singing ‘Better Love,’ rather than the flavor-of-the-month pop song.”

“I Like the Way You Hung the Moon”

The Holcombs’ involvement with the mission seems natural, when you consider the part Young Life has played in Drew’s family history. His grandparents, Chubby and Marge Andrews, met during the early days of the mission. In the early stages of courting, Marge “invited” Chubby to attend a Young Life weekend with her, where Jim Rayburn was speaking. She made it clear that if he chose not to attend, their relationship might end before it started! A reluctant attendee, Chubby heard Rayburn share the Gospel, and began a relationship with Christ.

Rayburn and Chubby struck up a friendship that weekend and, over the years, Rayburn continued to care for Chubby and his faith. One time he went as far as driving from Dallas to Chicago where Chubby was a surgeon. While Chubby worked, Rayburn donned scrubs, too, and taught the young believer how to study the Scriptures. The Andrews caught the Young Life bug, and helped bring the ministry to Memphis in 1943.

Their children grew up immersed in Young Life; one daughter, Nancy, married Hamp Holcomb. One of four children, Drew was born to Hamp and Nancy in 1982.

“Because Young Life is such a part of our lives, our songs are a natural fit,” Drew said.

“We didn’t write ‘Live Forever’ for Young Life; it was written for my nieces and nephews, but it was written from the perspective of the love I have for them that I learned from Young Life.

My parents were Young Life kids. The way they do life is relational and people-driven and patient. It just spills out.”

One thing’s for sure. The Andrews/ Holcomb legacy is rare: Next year marks the 70th year the family has been involved with Young Life.

Drew is especially thankful for the role the mission has played in his life. “My life would be a colder and lonelier place without Young Life,” he laughed, “because I literally wouldn’t be here without it!”

Drew and Ellie know their marriage is also a powerful part of their message. “Kids are automatically drawn to someone who can play music and sing,” Drew said. “But they’re also drawn to the fact that we’re married and do it together.”

Ellie added, “We’ve learned so much from each other. I meet with a couple of leaders and they’ll ask, ‘What’s a Christ-centered relationship look like?’

It’s about me having Christ as the center of my life and Drew having Christ as the center of his life and the two of us coming together, and learning and encouraging and sharpening each other.”

“As well as giving each other space when needed,” Drew said. (continued on page 13)

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(continued from page 12)

“Grateful for Your Love”

The Holcombs’ Christ-centered marriage also shines back home in Nashville, where they serve on the Young Life committee.

“The committee connects us to the local work,” Drew said. “We want to be a part of building something in Nashville. For us, being on the committee is a way to be part of a support team for good leadership. Our area director, David Ott, is doing great work. The area has started Capernaum and urban work and we’ve hired a WyldLife director.”

“Committee work is a massive faith effort because we’re all young working people. Almost everything we do on committee is a dream. ‘Should we try this?’

Through David’s leadership and the committee’s work, we’re in a healthy area. We don’t just want to meet the budget and survive. We’re not here just to keep the machine running. We want to thrive.”

“Committee teaches me more about prayer than anything else,” Ellie added. “We’re not able to be there for every meeting, because we’re out of town so much.”

Four years ago the Holcombs moved around the corner from “one of the toughest high schools in Nashville,” Ellie said. “I told David, ‘I dream about having Young Life there. I tried to break down doors, meet with people and get things started, but realized we can’t really lead that.’

It broke my heart and David said, ‘Why don’t you just pray every time you pass that school for someone to lead it.’ So I prayed for about four years.

“I’ll never forget the day David called and said, ‘You’re not going to believe this, but there are two men who’ve raised $80,000 to bring on an urban staff guy, and they want to start at Stratford High School.’ I just burst into tears. Even though we can’t be there, we can talk to Jesus anywhere.”

Committee has become a place of community for the Holcombs. Ellie said, “We just laughed so hard at our last committee meeting and it’s such an opportunity to see God answer prayer.” Undoubtedly, the folks on their committee would say Drew and Ellie are an “answered prayer” all their own.

