“Follow me,andI willmake youfishers ofmen.” ~JESUS OUR MISSION To introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith.
12 5 REGIONS COUNTRIES
108 National Staff
DearMinistryPartners,
WhataprivilegeitistobeincludedinGod‘sbigdreamfor youngpeoplearoundtheworld.
Asyoureadthisyear’simpactreport,you’llseeexamples ofhowyourinvestmentinYoungLifeMiddleEurAsiais reachingthousandsofkidswiththegospel.Thesestories aretestimoniestoGod’sunendingloveandfaithfulness representedbyrenewedhopefoundamidhardship,pain, andloss.
ThisbeautifulministryisindeedamovementoftheHoly Spirit;inatimeofwarandpoliticaluncertaintyinour entire region, ourteamshaveremainedsteadfast, keepingtheireyesonJesusanddrawinguponHimfor courageandstrength.
Thereisnodoubtthatintimeslikethese,the transformingpowerofthegospelhasneverbeenmore necessaryorpowerful.
WethankGodforyouandyourpartnershipnowmore thanever.Wemustkeepgoing.
Withdeepgratitudeandjoy, SeniorVicePresident YoungLifeMiddleEurAsia
2,013 35,548
KIDSKNOWN BYNAME KIDSATCLUB VOLUNTEER LEADERS
1,942
KIDS ATCAMPAIGNERS
339 5,080
MINISTRIES
64
DEVELOPING GLOBALLEADERS
ARMENIA Armeniaisauniquecountry.ItwasthefirstnationtoadoptChristianityasitsstate religionandeversince,ithasbeensurroundedbyMuslimcountries.Becauseof this,God'sworkinArmeniathroughYoungLifeisincrediblyimportant.It preservesourfaithheritageandstrengthensitthroughnewgenerations.
Inthepastfewyears,Armeniahas facedgreatchallenges.Afterthe2020 warandespeciallythesurrenderof Artsakhin2023,lifehasdrastically changedformanyyoungpeople,who lost everything. Thousandsupon thousandsArtsakhrefugeesresettled inArmenia,andYoungLifeteams wereabletowelcomesomeofthem,
SHOWINGKINDNESS GoharHovhannisyan,thedirectorofclubYeghvard,isoneofthe leaderswhoinspiredherteamtocreateawelcomingspaceforthe Artsakhrefugeekids.
Forthefirsttimeinmonths,thesekidswhooftenfeltdisregarded, forgotten,andmistreated,feltsafeandlovedatYeghvardclub. “You weretheonlyoneswhowerekindtous,” saidoneoftheArtsakhgirls afterclub.
YoungLifeArmeniainvestsinleaderslikeGoharthroughits Believe program,launchedalmosttwoyearsago.Ithasbecomeakeypiece for creating asolidfoundationforthe deepergrowth ofmatureand committedleaders.AsaresultandbythegraceofGod,in2024 Armenia’svolunteerteam morethandoubled, openingupdoorsto startnewclubsandreachmorekids!
PleasecontinuetoprayformoreyoungpeopletofindhopeinJesusas HekeepsdoingwonderfulworkthroughYoungLifeinArmenia.
Please continue to pray for more young people o find hope in Jesus as He keeps doing wonderful work through Young Life in Armenia.
CENTRALASIA Kazakhstan|Kyrgyzstan|Uzbekistan Tajikistan| Azerbaijan ThefivecountriesoftheCentralAsiaregionwhereYoungLifehasministries arepredominantlyMuslim,withdiversepopulationsandlanguages.
Persecutionbasedonreligiousviewsisprevalent,andtheYoungLife teamsmustbecreativeinhowtheystayoperationalinareligiously hostileenvironment.
EverythingtheYoungLifeteamin
CentralAsiadoesaimstonurturea cultureof...
prayer, discipleship, and generosity.
Webelievethesethreeelementsarethe buildingblocksoftheministry.Let’slook closerateachone.
AZERBAIJAN After10longyearsofprayingfortheministryinAzerbaijan,thefirstclub finallyopeneditsdoorsin2022.Sincethen,severalclubshavebeen established,andwebelieveGodhasgreatplansforthepeopleof Azerbaijan,only0.02%ofwhomareChristians.
Azerbaijan’scenturies-longenmitywithneighboringArmenia(oneofthefive MEAregions)addsadifferentperspectivetotheYoungLifeministryinthis country.WepraythattheloveofJesuswillbethecatalystfordeepand long-lasting change intherelationshipbetweenthesetwobeautifulnations.