— Ellie Holcomb

13

Want to know more about serving on committee like Drew and Ellie? Please contact your local Young Life office!

In 2013, Castaway Club will celebrate its 50th year. Jeff Munroe has written the incredible story of these 50 years in this beautiful hard-cover, photo-filled book.

YOUNG

L

Makes a great Christmas gift!

E CASTAW IF

CELEBRATES

1963

years

CLUB AY

Music is something that speaks to a lot of different people and, like humor, it can cross great divides and break down walls ... I was amazed that kids who didn’t know us would come up and say, ‘This is my story.’ What an honor to be on the receiving end of hearing kids’ brokenness. It’s then we can speak of Jesus, who handles brokenness better than anyone.”

2013

Order “CASTAWAY” by sending $25 per book, plus $3 for shipping (total $28) to: Castaway Club, 51709 Co. Highway 31, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501. Your copy will be mailed

by Dec. 1. Questions? Contact Lori Nustad at (218) 532-2662 or lnustad@castaway.younglife.org.

missionnews “welcome to Young Life!”

The Young Life Service Center has a brand new Welcome Center! This project was a gift from friends of the mission whose company, Exhibit House, designed, built, shipped, and installed all of the display elements at no charge to the mission. After several years of dreaming, concepting and refining plans, the project officially began in the summer of 2011, and the Young Life Welcome Center opened in April.

The intent is that this space would welcome visitors and staff to the building and share the vision and mission of Young Life. If you’re ever in Colorado Springs, we’d love to have you stop by!

David usRey May 22, 1961 - March 7, 2012 “David Usrey, Young Life staff who served in Paris, France, has been battling brain cancer for three years. Surrounded by his family, David was ushered into the arms of Jesus on March 7. David never gave up the fight and continued to serve in ministry, even going to camp in Georgia with kids from France this past summer. He shared his testimony at camp, and at the Say-So 95 kids stood up to share that they had started a new life in Christ! David and his whole family are an amazing testimony to how Christ works through everything for His glory. Please pray for the Usrey family as they grieve and as they return to continue ministry in France.”

— Amanda Thode, Young Life Mid-Europe regional field development associate

Jac Tyson Saltzgiver July 12, 1925 - March 10, 2012 by jeff chesemore A great servant within the mission, Jac Saltzgiver went home to be with Jesus on March 10, 2012. Alongside Bill Hautt, Saltzgiver helped develop materials for the mission’s fund-raising program known as Taking Donors Seriously® (TDS). He was also instrumental in implementing these ideas, visiting and training 123 different Young Life areas across the United States in the TDS program for more than 10 years. Saltzgiver also served the mission faithfully as committee chair for many years in the late ’60s and early ’70s in Charlotte, N.C. Jac’s son, Ty, serves as the field senior vice president for Young Life’s Midwestern Division.

14

a great harvest

by leslie strader

Matt Shepherd (left) and Tim Heeren.

Nine staff members share office space that was built for Young Life inside Great Harvest Bread Company.

Tim has created a window where people get to see into Young Life.”

— Matt Shepherd, Area director, Wichita, Kan.

15

When Matt Shepherd, Young Life area director in Wichita, Kan., found out he was losing his office space, Tim Heeren, a local businessman, felt the Lord stirring him to action. The pair cooked up a plan, and since September 2011, Heeren’s Great Harvest Bread Company has been home to the offices of Young Life.

But Shepherd and Heeren know man can’t live by bread alone.

That’s why they’re thankful this partnership has also been food for the soul.

Shepherd remembers how the collaboration began: “I had been looking for a ‘store front’ office space for months, but I couldn’t find anything. On a Friday, I received a phone call from the owner of our current office space informing me that they had sold the business and that we needed to find new office space. That Sunday evening after Campaigners, Tim unrolled blue prints of a retail space and said, ‘They want me to take way too much space for this bakery. Could you ever use something like this?’”

Forty-five hundred square feet later, a deli-coffee shop-office space-club room emerged from their conversation — where eternal business is transacted daily and kingdom work is on the menu.