Severalyearsago,GodputadreamintotheheartofAlmar*,a leaderinKyrgyzstan,toopenaclubinasmallvillage.Almar prayed.Godgavehimtheteensandthespace,andtoday, Almarholdsaweeklyclub,aBiblestudy,prayermeetings,and leadertraining—allinhisnativeKyrgyzlanguage!Thisisatrue testimonyofGod’sprovision.Prayerisourfirstwork.
*Namehasbeenchangedforsafetypurposes.
KYRGYZSTAN
DISCIPLESHIP RaisingthenextgenerationofleadersisoneofthewaysGodworksthrough YoungLifetospreadthegoodnews.ThestoryofYoungLifeinKazakhstanisa perfectexample.Establishedinthecountryforover25years,theoldergeneration haspassedthebatontotheyounger—oftentheirownchildrenorformer “YoungLifekids.”Theministryhasbecomea”family”tomany,whocometoclub tohearthewordstheyoftenlongtohear: “Youareimportant.Youarenotalone.”
InTajikistan,theYoungLifeministryresumeditsactivitiesafterseveral years of dormancyduetotheharshanti-Christianlawsenactedin2009. Throughapartnershipwithalocalchurch,whichistypicallydifficultto establish,Godopenedadoortoseveralnewclubs,whilegiftingthe leaderswithachurchcommunity! YOUAREIMPORTANT.
TAJIKISTAN KAZAKHSTAN
UZBEKISTAN InUzbekistan,persecutionissevere,andnearly98%ofYoungLifeteens andyoungadultsaged18to20relocatetodifferentcitiesinsearchof betteropportunitiesandgreaterfreedom.Thisposesasignificant challengefortheteamcaptains,whomustconstantlyseekoutnew committedleaders.However,Godhasremainedfaithful,andtheministry continuestothrive!Tohelpretaintheseleaders,theYoungLifeteamhas createdastrategicplan toprovideworkandleadershipopportunities through the DevelopingGlobalLeadersprogramandlocalbusinesses ownedbyYoungLife'sfriends.Manyofthesefriendshavealsobecome supporters,leadingbyexamplewithgenerosityandservice.
"Butthose whohopein theLordwill renewtheir strength. Theywill soaronwings likeeagles; theywillrun andnotgrow weary,they willwalkand notfaint." Isaiah40:31
THEFARWEST Belarus|Latvia|Moldova GodhasshownHissovereigntyinthemidstofthecontinuouslackofpolitical andeconomicinstabilityinBelarus,Moldova,andLatvia.Herearethehighlights.
BELARUS AsaresultoftheRussian/Ukrainianwar, thelegislaturegoverningyouthoutreach hassignificantlytightenedinthelast year.Despitetheprosecutionandother obstacles,thestaffcontinuestopresson, trustingGodtomaketheway. AndGoddoes! Thenumberofvolunteerleaders nearly doubled(71) overthepastyear,anda teamformedinVitebsktoleadcollege ministry!Therearealso sixDGLstudents finishingtheirstudiesexcitedtokeep serving and growing.Prayforthiscountry, forsafety,forsteadfastfaith, andGod’sprovision.
Latvia
Belarus
Moldova
LATVIA LastNovember,YoungLifeLatviacelebrated 10th anniversary.AlyonaMulyar,theAreaDirector,who movedfromUkrainetostartYoungLifeinRiga,has beenfaithfullyleadingateamofvolunteersthatnow has 14leaders.Lastfall,beingtheprayerwarrior thatsheis,Alyonaencouragedherchurchtopray forthere-openingofaclubthatclosedafewyears agoinVesmiglavits.Thechurchprayedevery Sunday,andseveralweekslater,twoteenscameto club.Sixcame thefollowingweek,theneight,then 10, then 16!AndinJanuary,Alyona’schurchstarteda youthfellowship forthosekidswhowantedtolearn more!
PleaseprayforGod’sguidanceasAlyona,andherteamcontinuetofindwaysto reachmorekids.PrayforthebuddingCapernaumministry—forastrongteam, resources,andguidance.
MOLDOVA IfyouweretodescribetheYoungLife ministryinMoldovainasingleword,it wouldbe depth.
Inthepastyear,theteamhasbeengoing deep—intherelationshipwithGodand intherelationshipswitheachother.
AndGodhonoredit.Nearly 750kidswereknownbyname,472went tocamp,39meetweekly todivedeeperintotheWord.