Heeren and his family were introduced to Young Life just two years ago when their son Luke started going to club. They love what it’s done in their family and community.

“It was God’s work putting us together,” Heeren said. “My wife, MariAnn, and I appreciate ministries that are working in our own backyard. We believe in what Young Life does and see fruit in our home and in our business.”

Thirteen hundred customers come through Great Harvest Bread each week. And they can’t miss the 18-foot-high wall with a sign announcing “Home of Young Life Wichita” perched in the top corner.

Heeren introduces Shepherd to folks who’ve come in for a meal, and several have since become donors. Shepherd recruited three of Heeren’s employees to serve as volunteers in WyldLife, Capernaum and Young Life College.

Once the business closes at six every evening, the building becomes 100 percent Young Life. There are anywhere from two to five events a week at Great Harvest — club, leader training and committee meetings, to name a few.

“We’ve become so much more available to the community,” Shepherd said. “People know where to find us. I think that awareness is driving camp scholarships. More kids are coming to camp this summer than ever before.

“Tim has created a window where people get to see into Young Life.”

Heeren said the blessing goes both ways. “The return on my investment has been incredible,” Heeren said. “I hope people feel a difference in this business when they come in. It’s definitely provided an opportunity for financial growth for us. And it provides accountability for me. I have to run my business in a godly way.

“I have no regrets on this decision. It’s been fantastic.”

a mom’s perspective by sandy wallace

My introduction to Young Life came during Jordan’s freshman year at Piqua High School (in Piqua, Ohio). One afternoon he called to say he was going to the Piqua football game that night — an away game. I asked him how he was Jordan, Sandy and Alex Wallace getting there. He said, “In a van with Larry and a bunch of other kids.” Of course, my first question was, “Who is Larry?”

Jordan responded, “The Young Life leader.” Not only one. My daughter Alex took notice as well. knowing what Young Life was, that wasn’t enough for I really wanted Alex to go to Young Life too. She me! So, after a few more questions, I called the Family of attended sporadically, but didn’t seem interested in the Grace Church and received verification that Larry Butt was spiritual aspects of Young Life. However, she decided to a wonderful person who’d been involved with Young Life go to Saranac last summer where, with Allison South’s for years. I felt comfortable with Jordan going. That was help, she also came to know Christ as her Savior. Since the beginning. then, I’ve seen major changes in her life!

Jordan started bringing home many Young Life kids, All of this happens because there are dedicated who were fun and crazy, but also respectful. I was happy people willing to give their time to befriend these kids, Jordan had become involved with Young Life. The summer are available to kids at any time and are role models after his sophomore year, Jordan attended Rockbridge. for them. I’m thankful to Larry, Joe and Allison, and all When he returned from camp, he was so excited! He the Young Life leaders, as well as those people who had something to tell us, but wanted to wait until our pray and support financially. Not only does Young Life big family vacation, which was a week away. He tried to change kids’ lives, but through the changes, others are hold it in, but later that day he said, “I can’t wait to tell impacted. Seeing the changes in my kids has caused me you.” He had accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at camp. to re-examine my own life and to make some changes Larry was the one who led him to Christ. I was so excited! of my own! This year I decided to help out where I could Although Jordan had been around some good family and joined the area leadership team with Jordan (who has influence, he had never made a true profession of faith. recently graduated). I thank God for this program and I noticed many changes in Jordan after that. I wasn’t the what it’s meant to me and my family.

faithful by emily johnston “I honestly had a time where I was sure that leading wasn’t for me,” Nate Morris said. Two years ago, Morris started volunteering as a Young Life leader at Denbigh High School in Newport News, Va., where he was surprised to find a small club and nonexistent Campaigners group.

While it was difficult, and at times discouraging, for Morris to deal with the seemingly consistent stagnation, God showed this faithful leader and the rest of the Denbigh club His own faithfulness. Fast forward to 2012, where 45 kids came out to the last club and 12 expressed a desire to begin a relationship with Christ after the cross talk.“ Many of these guys were dudes I have been praying for for a long time,” Morris said. “It was incredible to see the Lord work.”