InJanuary,theteamsentaseasonedleadertodevelopanareainthe city of Beltsy,whereGodhasopenedadoortostart anewministry.
RUSSIA TheongoingpoliticalchallengesinRussiahaven’tstoppedtheYoungLife leadersfromgoingafterthenextkid.Tenmoreministriesopenedupinthelast year,morethan 1,500newkids gottobeknownbyname,andthenumberof volunteerleadersstillgrew,despitetherealityofmanyleavingthecountryto avoidthedraft.Godismakingtheway,remainingfaithful.
Hehasbeenopeningdoorsin Siberia,locatedfourtimezoneseast ofMoscow,whereYoungLifehas teamsin12cities!Slowly,theroots are spreading further,intothefar East,allthewaytoVladivostok!
InSouthernRussiachurchesareslowly openinguptoYoungLife,whichisananswer toaprayer!AndinKaliningrad, 70families cometotheCapernaumclubeveryweek.
NORTHERN CAUCASUS Pray for Vadim, the team, and God’s direction as he works to grow Young Life ministry in this new, predominantly Muslim area.
Two years ago, Vadim, a leader from Southern Russia, ventured into Dagestan, a city in the Northern part of Caucasus. God put a call on his heart, and lined up leaders with the same desire — to share the hope of Jesus with the local kids from mostly Muslim families.
Two years later, there are four clubs, 244 kids known by name, 12 leaders and a group of kids studying the Bible every week.
Vadim’s vision is to gather a committed, well-trained, tightlyknit team supported by a local committee and expand into new areas.
UKRAINE EversincethewarwithRussiabrokeoutin2022,theministryinUkrainehas beenadaptingtowhatevercircumstancesitfaced.AndGodremainedatthe centerofit,faithfullyshowingtheUkrainianteamHisomnipotence.
Havingbeeninexistence for 30years, andthree yearsintothefull-scale war,namesof twiceas manykids became known,and threetimes asmanyleaders joined theministry!
“Inhimwaslife,andthatlifewas thelightofallmankind.”John1:4
VitaliiandValeriaKislitsa’sstory exemplifiesGod’smiraculouspowerand provisioninextremelydifficult circumstances.Whenthewarbeganin theirhometown,Kharkiv,VitaliiandValeria evacuatedtothewesternpartofthe countrywiththeirkids.Mostoftheleaders alsoleftinsearchofsafety.Afewmonths later,however,thecoupledecidedto returnandrestarttheministry.
YoungLifeUkraineis prayingfor10,000 volunteerleadersby 2030.Joinusin prayingforthis audacious,Godinspiredgoal!
“Wechoosetoliveonand believeinabetterfuture forourchildren,evenwhen itseemsimpossible.There arestillmanyyoungpeople whoneedfriendsand Jesus,”saysValeria.
TheKislitsaFamily
Sincemovingback, fivenewteams haveformedinKharkiv—morethan everbefore—bringingthetotalto 12 teams sharing thegospelwithkids throughouttheentireeasternregionofUkraine,andknowingnearly 1,000 ofthembyname!
Doyouwanttomakeadifferenceinapersonalway?
Ourstaffneedssupport.With$1,000amonth,youcanhelpmeetthe ministryneedsofonestaffmemberastheydailyworkwithkidsand reachdozensofthemforJesus.
*Weaskforathree-yearcommitmentof$12K/yrtoofferanopportunitytobuildmeaningfulrelationships.
14,431
PIONEERCAMPINARMENIA
THEONLYCAMPPROPERTYOWNEDBYYOUNGLIFEINMEA
Despitethewarandunstablepoliticalenvironment,kidsineveryregioninMEA hadachancetogotocamp.Becausecampingfacilitiesareoftendifficultto secure,leadersmustbecreative.Kids,teens,Capernaumkids,students,moms —everyonegetstoenjoydaycamps,tentcamps,andweekendcampsin additiontotheweek-longcampingexperience.
WepraiseGodforalwaysmakingawaytogatherhisbelovedsotheycanhear the best lovestoryevertold.Andwethankyouforbeinganintegralpartofthis beautifulstory.
Oneofthemostimportant decisionsofmylifewasgoingto camp.ThisiswhereIbeganto change.NowI’mafullychanged person,whocarriesvaluesinher whicharepleasingtotheLord.I becamecalmer,moremotivated toliveandwork,andmorecaring forthosearoundme.Ialso learnedtoloveandacceptmyself becauseInowrecognizethatIam createdintheimageofmy Creator.WhenIfoundJesusat camp,thelightcameintomylife, andInowhavethepeaceI’ve beensearchingforfora longtime. Ihave everythingIneed.I’mso happythatnowIwalkwithJesus, andmyheartisfullofgratitude. YoungLifeisthegreatest blessingIcouldhaveinmylife,a preciousgiftfromtheLord.
BRIGHTENING THEPATH In2024,therewere 55Capernaum ministries alloverMiddleEurasia. 3,338Capernaumkidswere knownbyname, 933attended club, and 322wenttocamp.But thesenumbersdon’ttellthewhole story.Becauseinourpartofthe world,ministeringtothekidswith specialneedsmeansministeringto theentirefamilies.Theimpactgets tobedoubledattheveryleast!
In2025,theCapernaumministryin MEAwillcelebrateits25th anniversary.Today,thereare 306 leaders committed to getting continuoustrainingtoworkwith specialkidsandwhoaredeeply calledtosharetheloveofJesus withthem.
YOUHAVEBEEN BRIGHTENINGMYLIFE ANDMYDAUGHTER'SPATH WITHLOVEFORSIX YEARS.THANKYOU, THANKYOU,THANKYOU. WITHYOURLOVE,YOU BROUGHTUSTOGOD,AND NOWIUNDERSTANDIT. ~Mother
Between2023and2024,the numberofvolunteerleaders (usuallymotherswhopreviously attendedYoungLives) tripled, andthenumberofmoms knownbynamenearly doubled since2022! TheYoungLives ministryin Ukraine* saw theeffectsofwar firsthand.Manyleadersleftthe countrytoprotecttheirfamilies atthestartofthewarandclubs closedtheirdoors.But miraculously,theministrystill continuedtogrow.
Asthepoliticalsituation continuestobeuncertainand familiesexperiencethe destructiveeffectsofthewar, theneedforsupportwill continuetogrow.Weexpect thesenumberstorise,especially whenthewarendsandfamilies returntoUkraine.
Currently,theYoungLives ministry existsonlyinUkraine.Wearepraying fortheopportunitiestoserveyoung momsinallMEAregionsinthefuture.
“Iwillinstructyouandteachyou inthewayyoushouldgo;Iwill counselyouwithmylovingeye onyou.”Psalm32:8
Armenia&CentralAsia LOOKINGAHEAD Investingintoraisingthenext generationofcommittedleaders throughin-depthtrainingoffered inEnglishaswellasnative languages.
Ukraine Keepingtheministrygoing; rebuildingwhenthetimecomes; keepinganopenposturereadyto adapttoservethoseinneed.
TheFarWest Expandingintotheneighboring citiesandvillageswithministries for students, kidswithspecial needs,andorphans.
Russia Legalizingtheministrytoopen doorsforcontactworkand camping;establishing relationshipswithchurches.
Whilewemakeplansforthecomingyear,ourpostureremainsopen towhateverGodhasinstore.
WAYS TOGET INVOLVED YouareapartoftheMEAfamilyandwewouldlove togettoknowyoubetter! ScantheQRcodetolearnmore.
JoinoneofourActionTeams. Doyouhaveaheartforoneofour regions?OurActionTeamswerecreatedforpeoplelikeyouwholoveto encouragethestaffinthefield.
Visitoneofourcountries. YoucanwitnessthemiraculousworkGodis doingthroughYoungLifeMEA!Visitasagrouporcomewithfamilyfora tripofalifetime.
Becomeaprayer partner. Prayer isourfirstworkandyourprayers makeadifference.Signuptoreceiveournewslettersandkeepupwith theprayerrequests.
OVERALLBUDGET
$5.9Million
CURRENTNEEDSFOR 2025
Operating: $700,000torun clubs,activities,training,etc.If yousponsorastaffmember for$1,000/month,youwill helpusmeetthisgoal.
TOLEARNMOREABOUTPARTNERINGWITH US,CONTACTMARTYCALDWELLAT MCALDWELL@SC.YOUNGLIFE.ORG
WEWANTTOGIVEBACK INAWISE,THOUGHTFUL, WINSOMEWAY.ANDWE ALWAYSGIVEWITHTHE INTENTOFGETTINGTO KNOWTHEPEOPLEWE AREGIVINGTO, ENCOURAGINGTHEMON THEIRJOURNEY.ANDIN THEMEANTIME,WEGET THEBLESSINGS. JohnandNancyBrandon, YoungLifeMEALong-Time FriendsandSupporters