One of those guys, James,* frequently needed a ride to and from club, so Morris had many opportunities to talk to him in the car and develop their relationship.

“To put it mildly, he is going through more than any kid I have ever known — more than any 17-year-old should ever have to — and my heart breaks for him,” Morris said. “But, I got to love this kid, to have a conversation with him about God, and to pray over Him through this. It is a moment I will never forget and one that further strengthened my passion for this ministry.”

Denbigh High is a multicultural, urban school with many struggling students. The kids are quite different from

Morris, but he was faithful and determined, said Joe Marks, Morris’s area director.

“Nate helped build it into a viable Young Life Nate Morris club and it will continue to grow,” Marks said. “Nate had a lot of courage under fire.”

While Morris does not know what his future in the mission will look like, he said the past two years have been the best of his life because of Young Life. He learned Young Life is not a formula and the most important part of the ministry is letting God take control of club and relationships.

Nothing is more freeing than to put the ministry on Christ and go along for the ride.

“The Lord used Nate to develop consistency and Nate loved the kids well,” Marks said. “The sky is the limit for this club.” *name has been changed

16

BY AIMée Kessick

Young Life College at The Ohio State University Editor’s Note: What follows is the fourth in a six-part series looking at the ministry of Young Life College at campuses across the United States and abroad.

Most incoming college freshmen look forward to the changes that come with heading off to school. But starting over was the last thing Ohio State University student Lizzie Kiser wanted to do.

She’d already done it. Just before her senior year of high school, her family moved from the town she’d grown up in. With her sister away in college, and her parents busy with new jobs, Lizzie spent that year sad and alone. “I felt like I lost my home,” she said.

And as she expected, college was a rough transition. “I didn’t know anyone,” Lizzie said. “I was really unhappy and I tried to hide that from my roommates.”

One of those roommates was Emily Brown, and she too was uncertain about college, mainly because she wondered if OSU was the right school for her. However, she wanted to grow in her faith, and knew being part of the large community of Young Life leaders at OSU would help that happen.

On the first day of class, as Lizzie, Emily and their other roommate, Chelsea, were hanging out in the dorm, the conversation turned to Young Life, and then to religion in general. Lizzie told them, “I didn’t grow up going to church, so I guess I don’t believe in anything.”

Not long after that, Emily realized OSU was right where God wanted her to be. “One night, it hit me,” Emily said.

“There’s an opportunity for ministry literally sleeping right under my bed. I have to hang out with her.”

Involvement work That’s the kind of thinking that helped launch Young Life College at OSU last fall. David Drees, the Young Life College director at OSU, is equipping college leaders — who are students themselves — to reach out to their non-believing peers, develop relationships with them and provide opportunities to hear the Gospel.

And because of the sheer size of OSU, which has 43,000 undergraduates alone, the challenge is twofold: reaching a large and diverse student body, and keeping it relational. But Drees and his team don’t seem fazed by the number of students to reach. They know that even with a lot of ground to cover, it’s still all about relationships. To that end, they have taken the idea of contact work — going where students are — to a collegiate level. Drees likes to think of it as “involvement work.”

17

OSU Young Life College leaders being true to their school.

Lizzie (left) and Emily.

“We want our leaders to get involved in their area of interest and minister there,” he said. Last year, Young Life College leaders were involved in intramural softball teams, on-campus fitness classes, the Greek system and even the Pokemon club.

And sometimes — like in Emily’s case — it means being very intentional with the people they’re around every day. The more conversations she and Lizzie shared over lunch, in their room or walking to class, the more curious Lizzie became about Jesus Christ. Emily and Chelsea always invited Lizzie with them wherever they’d go, so it wasn’t long before Lizzie was making friends with other Christians, loving college, going to church and tuning in at Young Life College club.

“I had never heard the Gospel before,” she said.

“I knew nothing. Club was a great way to learn about Christianity.”

Drees knows it’s friendships like Lizzie’s and Emily’s that bring students to club, and friendships that keep them coming back.

“We want to build trust at a relational level before they even come to club,” he said. So, instead of doing big, campus-wide events to introduce students to Young Life College, they’ve tried to create opportunities for students to connect with each other: an impromptu game of “spikeball” in the “Oval,” OSU’s grassy campus hub, a cookout or a late-night “cereal bar” on campus during finals week.

Whatever it is, Drees and his team try to ensure any get together — planned or impromptu — has a relational focus and “everyone there can be ministered to,” he said.

So once a relationship has been established, it’s a natural step to bring them to club, where there are familiar faces, great music, big laughs, a Gospel message, and a personal testimony too.

And now Lizzie has quite a testimony to share. Just before Thanksgiving of their freshman year, Lizzie and her friends were on a Young Life retreat together. One night, alone outside, she cried out to God for the first time. “I prayed He would let me understand, give me a relationship with Him, and show me the love and home I had been searching for. That home is in Jesus.”

Engaging volunteers As Emily continues to seek out and care for other students at OSU, Lizzie now leads Young Life at a nearby high school. This past summer Lizzie even went to Cambodia

EASTERN AND GREATER NEW YORK DIVISIONS

BOSTON NYACK COLLEGE CORNELL/ITHACA COLLEGE FAIRFIELD

CONNECTICUT

FORDHAM NYU RUTGERS

WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE HOFSTRA

PENN STATE VILLANOVA

EASTERN MORGAN STATE BOWIE STATE TOWSON

MARYLAND SHEPHERD

OHIO STATE

HOWARD

DELAWARE

GEORGE MASON

WEST VIRGINIA

OHIO JAMES MADISON MARSHALL

VIRGINIA VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT NORFOLK STATE OLD DOMINION

VIRGINIA TECH

ACTIVE MINISTRY STARTUP MINISTRY — 2011-12 STARTUP TARGET SCHOOL

on a Young Life College missions trip. Already, these young women are living lives that will make an eternal difference.

“Great ministry on college campuses has a strong impact on the mission of Young Life,” said Wiley Scott, Young Life’s Eastern Division senior vice president. Scott said Young Life College ministries are a priority for several reasons. “Because adolescence is now considered to extend to the mid-20s, Young Life College allows us to be true to our mission of reaching adolescents with the Gospel,” he said. “It’s also a great way to engage volunteers, and it is where we can find and develop future leaders for Young Life.”

Lizzie and Emily may be two such leaders. “In high school I didn’t have anyone to present the Gospel to me,” Lizzie said. “I was so lost and so alone. If I can help one high-school girl, it’s worth it.”

Why is Young Life College a Game Changer?

Two Young Life College ministries existed in 2005. There are now 85 (73 national, 12 international).

In 2005, Young Life College impacted 700 students. We are now reaching 30,000.

Fifteen to 20 additional Young Life College ministries plan to launch this fall.

Sixty percent of students involved with Young Life College have no prior Young Life experience. This means Young Life College is introducing thousands of adolescents to Jesus Christ for the first time.

A recent survey* showed that 55 percent of students involved with Young Life College actively served within the mission of Young Life last year (Young Life leaders, summer staff, etc.).

An additional 15 percent of students served in their communities last year (homeless shelters, after-school programs, local churches, etc.). This means 70 percent of Young Life College students are being launched as kingdom leaders into God’s mission in the world. *Survey conducted by the Young Life College missionwide office in June 2011, with 50 of 66 then-active ministries reporting.

18

God Saved Me Twice

By NED ERICKSON

A young man shares about second chances

Zane entering club.

Zane and his mom at the Young Life banquet.

Zane (left), Diego Carpio, and Eric Inman

19

Not many people can claim God saved them twice, but Zane Shelton can.

Eighteen years ago, doctors gave Zane’s mother the news that no mother wants to hear: your baby is dead. She underwent a D&C (dilation and curettage) procedure to remove the miscarriage then went home to heal both physically and emotionally.

A few weeks later, she returned to the doctor’s office. She hadn’t been feeling well and was worried there had been complications from the surgery. What a complication it was: She was pregnant!

“Somehow I hung on,” said Zane.

“For some wonderful, mysterious, beautiful reason, God saved my life.”

Fast forward to this past year: Zane, a popular, standout athlete, entered his senior year at West Springfield High School in Fairfax, Va., looking like he had everything going for him. Inside was a different story. Never knowing his father, Zane struggled with acceptance. “I used to do ugly things to get people to laugh.

It made me feel so empty inside.”

Then, Diego Carpio, a student leader for Young Life, entered his life. They had English together and became weightlifting partners. Diego invited Zane to club and then to their Fall Weekend Camp at Rockbridge.

“Dave Sloop, the speaker, spoke about Jesus in a new way. He explained how our hearts are like a cup with a hole in the bottom. I realized what I was missing was a relationship with God,” said Zane.

“The best part was on Saturday night. Dave gave us 15 minutes to be alone and think about God’s love. As I prayed, I remembered the miracle that God performed before I was born. It made me think of what Jesus did for me 2,000 years ago. God had saved me twice!”

Coming home, Zane plugged in with Campaigners and church. “We meet

before school at 6:15 on Thursdays.

It’s hard to wake up,” said Eric Inman, Zane’s Young Life leader, “but these kids genuinely want to learn.” In fact, over Christmas break, Zane and Diego decided to lead Campaigners on their own. “We just kept reading through Mark, like our leaders showed us,” said Zane.

That spring, Fairfax Young Life created a competition among the schools to raise $1,000 to build a well in Africa through charity: water. West Springfield raised more than the rest combined: $850. “Zane went to every class and made an announcement,” said Inman.

Later that semester, Young Life was planning its annual fund-raising banquet. “I trust my leaders when it comes to deciding who should give their testimony,” said Area Director Ryan Clegg. Inman (who coincidentally gave his testimony the year before) nominated Zane.

“He crushed it,” said Clegg. “There wasn’t a dry eye.”

Zane recalled the moment differently. “This girl from Capernaum gave her testimony before me. Watching her, I realized how much courage she had.

“So I just left my notes in my pocket and told my story. About how the doctors pronounced me dead, but that God has given me life. And how I was always trying to make people laugh, but that now God makes me smile. And how all my life I’ve been fatherless, but that now God calls me His son. And looking around the room and seeing people crying, I realized how much of an impact it made.”

The impact is bound to continue.

After a week at Young Life’s Lake Champion in New York, Zane will be preparing for further adventures as a freshman at the University of Texas in San Antonio, where he plans to be a Young Life leader. It’s yet another exciting chapter in Zane Shelton’s second act.

y

younglifespokenhere ZIMBABWE

Young Life’s Mission in Zimbabwe: Led by African nationals, both from Zimbabwe as well as neighboring countries, the Young Life mission here is flourishing. Located in an area with incredible granite formations outside of Bulawayo, the mission currently operates out of Morning Star Ranch, a beautiful property in the Matobo Hills of southwest Zimbabwe, which serves as a familiar “base camp” for our shortterm service teams. The property is located close to communities with great needs that the local African staff and leaders address on a daily basis.

Harare

Zimbabwe

AFRICA

BULAWAYO

SPOKEN LANGUAGES SHONA sindebele ENGLISH

Zimbabwe

STAFF

PATSON MPOFU

Nkosi Sampindi

2,669 CLUB KIDS 657 CAMPAIGNERS TOTAL MINISTRIES 47 98 LEADERS

Camp in general was a learning experience for me in the way Young Life desires to reach out to the people. It is a new way of reaching out to the lost and the outcast. It is challenging and very exciting. Above all, thank you for your hospitality and the delicious meals.

Morning Star is a nice, peaceful place to come and be with the Lord.”

— Lloyd, camper

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WINNING WAYS

Four decades in, Brad Jackson continues to embody Young Life’s vision on and off the court

By JONATHAN SCHULTZ, director of young life alumni and friends Brad Jackson first attended Young Life’s Malibu Club in the summer of 1969. In true Young Life fashion, the mission was “going to where Brad was” by offering a basketball camp in the midst of that camp week. Forty-three years later, Jackson is the head coach of the 2012 Division II Men’s Basketball National Champions, the Western Washington Vikings. He’s also been named DII Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and has 518 wins, making him the third winningest coach in Washington State history.

Debbie and Brad Jackson serving as adult guests.

The whole concept of relational ministry, earning the right to be heard, rings true for me.”

— Brad Jackson Head Coach, Washington State Men’s Basketball

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Growing up in Vancouver, Wash., Jackson was introduced to Young Life as a sophomore in 1968. That year, Jackson learned about a special week of camp at Malibu, which offered a basketball emphasis during free time, run by 1960s’ basketball legends, John Block, Paul and Bill Westphal, and Dick Barnett.

In 1970, Jackson traveled with the mission as part of the first Young Life basketball tour.

Led by ex-professional basketball player, Keith Swagerty, the Young Life team traveled to Sydney, Brisbane, New Zealand and Fiji. For six weeks, Jackson served as an ambassador for Young Life, running a camp for teenagers in Australia while growing in his faith, leadership and basketball skills. Jackson said, “I saw people’s lives change. I was always a leader, but having the opportunity to go and put on a camp and be in a position of leadership, and to be around people who thought like that was very significant for me.”

After high school, Jackson attended Washington State University (WSU). While tending to his studies, and playing guard for the Cougars, Jackson still found time to stay involved with Young Life by leading Young Life at Pullman High School. It was also during this era that Young Life’s college ministry began at WSU. “My freshman year there were more than 1,000 kids coming!” he said. Upon Jackson’s graduation, Swagerty hired him as the assistant men’s coach at Seattle Pacific University (SPU), where he received excellent coaching experience and met his wife, Debbie.

In 1985, Jackson began his career as

the men’s basketball coach at Western Washington University. Since then, the Jacksons have served Young Life via the local committee, fund-raising events, mentoring leaders and starting WyldLife at a local middle school. However, the Jacksons, and all who know them, would agree their favorite niche within Young Life is serving as adult guest hosts at Malibu Club, a role they’ve now served in 10 times. Malibu Camp Manager Harold Richert said, “Brad and Debbie are two of the greatest people I know. They are so involved in what they do, and it has spilled over to us at Malibu. Every year they bring quality folks instrumental to the growth of Young Life and they’re committed to their guests’ Christian walk. They’re awesome people who are great examples for all of us.”

In the midst of this tremendous success, Jackson was asked if his experiences with Young Life influence his role as a coach, husband and father. Jackson replied, “I think one of the biggest things God has provided through Young Life is in terms of living out my faith in my daily life. The foundation was set during those years in Vancouver, on a trip to Australia, even at SPU working with people I met through Young Life. The whole concept of relational ministry, earning the right to be heard, rings true for me. The modeling, the understanding of unconditional love, the nonjudgmental interaction, the opportunity during my high school and college days to interact with lots of different people; those became foundational aspects of how I live.”

Brad Jackson is one of thousands of alumni still intimately involved with Young Life. To visit the Alumni and Friends website, join, update your information and reconnect with your Young Life friends, go to alumniandfriends.younglife.org.

partingshots 1.

1. Wooster High School girls from Wayne County, Ohio, show off their volleyball uniforms at Saranac Village.

2. Kids in Uganda are all smiles at Young Life club.

3. Helping hot dogs nail the landing at the Young Life golf tournament in Keizer, Ore.

2.

3.

This summer more than 70,000 kids around the world enjoyed the best week of their lives at Young Life camp. If this camper from Williamson County, Tenn., seems a lottle woozy, it’s simply because she’s right in the middle of playing “Bat Spin” at Windy Gap’s rodeo.

22

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At Trail West, we help your family grow stronger and healthier, both spiritually and relationally. We provide programming and activities that include every member of the family, and that honor God in the process. At Trail West’s Family Camp, each member of your family will strengthen their relationship with Christ, as well as with each other ... and experience the “best week of their lives” in the process.

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